Indoor Air Quality
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Fragrances and Health
Most wouldn't be so keen on using these fragrances if they knew that these synthetic
smells are made from that dark brown slimy stuff that comes out of the ground or
the sea -
Many of the fragrance ingredients are yet to be scientifically tested for their health risks. A large number, however, have been found to be toxic and cause cancer in animals. Much more is known about the symptoms some of these chemicals can generate in humans. Irritations to the eyes and the mucous membranes of nose and throat head the list again. But, because many of the fragrant products are for personal care, skin complaints are also very common. The health effect doesn't have to be immediate, though. A person that is exposed to the same fragrant for a lengthy time may develop an allergy to a particular ingredient, or the person can become sensitized to several of the ingredients and may develop Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Most of the products that are bought for their fragrant properties contain solvents as well. While in some cases the chemical that is responsible for the smell may not be the trigger of health problems, the solvent, however, can be.
In the last few years, the use of fragrances turned into a frenzy -
The squirt from a bottle of air freshener isn't good enough anymore, now we need
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