http://www.miller-mccune.com/science-environment/seeking-chemical-culprits-for-those-deformities-3457/ Nationally Acclaimed Politics, Science and Culture Coverage Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:00:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.miller-mccune.com/science-environment/seeking-chemical-culprits-for-those-deformities-3457/#comment-664 Barb Wilkie Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:46:18 +0000 http://blog.miller-mccune.com.s72010.gridserver.com/2009/09/22/seeking-chemical-culprits-for-those-deformities/#comment-664 In 1999, for the Citizens' Petition filed by the little nonprofit, Environmental Health Network, Betty Bridges and I discovered that phthalates were an important part of the manufacture of fragrances. Phthalates are added to help make the scent last, and last . . . and last. We also found a goodly number of other harmful chemicals in commonly used flavors and fragrances, which are released to market as if they are totally benign products. They are not, yet they are commonly used. For millions of people that is 24/7 for they use fragrances in their laundry products, in their personal care products, their general cleaning and maintenance products and they have their homes emitting fragrances from one sort or another of products sold as air "fresheners" but which really are air POLLUTERS.Even the industry admits that fragrances do not clean the air . . . they just don't come right out and tell you the truth that fragrances pollute the air for all regardless of age or stage of life. And, as these toxins are not "washed out" by our modern waste management practices, like pesticides and drugs, fragrances are also found downstream where they adversely affect aquatic and wildlife . . . and other people and their pets.So, my suggestion is to also look closely at the use of petrochemically derived flavors and fragrances for explanations to the burgeoning rates of various illnesses. Fragrances (and flavors, terms used interchangeably by industry) contain chemicals that are known carcinogens, hormone disrupters, irritants, kidney toxicants, mutagens, neurotoxins, sensitizers and TERATOGENS. Despite that, fragrances are used by pregnant women and their husbands, and they are used in all sorts of products developed for infants and small children. Why? Money for the industry! We the people must begin to shop more wisely. Look for products that do not contain fragrances or flavors. Once one gets sick with chemical injury, (MCS, the disability that cannot say its name out loud), one must look for safer products. The smart consumer will start looking for safer products before illness takes over his/her life or the life of his/her offspring. In 1999, for the Citizens’ Petition filed by the little nonprofit, Environmental Health Network, Betty Bridges and I discovered that phthalates were an important part of the manufacture of fragrances. Phthalates are added to help make the scent last, and last . . . and last. We also found a goodly number of other harmful chemicals in commonly used flavors and fragrances, which are released to market as if they are totally benign products. They are not, yet they are commonly used. For millions of people that is 24/7 for they use fragrances in their laundry products, in their personal care products, their general cleaning and maintenance products and they have their homes emitting fragrances from one sort or another of products sold as air “fresheners” but which really are air POLLUTERS.Even the industry admits that fragrances do not clean the air . . . they just don’t come right out and tell you the truth that fragrances pollute the air for all regardless of age or stage of life. And, as these toxins are not “washed out” by our modern waste management practices, like pesticides and drugs, fragrances are also found downstream where they adversely affect aquatic and wildlife . . . and other people and their pets.So, my suggestion is to also look closely at the use of petrochemically derived flavors and fragrances for explanations to the burgeoning rates of various illnesses. Fragrances (and flavors, terms used interchangeably by industry) contain chemicals that are known carcinogens, hormone disrupters, irritants, kidney toxicants, mutagens, neurotoxins, sensitizers and TERATOGENS. Despite that, fragrances are used by pregnant women and their husbands, and they are used in all sorts of products developed for infants and small children. Why? Money for the industry! We the people must begin to shop more wisely. Look for products that do not contain fragrances or flavors. Once one gets sick with chemical injury, (MCS, the disability that cannot say its name out loud), one must look for safer products. The smart consumer will start looking for safer products before illness takes over his/her life or the life of his/her offspring.

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