Are Fragrances Dangerous to your Pet?

August 13, 2012

 

Vintage atomizer, Creative Commons

When Clean + Green first contacted me about promoting their Fragrance Free Day last Friday and offered their products as a giveaway – I wanted to do my due diligence.

I wasn’t going to publish anything on my blog without looking into it, and I wasn’t going to promote something if I hadn’t researched it and didn’t believe in it.

So I asked a few questions: “Is going fragrance free really necessary? What’s the big deal?’

The press release that Clean + Green’s company SeaYu Enterprises sent me claimed that:


“the Environmental Protection Association (EPA) states that fragranced products like air fresheners, fabric refreshers and traditional cleaning products contribute to poor indoors air quality, which can lead to health issues, especially for pets with their faster metabolisms and respiratory systems, and close proximity to the ground.”

 

Fragonard perfume lab, Eze, France

That got my attention. Was it true? Here’s what I found out.

According to the EPA, "The EPA Indoor Environments Division (IED) understands that exposure to fragrances can cause some sensitive individuals to experience asthma episodes and other adverse health impacts and therefore notes this potential in several of their indoor air quality publications."

The Journal of Environmental Research International (as published by the US’s National Institute of Health) has studied synthetic musks in the environment, finding they persist and bioaccumulate, and do not degrade in wastewater treatment systems.

If they don’t degrade in wastewater treatment systems, then chances are they stick around in the home environment for a while, too.

We’re exposed to these musks when they are absorbed in the skin as we use soap, cosmetics, deodorants or cleaning products- or when we wear clothes washed with scented detergents.

Handmade soap, Wikimedia Commons

Musks can also be inhaled through cologne or cleaning sprays.

Around 8,000 metric tons of synthetic fragrances are made and distributed worldwide each year.

(To give you a sense of perspective, that’s enough to fill more than 44,000 bathtubs. If you were to take a bath a day in that stuff, it’d take you over 120 years to see the end of it!)

The important thing to know about these synthetic fragrances is what they’re made of. It’s a two-part deal. There’s the scent or musk itself, and then there’s the carrier that allows the scent to retain its pungency.

These fragrance carriers are known as phthalates. And that’s important for you to know, because studies have revealed some pretty interesting things about phthalates.

Phthalates are endocrine disruptors. (The endocrine system is made up of glands and organs that regulate the body, such as thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands.)

When dogs and cats lick their fur - cats especially, since they meticulously groom themselves - they are ingesting phthalates. These phthalates accumulate on their fur through airborne exposure in the home.

A 2010 article published by Environmental Health Sciences explains that “exposure to these chemicals is ubiquitous as demonstrated by the large percentage of the U.S. population found to have detectable levels of phthalate residues.” (By the way, that article was entitled Phthalates May Double Breast Cancer Risk.)

Cat and dog by Penarc, Creative Commons

And when compared to a study by the CDC of over 5,500 humans, cats were polluted by phthalate residue at a consistently higher level.

In 2008, the Environmental Working Group did a study on how household chemicals impact our pets.

Here's what this study said:

“Endocrine (hormone) system toxins raise particular concerns for cats, since they include the thyroid toxins and fire retardants called PBDEs.

 

"Thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism) is a leading cause of illness in older cats (Gunn-Moore 2005).

 

"The growing use of PBDEs in consumer products over the past 30 years has paralleled the rising incidence of feline hyperthyroidism, and a preliminary study suggests that PBDEs are found at higher levels in cats stricken with this disease (Dye 2007).”

And dogs don’t get a pass either. The study noted that blood and urine samples from dogs were contaminated with “11 carcinogens, 31 chemicals toxic to the reproductive system, and 24 neurotoxins."

 

“The carcinogens are of particular concern, since dogs have much higher rates of many kinds of cancer than do people, including 35 times more skin cancer, 4 times more breast tumors, 8 times more bone cancer, and twice the incidence of leukemia, according to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Center (2008).”

So, should you go fragrance free? I think these studies convinced me there's room for concern. When I go buy my laundy detergent tonight, I'm going to reach for the fragrance-free stuff.

Laundry waves in Scotland breeze, Wikimedia Commons

Next week: Our look at the KittyCam Study

__________

Sources:

Environmental Working Group report on contaminants in pets
A Whiff of Danger: Synthetic Musks May Encourage Toxic Bioaccumulation
Phthalates May Double Breast Cancer Risk
WebMD: Does Perfume Have Hidden Health Risks?

"Does_Perfume_Have_Hidden_Health_Risks?" EPA study, via National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation Report
EPA and fragrance
National Institute of Health’s Environmental Health Perspectives, Jan, 2005
National Institute of Health study on bioaccumulation of phthalates (one of several

http://www.atonkstail.com/2012/08/are-fragrances-dangerous-to-your-pet.html

Everybody (well, most everybody), deep cleans their home at least once a year.

Dr. Patrick Mahaney writes about life in WeHo with our companion animals and how to keep them healthy.

As they undertake this potentially Herculean task it’s vitally important to recognize the potential toxic effects household cleaning products may have on our pets.

After all, cats, dogs and other companion animals live in a shared environment with us and are exposed to the same toxic substances in our homes and yards.

Besides that, pets groom themselves using their mouths, therefore, residues from cleaning products and other environmental toxins end up in their skin, coat, eyes, nose, and throat.

Single or repeat exposures may have short and long term negative health implications for our feline and canine friends. Ingestion of or contact with cleaning products can cause a variety of clinical signs in pets, including:

Sneezing
Coughing
Nasal and ocular (eye) discharge
Ptyalism (salivation)
Emesis (vomiting)
Diarrhea
Anorexia (decreased appetite)
Lethargy
Seizures
Death

Clinical signs may not be evident until your pet is extremely sick with metabolic disease (kidney, liver, or other organ system failure), cancer, or other severe illness; therefore, prevention is the best treatment.

To get a firsthand perspective from someone intricately involved in the pet-safe product movement, I contacted Quincy Yu, founder of SeaYu Enterprises, which makes Clean + Green.

 

Dogs bring in a lot of dirt from the playground, and their guardians find themselves doing a lot of cleaning.

Clean+Green is a non-toxic, plant-based, biodegradable and fragrance free cleaner, stain remover and odor eliminator that works on contact, permanently eliminates the stain or odor, is easy to use.

More studies are confirming that our pets are at a higher health risk than even people are from the negative effects of chemicals and fragrances in our home.

With the availability of non-toxic and fragrance free cleaners on the market today, pet parents have safer alternatives to traditional products.

And from Polluted Pets, published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), April 17, 2008:

Dogs and cats were contaminated with 48 of 70 chemicals tested, including 43 chemicals at higher levels than those typically found in people, according to our study of plastics and food packaging chemicals, heavy metals, fire retardants, and stain-proofing chemicals in pooled samples of blood and urine from 20 dogs and 37 cats collected at a Virginia veterinary clinic.

In dogs, the average level of stain- and grease-proof coatings (perfluorochemicals) was 2.4 times higher. In cats, fire retardants (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers or PBDEs) were 23 times higher, and Mercury was more than 5 times the amounts compared to average levels in people found in national studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and EWG.

The study is the most comprehensive investigation of the chemical body burden of companion animals conducted to date, with 23 chemicals reported in pets for the first time.

 

The results reinforce findings from prior studies showing that pets’ unique behaviors may place them at risk for elevated exposures and health risks from chemicals pollutants in the home and outdoors, in air, water, food, soil and consumer products for people and pets.

Cats, especially, clean themselves by licking. Any toxic agents on their fur get ingested.

Don’t let your pet’s illness be your incitement for change.

Ms. Yu suggests that you “check your cleaning products’ labels and avoid:

Phenols (which are typically found in cleaners with the word “sol” in the name)

Phthalates

Formaldehyde (found in general household cleaners)

Bleach

Isopropyl alcohol

Perchloroethylene (found in rug and carpet shampoos)

Pet-safe cleaning products strive to reduce the likelihood that toxic effects will occur in our pets, but there is no 100 percent guarantee that such cleaners won’t cause any clinical signs of illness.

Products that lack odor or are without known toxic components, and that can be applied directly to surfaces, are less likely to cause harm.

Even “all natural” products may not be completely safe for all pets. I suggest following manufacturer’s directions when applying such products to your environment.

Additionally, never directly apply them to your pet’s skin, coat, or other body parts.

If you suspect or know your pet has been exposed to a cleaning product or other toxic substance, immediately contact your veterinarian.

Pending their counsel, further help may be needed. Two great resources in managing pet toxicities are the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) (888-426-4435) and the Pet Poison Helpline (855-213-6680).

http://www.wehonews.com/z/wehonews/archive/page.php?articleID=6964

August 11, 2011

To me, there's nothing worse than someone whose "scent" is so overpowering that it clings to my clothing after a brief hug and lingers in a noxious cloud long after they've left the room. I've never been big on perfumes or artificially scented products of any kind, so pretty much every day is "Fragrance Free Day" in my home.

care2.com

Chemical perfumes can be toxic.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), chemical fragrances found in air fresheners, candles, detergents and household cleaners, are one of the leading contributors to poor indoor air quality. Exposure to chemical fragrances has been linked to everything from asthma and skin irritation to cancer. They are particularly dangerous to pets that are closer to the floor and other surfaces, since they have smaller lungs and speedier metabolisms so fragrance chemicals move through their bodies faster than they do in people.

In the first study of its kind, Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that American pets are polluted with even higher levels of many of the same synthetic industrial chemicals that researchers have recently found in people, including newborns. Just as children ingest pollutants in tap water, play on lawns with pesticide residues or breathe in an array of indoor air contaminants, so do our pets. But with their compressed lifespans, pets develop health problems from exposures much more rapidly.

Pets are exposed to toxic chemicals by inhaling indoor air with contaminated dust, walking in industrial urban neighborhoods, drinking tap water full of disinfection byproducts, eating pet food laden with chemicals, and coming in contact with a variety of house and garden products, from herbicides to flame retardants. As a result of these multiple exposures, pet cats have 23 times higher levels of brominated flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs) in their blood compared to humans, while dogs are contaminated with perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) at levels 2.4 times higher than typical amounts found in people.

EWG found that dogs and cats were contaminated with 48 of 70 industrial chemicals tested, including 43 chemicals at levels higher than those typically found in people, according to its study of plastics and food packaging chemicals, heavy metals, fire retardants, and stain-proofing chemicals in samples of blood and urine from 20 dogs and 37 cats collected at a Virginia veterinary clinic.

templeilluminatus.com

Natural scents are best for pets and people.

As cats meticulously groom themselves, they can lick off accumulated dust that studies show can be contaminated with neurotoxic fire retardants PBDEs and reproductive toxins called phthalates. A dog eating scraps from the floor may also swallow dirt and dust tracked in from the outdoors and contaminated with heavy metals and pesticides. Dogs and cats often eat food processing and packaging chemicals that contaminate their food, day after day and year after year, resulting in cumulative exposures with unknown health risks. In addition, some chew toys contain plastic softeners, while some foam beds are infused or coated with fire retardants and stain-proofing chemicals and certain brands of plastic water bowls leach hormone disruptors.

Our current system of public health protections allow many industrial chemicals on the market with no mandatory safety testing. Chemical companies do not have to prove products are safe before they are sold, or understand how much of their chemicals end up in people let alone pets. There are few standards that limit chemical contamination in pet food, pet toys and other products for our companion animals. Health problems in pets span high rates of cancer in dogs and skyrocketing incidence of hyperthyroidism in cats Scientists believe that chemical exposures play a role.

What you can do:

• Read all food and packaging labels carefully
• Clean your home with natural, non-toxic cleaners such as vinegar and simple soaps
• Choose eco-friendly paints and floor-coverings
• Don't assume a chemical or product is safe just because you bought it at Whole Foods; do your homework!
• Contact your representative to insist on greater health protections for both humans and companion animals as well as more stringent approval processes for chemical manufacturers.

Here is a short list of common chemicals to avoid:

• asbestos
• insecticides and herbicides, including 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)
• tobacco smoke
• brominated flame retardants (polybrominated biphenyls or PBDEs)
• lead
• olytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE (a common coating on non-stick cookware)
• melamine and cyanuric acid (which has been found in imported wheat gluten used for pet food production)

Posted By: Amelia Glynn (Email, Facebook) | August 11 2011 at 01:40 PM

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/pets/detail?entry_id=95170#ixzz1VDrr0Kmy

Thursday, August 11, 2011

National Fragrance Free Day

 

Today is officially the Second Annual Fragrance Free Day, which was started by SeaYu, the makers of Clean + Green Natural Pet Stain and Odor Removers. Speaking of Clean + Green, this is where you want to go if you have that dog smell on your furniture. I have used the Furniture Refresher for Dogs since our 95 German Shepherd likes to lounge on the sofa and it really works. It's eco-friendly and non-toxic and I feel confident about its safety when my family is sitting on the furniture.


I'd like to tell you more about Fragrance Free Day and why it is so important for us to start eliminating artificial fragrances. I am not just talking about those labeled "phthalate free" either. These are so popular now, but phthalates aren't the only toxin in fragrance oils. Whether they are phthalate free or not, they are not good for us. Read more here.


Fragrance Free Day gives concerned consumers a chance to help spread awareness by pledging to go “fragrance free” via their social networks – meaning no perfumes/colognes, scented lotions or harsh cleaning products with added fragrances – for one full day.

So, what can you do? For one day, help the world breathe easier and pledge to not use any products that contain harsh chemical additives and fragrances. Use your Facebook status, your Twitter feed (with hashtag #fragrancefreeday) and your blogs to let everyone know “I am going Fragrance Free on August 11th because...”

In addition, SeaYu will be hosting a live Twitter chat from 12 – 1 pm EDT where you can get all of their fragrance questions and concerns addressed, with a panel of experts including:


* Quincy Yu, Founder of SeaYu and green living expert
* Dr. Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and author of the
upcoming book, The Uncomfortable Vet
* Dr. Stephen Ziman, organic chemist


Knowledge, as they say, is power, so share yours and help empower your friends and family to take steps to protect themselves, their family, their pets and our planet!

http://www.chicandgreendaily.com/

Fragrance Free Day

Tomorrow is the second annual Fragrance Free Day, hosted by SeaYu. According to the Environmental Protection Association (EPA), fragranced products such as typical household cleaning products, candles and air fresheners are one of the leading contributors to poor indoor air quality, which can lead to health issues like asthma.

Young kids are especially sensitive to synthetic chemical fragrances. To learn more about the potential dangers and to get some great tips on eliminating fragrance chemicals in the home, visit Healthy Child Healthy World.

Fragrance Free Day gives concerned consumers a chance to help spread awareness by pledging to go “fragrance free” via their social networks – meaning no perfumes/colognes, scented lotions or harsh cleaning products with added fragrances – for one full day.

Take some time to research chemical fragrances. (It always pays to read up and form your own opinions!) If you feel like helping to spread the world, use your Facebook account, your Twitter stream with hashtag #fragrancefreeday or your blog to announce that you’re going fragrance free and why.

Remember, fragrance-free doesn’t mean free of any smells, it means free of synthetic chemicals (perfumes) used to scent everything from lotion to hair spray. There are great, natural ways to add fragrance to your body products and home. Aromahead is a great resource for learning about essential oils and essential oil safety if you’re interested in natural ways to use fragrances.

Help your friends and family take steps to protect themselves, their family, their pets and our planet.

http://realmomsguide.sheknows.com/2011/08/10/go-fragrance-free-tomorrow/

Fragrance Free Day Set for August 11 #fragrancefreeday

As I’ve written about before here on DogTipper, I have asthma. I keep a close eye on products we use in our house, and I really try to minimize added fragrances that cover up odors because some of them just don’t seem to agree with me.

August 11, 2011 is the second annual Fragrance Free Day, an event we’ve written about previously. Hosted by SeaYu, Fragrance Free Day gives concerned consumers a chance to help spread awareness by pledging to go “fragrance free” via their social networks – meaning no perfumes/colognes, scented lotions or harsh cleaning products with added fragrances for one full day.

According to the Environmental Protection Association (EPA), those products with added fragrance–products like many household cleaning products, candles and air fresheners–contribute to poor indoor air quality. That, in turn, can lead to health issues like asthma, and exposure to chemical fragrances has been linked to everything from skin irritation to cancer.

How to Join

For one day, help the world breathe easier and pledge to not use any products that contain harsh chemical additives and fragrances. Use your Facebook status, your Twitter feed with hashtag #fragrancefreeday and your blog to let everyone know “I am going Fragrance Free on August 11th because…”

Live Twitter Chat

You can also take part in a live Twitter chat from 12 – 1 pm EDT. The party, hosted by SeaYu, features a panel of experts including:

• Quincy Yu, Founder of SeaYu and green living expert
• Dr. Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and author of the upcoming book, “The Uncomfortable Vet”
• Dr. Stephen Ziman, organic chemist

Help spread the word about avoiding products with harsh chemical fragrances for your own health and that of your pets!

August 11, 2010
By Paris and John

This Friday, August 13, 2010 will be an unlucky day for chemical fragrance! We’ve just received word that Clean+Green by SeaYu has founded Fragrance Free Day (#fragrancefreeday), a social media event by which people are asked to tell the world via their social networks that they’ll go “fragrance free” for one day.

How do the fragrances in your cleaners impact your pets?  Animals have faster metabolisms and smaller lungs than humans, so not only are they processing harmful chemicals used in the home more quickly, they are also breathing them in at a faster rate. Because animals are closer to the ground, they are more often in direct contact with these harmful substances making Fragrance Free Day of special importance for pet owners.

We’ll be following along and asking questions during Fragrance Free Day’s live Twitter event. Hosted by Clean + Green and featuring SeaYu’s CEO Quincy Yu, organic chemist Dr. Stephen Ziman and veterinarian holistic pet health expert Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM.

How to Join In: Anyone with questions on the safety of products they’re using for personal care can Tweet them with the hashtag #fragrancefreeday on Friday, August 13 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST and have their question answered by one of the experts through SeaYu’s Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/seayu).

For More Information: Learn more about the event over on Facebook, too, on the Clean + Green blog.

http://www.dogtipper.com/blog/2010/08/join-fragrance-free-day-twitter-party.html#comments

This Friday, August 13^th will be unlucky for chemical fragrances! Here’s some pet information about pet health that I bet you never knew…(unless you’re a DVM!

Clean+Green by SeaYu has founded Fragrance Free Day (#fragrancefreeday), a social media event which asks people to tell the world via their social networks that they’ll go “fragrance free” for one day.

Now here’s the pet health and pet information part I referenced:

** Animals have faster metabolisms & smaller lungs than humans, so not only are they processing harmful chemicals used in the home more quickly, they are also breathing them in at a faster rate. Because animals are closer to the ground, they are more often in direct contact with these harmful substances making Fragrance Free Day of special importance for pet owners everywhere.

Fragrance Free Day gives concerned consumers, pet owners, pet lovers and animal advocates a chance to spread awareness of the dangers associated  with fragrance/chemicals in personal care and household cleaning products — two things we need to be seriously aware of as pet lovers and pet owners.

This awareness campaign comes at a time when, according to a recent report by ABC News,

“Congress and the cosmetics industry are both calling for tighter regulation of the chemicals used in cosmetics and other personal care productsdue to concerns over possible carcinogens and other toxic ingredients.”

As part of the event, the company will:

- Host a live Q&A on Twitter, featuring SeaYu’s CEO Quincy Yu, organic chemist Dr. Stephen Ziman and veterinarian holistic pet health expert Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM.

-Anyone with questions on the safety of products they’re using for personal care can Tweet them with the hashtag #fragrancefreeday on Friday, August 13 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST and have their question answered by one of the experts through SeaYu’s Twitter account.

- There is also a press release you can read for more information and details here.

- And you can check out the event page on Facebook.

Here’s the blog post the company wrote about this novel and inventive idea:

Panel of Experts Available for Questions on Fragrance Free Day – August 13th

And here’s the snippet from the post that totally intrigued me:

“What started the idea of Fragrance Free Day?  Several studies have been published and we are spreading the word.  The report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Environmental Working Group, “Not So Sexy, the Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrances,” found 14 secret chemicals not listed on the labels that are associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products. The study also notes that numerous other products used daily, such as shampoos, lotions, bath products, cleaning sprays, air fresheners and laundry & dish-washing detergents also contain strongly scented, volatile ingredients that are hidden behind the word “fragrance.”

WHOAAAAA….

———————————————————————————————

Clean & Green, obviously an animal charity supporter, says right on it’s site:

We’re committed to making sure that all of our products are non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and recyclable.

 

So it only makes sense that this eco-friendly pet product producer be behind a concept uncovering the TRUTH about certain chemicals, but uses 21st century technology – social media – to get the word out! Kudos to them AND SeaYu!

Now… let’s all do something for out pets’ health. Your cat or dog’s health could honestly be effected by chemicals in not only household cleaning products, but also something most of us never knew — fragrances and perfumes/colognes. (This is a new concept for me – I had no idea my perfumes sprays – which I use religiously – could harm my cat’s and dog’s health.)

** So definitely get ready for some more pet health information that just might surprise you and/or teach you something you did not know about pet health! **

DON’T FORGET TO SPREAD THE WORD ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 13th. TELL YOUR CO-SOCIAL NETWORKERS THAT IT’S FRAGRANCE-FREE FRIDAY! Let’s get Pets in the news – FRONT-PAGE!

http://thoughtsfurpaws.com/

Social Media Event Designed to Increase Awareness of Potential Health Risks On Friday, August 13

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

SeaYu® Enterprises, makers of Clean+Green® eco-friendly pet stain and odor removers, is declaring Friday, August 13th unlucky for chemical fragrance by founding the first ever Fragrance Free Day

Fragrance Free Day (#fragrancefreeday) is a social media event by which people are asked to tell the world via their social networks that they’ll go “fragrance free” for one day. This awareness campaign comes at a time when, according a recent report by ABC News, “Congress and the cosmetics industry are both calling for tighter regulation of the chemicals used in cosmetics and other personal care products due to concerns over possible carcinogens and other toxic ingredients.”

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/toxic-cosmetics-draw-congressional-attention/story?id=11228491

As part of the event, the company will host a live Q&A on Twitter, featuring SeaYu’s CEO Quincy Yu, organic chemist Dr. Stephen Ziman and veterinarian holistic pet health expert Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM (http://www.drcarol.com/).

Anyone with questions on the safety of products they’re using for personal care can Tweet them with the hashtag #fragrancefreeday on Friday, August 13 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST and have their question answered by one of the experts through SeaYu’s Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/seayu).

“Fragrance Free Day gives concerned consumers a chance to help spread awareness of the dangers associated with fragrance/chemicals in personal care and household cleaning products by pledging to go “fragrance free” via their social networks,” said Quincy Yu, CEO of SeaYu Enterprises. “We encourage everyone to help the world breath easier by pledging not to use any fragranced products for one full day.”

According to the report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Environmental Working Group, “Not So Sexy, the Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrances," they found 14 secret chemicals not listed on the labels that are associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products. The study also notes that numerous other products used daily, such as shampoos, lotions, bath products, cleaning sprays, air fresheners and laundry and dishwashing detergents, also contain strongly scented, volatile ingredients that are hidden behind the word "fragrance." The Environmental Protection Association (EPA) has weighed in, too – they state that fragranced products – like air fresheners, fabric refreshers and traditional cleaning products -are one of the leading contributors to poor indoor air quality, which can lead to health issues.

“Animals have faster metabolisms and smaller lungs than humans, so not only are they processing harmful chemicals used in the home more quickly, they are also breathing them in at a faster rate,” said Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM “Because animals are closer to the ground, they are more often in direct contact with these harmful substances making Fragrance Free Day of special importance for pet owners everywhere.”

More information is available via Quincy Yu’s blog post about Fragrance Free Day (http://www.odorandstainremover.com/wordpress/?p=454) and also via the Fragrance Free Day event page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=139865449376889&ref=ts).

Seeing from what there seems to be lurking in the chemical fragrances, particularly in the USA, to ban them entirely would be a very good idea.

Many chemicals that are used to create those fragrances, and not just in so-called air-fresheners. Air-fresheners my you know what! None of them freshen the air; they pollute it while masking any smells with powerful chemicals.

Many personal scents are not too healthy either, it would seem, and thus, maybe, we should also abandon the chemical perfume industry.

If you have to use anything then make sure it is natural; not because it says natural on the spray can, but because you know it is. Get potpourri to keep a room smelling nice, including the lavatory. Just use the right stuff. Incense sticks, so-called Joss sticks, too can be very effective

http://www.modernhippiemag.com/2010/08/11/health-minehave-fragrance-free-day/