What's That Smell???

Fragrance!  It’s everywhere and in everything.  I stopped going to Big Y because the chemical fragrance smell from their restroom air fresheners have saturated the store and is now embedded in the food.  When I raise a washed organic apple to my mouth, I do not want to smell bathroom air freshener and I do not want to taste it, either.  Defeats the purpose of purchasing organic.  I go to Whole Foods and their quality and variety of organics are better and the prices are actually cheaper.

Now I can almost hear some people say, what’s she complaining about now?  What could be wrong with a little perfume smell?  Plenty!  For starters, studies now show consumer scented products to be carcinogenic and known hormone disruptors, as sited by the President’s Cancer Panel headed by renowned Dr. Anne C. Steinemann, PhD, professor of civil and environmental engineering, professor of public affairs at the University of Washington; plus other studies too numerous to mention here.

I would hope we all know what carcinogenic means, the Big “C”, but let me explain a hormone disruptor.  A hormone disruptor is a chemical that enters the body and wreaks havoc with your endocrine system, causing diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, thyroid problems, insomnia, growth disorders and sexual dysfunction.  It also interferes with the way your heart beats, your bones grow, and the ability to make a baby.  

Fragrances are also neurotoxins, interfering with brain functions causing brain fog, inability to concentrate, irritability, tremors, headaches and in some people seizures.  “Fragrance” not only triggers asthma attacks but it is now on record as a known cause of asthma and breathing problems.  Scented products are responsible for overloading the body with toxins causing joint pain, muscle aches and spasms, skin disorders (rashes) and eye and vision problems.

Other complaints reported by breathing air filled with fragrance are exhaustion, weakness, hay fever symptoms, dizziness, confusion, swollen lymph glands, heart palpitations, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, neuromotor dysfunction, and even loss of consciousness. Babies and children are even more vulnerable to these negative health reactions than are adults. The elderly and people trying to recover from cancer and other serious illnesses are particularly at risk when exposed.

Right now it is calculated that 30% (95 Million adults and children), or more, of the population is adversely effected by coming into contact with fragrances.  Experts estimate this number to be higher as people and doctors are not linking the use of scented products to the illnesses being treated.  In other words, we are making ourselves sick by the products we buy and consume; because it’s trendy.  How nice to “belong” and “fit in”.

Unfortunately, if you choose not to use products with “fragrances”, you are not safe.  The problem arises when you come into contact with other people who smell like a walking toxic waste dump, spreading the deadly fumes into the air for others to breathe.  This selfish air pollution is such a major problem now that it has been given the status of “second hand fragrance pollution”.  If you live on a street where people use scented laundry detergent and dryer sheets that are vented outside, this is now being considered a public health crisis and responsible communities are outlawing the use of scented dryer sheets altogether.  But!...we live in a “hurray for me, the hell with you” society and in the words of an ignorant person…”why blame me because you are sick.” 

Now that people are becoming sick and have even died due to their exposure to “fragrance”, authorities are looking into this public health risk and conclude that fragrances in consumer products are toxic and harmful to EVERYONE!  So you see, we have been “played”, once again, by the Hegelian Diolectic….Problem, Reaction, Solution.  Create the problem; brainwash people into thinking they NEED hazardous chemicals in their consumer products “to be cool”.  Reaction; people getting sick and dying.  Solution; mandatory ban on these combinations of petro chemicals and coal tars and other carcinogenic chemicals that are protected by law from being listed on the label. 

Second hand “Fragrance Pollution” is now considered to be more harmful and deadly than breathing in second hand cigarette smoke.  And just like cigarette addiction, people are now considered “addicted” to using scented consumer products.  You see people, you have been “played”, all for the sake of the bottom line and monetary celebrations in the “board room”.  Talk about Human Sacrifice!  Are you feeling very “special” now?

In the words of my “Alter Ego”, Roxie Jones….”Don’t get mad, Don’t get even, Just Wait!.....and in the meantime, choose to live healthy chemical free…….