DETAILS OF CHEMICALS AS TOXIC SUBSTANCES

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http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Education/CASLE/fragrance.html

FRAGRANCE CHEMICALS AS TOXIC

SUBSTANCES:

 

Acetaldehyde - found in perfume, dyes,

fruit and fish preservatives, and flavor fragrances, which produces a

fruity

odor. It is a suspected animal carcinogen and has been classified in

Group

B2 as a probable human carcinogen of low carcinogenic hazard by the

EPA.

It can cause eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation. No information

is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of

acetaldehyde

in humans; however studies in animals have shown that acetaldehyde has

crossed the placenta to the fetus.

 

Acetone - found in cologne, dishwashing

detergent, nail enamel remover, and cosmetics. Inhalation can cause

dizziness,

nausea, drowsiness, loss of coordination, eye, nose and throat

irritation

and in severe cases tremors and coma. Acetone is on the Hazardous

Substance

List because it is flammable.

 

Acetonitrile - found in perfume, dyes,

and pharmaceuticals. It can cause irritation of the mucous membranes,

weakness,

headaches, tremor, numbness, and nausea. High concentrations can cause

convulsions and death.

 

Benzaldehyde - found in perfume,

hairspray,

laundry bleach, deodorants, detergents, shampoo, soap, dishwasher

detergent.

It can be a sensitizer, also causing eye, throat, lung, and skin

irritation.

It may cause kidney damage.

 

Benzyl Acetate - found in perfume,

cologne,

fabric softener, after shave, deodorants, hairspray, bleach, air

freshener.

Inhalation can cause eye, throat and respiratory irritation.

 

Benzyl Alcohol - found in perfume,

cologne.

shampoo, air fresheners, laundry bleach, detergent, fabric softener,

deodorants,

soap, nail enamel remover, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and ointments.

It

can cause dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness,

weakness,

skin, eye, mucous membrane and respiratory tract irritation.

 

Benzyl chloride - found in perfume,

dyes,

pharmaceuticals, and a flavor fragrance. It was formerly used as an

irritant

gas in chemical warfare. It can cause skin, eye, lung, and mucous

membrane

irritation, dizziness, headache, fatigue, and is a suspected animal

carcinogen.

The EPA has classified benzyl chloride as a Group B2, which is a

probable

human carcinogen of low carcinogenic hazard.

 

Camphor - found in perfume, fabric

softener,

shaving cream, nail polish, air fresheners, and dishwasher detergent.

It

can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, dizziness, nausea,

confusion,

and tremors.

 

Cinnamaldehyde - found in perfume and

flavors.

It can cause eye, nose, skin and respiratory tract irritation.

 

Citronella - found in perfume, fabric

softener,

shampoo, and nail enamel remover. It can cause eye, nose, skin and

respiratory

tract irritation.

 

Dimethyl sulfate - found in perfume,

dyes,

and pharmaceuticals. It was formally used in chemical warfare. It is a

suspected animal carcinogen and a Group B2, probable human carcinogen.

It can also cause eye, mouth, skin, and respiratory tract irritation.

Severe

exposure may cause lung, heart, kidney and central nervous system

damage,

convulsions, delirium, paralysis, coma, and even death.

 

Ethanol - found in perfume, hairspray,

shampoo, air fresheners, nail polish, nail enamel remover, laundry

detergent,

shaving cream, and dishwashing detergent. It can cause lung, kidney and

liver damage, fatigue, nausea, tremors, anemia, respiratory tract

irritation,

and conjunctivitis.

 

Limonene - found in perfume, flavor

fragrances,

soap, deodorant, nail polish and remover, fabric softener, air

freshener,

aftershave, dishwasher detergent, waterless hand cleaners, and

pesticides.

Limonene is used for its lemon-like flavor and odor. It is a known

animal

carcinogen, yet it is widely used in insect repellents for flea control

on pets such as cats and dogs. It can be a skin, eye, nose, throat

and respiratory tract irritant and it can cause headaches. It is a skin

sensitizer.

 

Linalool - found in perfume, cologne,

air

freshener, aftershave, shaving cream, soap, hand lotion, fabric

softener,

laundry detergent, and dishwashing liquid. It can cause central nervous

system damage such as confusion, depression, and dizziness.

 

Methylene chloride (dichloromethane) -

found in some shampoos, cologne, and paint and varnish remover. In 1988

it was banned by the FDA; however in a 1991 EPA Report on Fragrances,

methylene

chloride was still found in fragranced products. In this report,

methylene

chloride was listed as one of the 20 most common chemicals found in

fragranced

products. It is carcinogenic, and can cause headache, numbness,

irritability,

fatigue, confusion, and central nervous system damage, eye and skin

irritation.

Severe exposure can cause unconsciousness and death.

 

Musk ambrette - found in perfume. It

has

been proven to cause central nervous system damage, weight loss and

muscle

weakness in laboratory animals.

 

Musk tetralin (AETT) - was found in

perfume,

aftershave lotions, colognes, creams, and was used as a masking agent

in

unscented products. This chemical was found to cause irritability,

degeneration

of the brain neurons and changes in the spinal cord in laboratory

animals.

This chemical was voluntarily withdrawn by the fragrance industry in

1977

but it has not been banned by the FDA. It can be reintroduced into the

fragrance industry at any time and there are no guarantees that it is

not

being used now.

 

Styrene oxide - found in perfume and

cosmetics.

It can cause skin and eye irritation. In animals it is known to be a

central

nervous system depressant.

 

a-Terpineol - found in perfume,

cologne,

fabric softener, air fresheners, soap, hairspray, laundry detergent and

bleach, and aftershave. It produces a lilac odor. It can cause eye,

nose,

skin, and respiratory irritation, headache, depression and central

nervous

system damage.

 

Toluene (methyl benzene) - found in

perfume,

soap, cosmetics, nail polish removers, detergents, dyes, aerosol spray

paints, paint strippers, spot removers, gasoline, antifreeze, and

explosives. Petroleum crude oil is the largest source of toluene. It

can

cause damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, and central nervous

system,

skin and eye irritation, numbness, dizziness, tremors, headaches,

confusion,

unconsciousness and death. Chronic exposure can cause loss of memory

and

muscle control, brain damage, problems with speech, hearing and vision.

It is interesting to note that toluene was detected in every fragrance

sample collected by the Environmental Protection Agency for a 1991

report.

 

By S. Moser

 

References:

 

"Acetone Material Safety Data Sheet."

New Jersey Department of Health: Right to Know Program. NJ. 1986.

 

"Acetonitrile." United Air Toxics Website.

Environmental Protection Agency. Available:

http://www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/hlthef/acetonit.html

 

"Benzyl Alcohol." Available:

www.chem.utah.edu

 

"Benzyl Chloride." United Air Toxics

Website.

Environmental Protection Agency. Available:

http://www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/hlthef/benzylch.html

 

"Chemicals in the Environment: Methylene

Chloride." Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, U.S.

Environmental

Protection Agency. 1994.

 

"Chemicals in the Environment: Toluene."

Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, U.S. Environmental

Protection

Agency. 1994.

 

"Citronella Material Safety Data Sheet."

The Good Scents Company. Oak Creek; Wis. 1977.

 

"Cinnamaldehyde Material Safety Data

Sheet."

NTP Chemical Repository, Radian Corporation. 1991.

 

"Dimethyl Sulfate." United Air Toxics

Website. Environmental Protection Agency. Available:

http://www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/hlthef/di-sulfa.html

 

Kendall, Julia. "Making Sense of Scents."

Citizens for a Toxic-Free Marin. Available:

http:www.supernet.net/~jackibar/perfume.html

 

Kendall, Julia. "No Perfume Means

Healthier

Air." Citizens for a Toxic-Free Marin. Available:

http:www.supernet.net/~jackibar/perfume.html

 

"D-Limonene - Techmical Grade Material

Safety Data Sheet." Flordia Chemcial Co. Inc. Available:

www.pdc.cornell.edu

 

"2-Methoxyethanol and

2-Ethoxyethanol)Glycol

Ethers." United Air Toxics Website. Environmental Protection Agency.

Available:

http://www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/hlthef/glycolet.html

 

"R.E.D. Facts Limonene." United States

Prevention, Pesticides EPA -738-F-94-030 Environmental Protection and

Toxic

Substances Agency. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington. DC.

1994.

 

"Styrene Oxide." ." United Air Toxics

Website. Environmental Protection Agency. Available:

http://www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/hlthef/styreneo.html

 

"Toluene Material Safety Data Sheet."

New Jersey Department of Health: Right to Know Program. NJ. 1986.

 

"Uses and Safety: National Toxicology

Program Reports" Fragranced Products Information Network. Available:

http://pw1.netcom.com/~bcb56/use_safety.html

 

Wallace, Lance. "Identification of Polar

Volatile Organic Compounds in Consumer Products and Common

Microenvironments."

Environmental Protection Agency; Washington, DC. 1991.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citizens for A Safe

Learning

Environment

 

287 Lacewood Drive, Unit

103, Suite 178

 

Halifax, Nova Scotia,

B3M 3Y7

 

902 / 457-3002, 861-1851,

443-6237, 885-2395

 

am077

 

www.chebucto.ns.ca/CASLE

 

 

 

**************************************************************

 

HEALTH EFFECTS OF FRAGRANCE

CHEMICALS:

 

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS:

 

breathing

difficulties

sinus problems

 

nausea

sore throats

 

vomiting

coughing

 

stomach cramps

swollen lymph glands

 

sneezing

muscle cramps

 

watery

eyes

heart palpitations

 

exhaustion

rashes

 

trigger for asthma attacks

eczema

 

NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS:

 

migraine

dizziness

 

inability to concentrate

loss of coordination,

 

loss of consciousness

seizures

 

tremors

convulsions

 

weakness

short-term memory loss

 

depression

irritability

 

mood

swings

aggression

 

fatigue

 

narcotic effect of stupor, sleepiness

and hallucinations

 

Many of the fragrance chemicals can act

as sensitizers, which causes immune system damage so that you can

become

allergic to the chemical.

 

References:

 

Candida Research and Information

Foundation,

Castro Valley, CA. 1990.

 

Mary Lamielle, President of the National

Center for Environmental Health Strategies, Voorhees, NJ. 1990