For those of you that found your way to this site through links from the PBS:Trade Secrets pages, I would like to introduce you to another type of "trade secrets". Fragrances formulas are considered "trade secrets". This means that the fragrance industry does not have to reveal to you or anyone else the materials in the fragrance part of a product.
They do not have to inform you that these products contain phthalates such as diethyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate which are suspected of being hormone disrupters. The recent Center for Disease Control (CDC) report on chemicals found there was high exposure to these two materials in women of child bearing ages.
They do not have to inform you of synthetic musk compounds which are present in your blood, fat tissue, and breast milk if you are a nursing mother. They do not inform you that these materials are found in waterways and aquatic wildlife at levels as high or higher than pesticides.
Please support efforts for enforcement of existing labeling laws. Let the FDA know that you want the required warning label to appear on products whose safety has not been substantiated. Support FDA petition #99P-1340. For more on the petition and to view analysis of Eternity by Calvin Klein, the perfume the petition is based on visit: Petition
Or the Environmental Health Network of California site: FDApetition
Fragrance sensitivity is far from an isolated event. Perfumes and fragrances are
known triggers for asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis, allergies, migraine headaches, and an
array of symptoms for those that suffer from chemical sensitivities. When you consider
these populations combined, the impact on health and the economy are significant.
The Fragranced Products
Information Network is a grass roots effort to educate on the chemicals used
and the health effects of fragranced products. This is a no frill site with emphasis on
information.
In our society we are constantly exposed to fragranced products. Very little information
is readily available as to what is in the fragrance portion of a product. As a general
rule disclosure of the ingredients in the fragrance portion of a product is not required
as it is considered proprietary or a "trade secret". For those that have adverse
effects to the fragrance portion of a product it is often very difficult to obtain
information.
This site attempts to compile available information in an easily accessible site.
Information from a variety of sources is available. There is information from industry,
government, medical, and activists sources. Providing information from a variety of
sources allows the reader to have a overall view of the fragrance issue and where to turn
to for information.
This site is financed, owned and maintained by Betty Bridges, RN
Site Index
The site index is a quick way to locate information. There are several areas of focus.
In depth Information on Specific Topics
Information & Educational Materials
SEARCH THE SITENEW 5/21/00
Information just added and/or of especial importance
The fragrance industry contends that fragrances are safe. Yet even basic safety testing data are not available for most fragrance chemicals that have a yearly volume of one million pounds or more. View the fragrance chemicals that are on the EPA's High Production Volume Chemicals list. NEW 9/16/00 ! ! !
Phthalates used in fragrances implicated as hormone disrupters: NEW 9/3/00
THE FRAGRANCE INDUSTRY COMES TO HALIFAX: The fragrance industry launched a publicity campaign to counteract efforts for fragrance-free policies.
Michael Fumento, known for colorful denunciations of environmental and health concerns targets the efforts of those concerned about health effects of fragranced products. (Review, Articles available online, and links to the publications)
Complaints on health effects from fragrances reported to FDA increases from 3 in 1996 to 90 in 1999.
Popular perfumes trigger asthma - research presented at the AAAAI Meeting indicates widely used perfumes such as Red, Charlie, Giorgio, Opium and White Diamonds can trigger asthma attacks.
Petition filed
with the FDA to have the perfume Eternity declared misbranded.
Petition Information: Petition, analysis of
Eternity, background information
The FDA responds to the petition: Comments
still being accepted
Comments filed with the FDA: Over 900 comments related to the
petition have been filed
Frequently Asked Questions - The issue of fragrances having an impact on health is often a controversial one. These are some of the questions that are frequently asked.
Articles & Information of Interest - Articles on fragrances & related issues from a variety of sources.
What's almost new - Listing of added information from the past few months
In depth Information on Specific Topics
The European Commission's List of Fragrance
Chemicals
Listing of
fragrance chemicals by class
Listing in table format with links to online sources of information
Common Fragrance Chemicals in Laundry and Cleaning Products
Chemicals in Perfumes - Two popular perfumes were analyzed by gas chromatography
Safety - Uses & safety
Properties of raw fragrance materials -
raw fragrance materials sorted by known health effects, target organs, etc NEW!!! 3/5/00
Neurological
Migraines NEW 9/2/99
Health Conditions
Affected by Fragrance
Economic Considerations
Workplace Policies Work in Progress
Why Women Should Be Concerned - Traditionally women have been the primary consumers of products containing fragrance. Women should be concerned about the safety of the products that they and their families use.
Why Fragrance Safety & Labeling is a Consumer Issue - Consumers have the right to expect products to be safe for use and be properly labeled.
Why Fragrance use is a health issue
Why problems from fragrances are an economic issue
Important Information - Information
that is important or calls for immediate action
Support the
petition to the FDA
Communication with the Fragrance Industry - Contact information for the fragrance industry and correspondence to the industry
Communicating with the FDA -Contact information for the FDA and communication to the FDA
Help educate others
Information & Educational Materials
Information Packet - This packet highlights materials that can be used to help educate others. It is from a variety of sources and represents the efforts of a lot of people that have graciously made it available for use. You are free to copy and distribute, but please give proper credit. This section is under construction so please check back frequently for new information. New!!!
The information contained on this site has been compiled by
E-Fax:: (801)340-3578
This page has been accessed
since Oct 7, 2003*
*Includes visits from site's previous address*