Yesterday I reported on a group of students at Stanislaus State College, California, who are campaigning for a campus ban on fragrances. That story can be read here:
Student Group Pushes for Fragrance Ban on College Campus
As I mentioned in that story,this group of students hasn't managed to have the ban instituted just yet but other colleges and universities do have such bans.
Discovering all this got me interested so I did a little research online and came up with more information about fragrance bans being put in place. It seems a handful of cities and regions in North America have some form of policy aimed at alerting the public to the potential health dangers associated with fragranced products or restricting their use in public places.
Marin County, California has introduced a voluntary "ban" on scents in public areas. In Canada; Halifax, Nova Scotia, has hit the headlines over the past few years due to its banning of deodorant, herbal shampoos, perfumes, and other scented products in most indoor public places, including local government offices, libraries, hospitals, classrooms, courts, and public transport. City officials in Ottawa have also debated whether to bring in a blanket ban on fragrances after a public education campaign.
Most of these actions have stemmed from concerns over fragranced products triggering asthma attacks and affecting the growing number of people who suffer from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).
This all got me wondering whether widespread bans could become the norm as they have with smoking in recent years. As someone who has suffered from chemical sensitivities myself, I would of course welcome a ban. I'm not so sure that I'd be so receptive if I hadn't been affected in this way by fragrances which makes me wonder if large scale bans could happen. I think people in general still see fragrances as must have luxury products to be enjoyed and few realize they might be causing misery for a growing minority of people.
What do you think about this issue? Can you see widespread bans on fragrances in public places becoming a reality within say, the next 10 years?
Comments (17)
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written by Tracy, December 19, 2007
I am for banning fragrance and would love to see it. I suffer from debilitating migraines and just walking by someone that has on perfume, cologne or has just smoked a cigarette, can make me very ill. My migraine medication is very expensive, even with insurance. I also spend a good amount of money on acupuncture to help control the migraines. I use fragrance-free products all the time. Perfume is not a necessity. Ban it!
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written by loralee222, May 25, 2008
I would love to see fragrances banned from public places. Breathing is an essential part of life, and I believe those of us who have sensitivities have just as much of a right to be out in public as anyone else does.
The individual above asks "what right do you have to limit the choices and actions of someone else?" That could also be turned around to ask, what gives those of you who wear perfume & other fragrances that are toxic and make others severly ill? I would also ask you to do some research into the toxic chemicals you wear that also effect your health. This is found on this site under multiple chemical sensitivity:
Perfume - According to a 1986 report by the Committee on Science & Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, 95% of chemicals in perfumes and fragranced products are synthetic chemicals derived from petroleum. Some of the major perfume ingredients include benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, camphor, ethanol, ethyl acetate, limonene, linalool, a-pinene, g-terpinene and a-terpineol. All of these chemicals are known to have negative health consequences, mainly due to effects on the central nervous system.
Most blogs I am a part of ask the users not to attack each other. This is my first time looking a this blog, and I'm rather disappointed.
The individual above asks "what right do you have to limit the choices and actions of someone else?" That could also be turned around to ask, what gives those of you who wear perfume & other fragrances that are toxic and make others severly ill? I would also ask you to do some research into the toxic chemicals you wear that also effect your health. This is found on this site under multiple chemical sensitivity:
Perfume - According to a 1986 report by the Committee on Science & Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, 95% of chemicals in perfumes and fragranced products are synthetic chemicals derived from petroleum. Some of the major perfume ingredients include benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, camphor, ethanol, ethyl acetate, limonene, linalool, a-pinene, g-terpinene and a-terpineol. All of these chemicals are known to have negative health consequences, mainly due to effects on the central nervous system.
Most blogs I am a part of ask the users not to attack each other. This is my first time looking a this blog, and I'm rather disappointed.
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written by bolam56, June 17, 2008
Fragrance bans already have a model to follow... The second hand smoke rules! Poison yourself if you like, but be considerate. If you can't stop stinking up the place than big brother will have to show you how!
As for fragrence in products... The solution is easy. Full disclosure if ingredients! If companies had to list all the chemicals in their products, people would see the truth and demand less of these toxic substances. The fragrence market would self destruct.
A disclosure law would be much easier to put in place than a ban, and would also increase public knowledge of the problem of universal chemical exposure.
As for fragrence in products... The solution is easy. Full disclosure if ingredients! If companies had to list all the chemicals in their products, people would see the truth and demand less of these toxic substances. The fragrence market would self destruct.
A disclosure law would be much easier to put in place than a ban, and would also increase public knowledge of the problem of universal chemical exposure.
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written by rich3rd, July 16, 2008
The petrochemical industry enjoys the same immunity from ingredients disclosure that the tobacco industry enjoys, thanks to "trade secret" laws. Their argument goes like this: if they told you what chemicals are in their product, some other manufacturer could copy their unique flavor or scent. This is a holdover from a time when chemical analysis was unable to determine the exact chemicals in a product, so by keeping them secret, a company's recipe was safe. Nowadays, it is quite possible (though very expensive) to figure out the exact chemical makeup of a product, so the only thing the trade secret laws really accomplish is to protect these companies from liability. "Oh, you think we are poisoning you? Prove it..."
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written by Mira Miente, September 13, 2008
I can't wait for such a ban--and it will happen eventually. Laundry detergent odor wafting over from my neighbor's is enough to kill me. It's just as rude as smoking, and just as idiotic. There are plenty of natural essential oils that work just fine, without poisoning everyone. Essentially, all toxic chemicals need to be banned PERIOD!
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written by John Billings, October 29, 2008
We keep seeing stories about the skyrocketing rate of breast cancer, especially in African-American women. And also the high rate of asthma in the Black community. To me it is no mystery. Black women wear the most highly toxic perfumes, mainly the ones with the most intense petrochemicals. The poisons are absorbed through the skin and accumulate in fatty tissue, especially in breast tissue. I get asthma attacks every time I come near someone wearing the stuff. Get rid of it.
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written by Dr. Kane X. Faucher, April 16, 2009
I've been raked over the proverbial coals for daring to suggest a scent-free workplace. I find it difficult on my own to fight this fight. I wrote my local paper, and was assailed by a raft of ignorant flak:
http://www.lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=28201&x=letters&l_publish_date=&s_publish_date=&s_keywords=&s_topic=&s_letter_type=Letter to Editor&s_topic=&s_letter_status=Active&s=letters
Those who suffer this affliction, I'd appreciate if you'd weigh in on this issue to inform the largely uninformed!
http://www.lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=28201&x=letters&l_publish_date=&s_publish_date=&s_keywords=&s_topic=&s_letter_type=Letter to Editor&s_topic=&s_letter_status=Active&s=letters
Those who suffer this affliction, I'd appreciate if you'd weigh in on this issue to inform the largely uninformed!
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written by Elizabeth Reid, April 18, 2009
I tried mightily to have fragrance usage limited on the floor I worked on at the University of Cincinnati. - I was literally taken out on a gurney from heavy fragrance usage in my office area. My supervisor, the dean of the college and the president of this university then made my life a living hell. - How ignorant can a university render people? All you have to do is read about the chemical dangers in fragrance. Unfortunately because of the influence of the American Chemical Society - including members such as big Pharma who blithely manufacture insecticides, herbicides and moldicides, along with our prescription drugs - spread carefully packaged lies via seminars for doctors. The AMA teaches doctors, there is no harm from chemicals. It's hard to beat one of the wealthiest, most powerful special interests on the face of the earth. The fact that these products derive from "big oil" makes the effort even more insurmountable. Even though the most basically intelligent among us knows that most cancers, asthmas, endocrine damage and a host of other problems stem from chemicals, the American public is easily duped.
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written by Alicia Zimmerman, May 29, 2009
The problem is that, as much as we say their perfume takes away our right to breathe clean air, they say that wearing it is their right and it's their air too. (That's what the smokers say when we ask for them to abstain in public areas) I really wish we could make people understand how badly this affects some people, but I think that they really don't care; they're going to wear their poison no matter how it affects others. Grrr.
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written by Morganna.D.S, February 04, 2010
I believe that scents are hareful. I am in gr.7 and some of the boys spray axe in the school. I believe that certain scents should be banned from public areas including schools.
morganna.D.S
morganna.D.S
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written by Maff, February 06, 2010
Hi Morganna,
Thank you very much for posting your comment. It is great that you are aware of the potential health dangers of man-made scents at such a young age and we're very happy to see you on this website
Maybe you can point out the dangers to your school teachers and make a difference at your own school.
Thank you very much for posting your comment. It is great that you are aware of the potential health dangers of man-made scents at such a young age and we're very happy to see you on this website
Maybe you can point out the dangers to your school teachers and make a difference at your own school.
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written by Bruce Hart, September 02, 2010
@Joseph Wallin: I think if you had to be a bum to your family because fragrances made you too ill to work then you'd want to be a "whining baby" and champion that cause as well.
Just banning fragrances from employees of jobs where the sensitive individuals rarely, or never, make close contact with customers and in schools and colleges would be enough for me.
Just banning fragrances from employees of jobs where the sensitive individuals rarely, or never, make close contact with customers and in schools and colleges would be enough for me.
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written by carrie, January 21, 2012
I myself have asthma and perfumes of any kind (and grass) set me off. There have been times it has affected my breathing for a couple of days. It amazes me how rude and nasty some people can be. I lost a job because I asked if some of the workers would tone down on the perfumes, they got nasty about it, one guy would bring his to work drowned himslf in it and walk in the door. Well this would send me into a full blown asthma attack. They all thought it was funny. I worked at another place, one lady had a child with asthma and she wore heavy perfume. Well she was in my area for breaktime and was complaing (again) about her child having to go to the dr. and hospital and that they could not get her breathing under control. I tried to explain to her (again) about her perfumes and air freshners she got upset and told me " You people need to get off me about that, me and my house are going to smell pretty!" I'm guessing I wasn't the only one telling her this? But this was her own
CHILD! If people knew what was in this suff they shouldn't buy it. But then you have people who even if it means thier own kid dies from an asthma attack from it hey they smelled pretty on the way to the E.R. So yes BAN this stuff!!!
CHILD! If people knew what was in this suff they shouldn't buy it. But then you have people who even if it means thier own kid dies from an asthma attack from it hey they smelled pretty on the way to the E.R. So yes BAN this stuff!!!
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written by claire b., January 31, 2012
These kind of people in general are nasty. I have suffeed deliberate sprayings, and other traumas, by these horrible people.
They get some kind of sick satisfaction to see if you react, and then smile when you react badly. I can't believe how cruel these kind can be, INHUMANE.
The woman with the child should be reported as being negligent, and jailed for child endangerment. God help that poor child.
They get some kind of sick satisfaction to see if you react, and then smile when you react badly. I can't believe how cruel these kind can be, INHUMANE.
The woman with the child should be reported as being negligent, and jailed for child endangerment. God help that poor child.
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