“There’s no reason to be putting the health of American consumers at risk because of a legal loophole. We need to update our laws so that moms and dads can get the information they need to make choices about what they bring into their homes.”
—Senator Al Franken (D-MN)
"People need to understand the hazards of fragranced products to themselves, to others, and to the environment. This important report provides illuminating evidence of these widespread hazards,” says Anne Steinemann, Ph.D, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Public Affairs, University of Washington.
The report “What’s That Smell” (PDF) points to a number of scientific studies that demonstrate the potential of fragrance chemicals to cause long-term health impacts, casting doubt on their safety. The presence of these chemicals in everyday cleaners, which impact almost all Americans, shows that chemicals remain largely unregulated due to weak laws governing their use and safety.
For this report, Women’s Voices for the Earth compiled 37 peer-reviewed scientific studies, and highlighted the chemicals that pose significant risk: phthalates and synthetic musks. Phthalates have been associated with hormone disruption, sperm damage, birth defects and feminization of boys. Synthetic musks have been found to enhance the effects of other chemicals entering the body.
- Estimates indicate that fragrance usage in the United States has more than doubled since 1990.
- The report found that the highest level of synthetic musks were found in laundry detergent, furniture polish and fabric softener.
- The report points to a study that found that 75% of patients diagnosed with fragrance allergies were women, most of whom developed skin rashes when exposed to fragrances. Women still do 70 percent of the housework in the average home, according to WVE.
“The industry needs to use safer alternatives,” says WVE executive director Erin Switalski, “so that consumers aren’t taking a risk with their health when they clean.”
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“There’s no reason to be putting the health of American consumers at risk because of a legal loophole. We need to update our laws so that moms and dads can get the information they need to make choices about what they bring into their homes,” says Senator Al Franken (D-MN). “That’s why I’ve introduced legislation that would require full labeling on the products for cleaners—much like what we have for food and drugs. It’s just common sense.”
This report comes at a time when the industry is facing unprecedented changes at the federal legislative level, with Congress considering Senator Franken’s Household Product Labeling Act and the Safe Chemicals Act (S. 1697), which would require that chemicals be evaluated for safety before being included in products. The current law governing chemicals used in the marketplace is over 30 years old. Thousands of chemicals have been introduced to market since then without independent safety testing. WVE advocates for a strong version of the Safe Chemicals Act to be passed.
The report contains information on how to reduce usage of fragranced products as well as suggestions for non-toxic cleaning alternatives.
So what CAN you do?
Take a minute right now to tell cleaning product companies to come clean! CLICK HERE to demand that Proctor & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser (makers of Easy Off & Lysol), SC Johnson (makers of Windex), Clorox, and Sunshine Makers (makers of Simple Green) remove harmful ingredients and list all fragrance ingredients directly on the product label, where it helps you the most!
Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) is a national organization that engages women to advocate for the right to live in a healthy environment. WVE seeks to reduce and ultimately eliminate environmental pollutants that cause health problems for women, their families and communities. To this end, WVE creates opportunities for women to influence environmental decision-making. For more information, visit www.womenandenvironment.org.
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