Do You use Fabric Softener/Dryer Sheets? Think Again!

[Guest guest]

Do You use Fabric Softener/Dryer Sheets? Think Again!

JoAnn Guest

Nov 02, 2004 18:28 PST

 

Compiled by Julia Kendall*, Co-Chair, Citizens for a Toxic-Free

Marin.

Phone: (415) 485-6870.

 

Reference: Lance Wallace, Environmental Protection Agency;

Phone (703) 341-7509. Excerpts from " Health Hazard Information. "

 

References: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Provided with

permission

 

by Barbara Wilkie wilw- of the Environmental Health

Network (of California).

 

[*NOTE: Julia Kendall died July 12, 1997 from Multiple Chemical

Sensitivities and Leukemia caused by pesticide poisoning.]

 

 

---

-----------

 

 

Symptoms of exposure are taken from industry-generated Material

Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

 

[ Greatest Herbs On Earth Note: Material Safety Data Sheets are

governement and industry required informational sheets when using

any type of chemical in the creation process. These sheets show,

among other things, the toxicity of the chemicals used, proper

handling, and much more ]

 

Relevant Facts: This will help you understand the following

information!

 

 

CNS = Central Nervous System, your brain and spine. CNS disorders

include: Alzheimer's Disease, Attention Deficit Disorder, Dementia,

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's

Disease,

Seizures, Strokes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. CNS exposure

symptoms include: aphasia, blurred vision, disorientation,

dizziness, headaches, hunger, memory loss, numbness in face, pain in

neck and spine.

---

 

 

 

Principal chemicals found in Fabric Softeners/Dryer Sheets are:

 

ALPHA-TERPINEOL - Causes CNS (central nervous system) disorders...

" highly irritating to mucous membranes " ... " Aspiration into the

lungs

can produce pneumonitis or even fatal edema. " Can also cause

" excitement, ataxia (loss of muscular coordination), hypothermia,

CNS and respiratory depression, and headache. " " Prevent repeated or

prolonged skin contact. "

 

BENZYL ACETATE - Carconigenic (linked to pancreatic cancer). " From

vapors: irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, exciting

cough. "

" In mice: hyperanemia of the lungs. " " Can be absorbed through the

skin causing systemic effects. " " Do not flush to sewer. "

 

BENZYL ALCOHOL - Causes CNS disorders ... " irritating to the upper

respiratory tract " ... " headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drop in

blood pressure, CNS depression, and death in severe cases due to

respiratory failure. "

 

CHLOROFORM - Neurotoxic. Anesthetic. Carcinogenic. on EPA's

Hazardous

Waste list. " Avoid contact with eyes, skin, clothing. Do not breathe

vapors ...Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting,

dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of

consciousness. " " Inhalation can be fatal. " " Chronic effects of

overexposure may include kidney and/or liver damage. " " Medical

conditions generally aggravated by exposure: kidney disorders, liver

disorders, heart disorders, skin disorders. " " Conditions to avoid:

Heat... " Listed on California's Proposition 65.

 

ETHYL ACETATE - Narcotic. On EPA's Hazardous Waste

list. " ...Irritating

to the eyes and respiratory tract " ... " may cause headache and

narcosis (stupor) " ... " may cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage

to liver and kidneys " . " Wash thoroughly after handling. "

 

LIMONENE - Carcinogenic. " Prevent its contact with skin or eyes

because

it is an irritant and sensitizer. " " Always wash thoroughly after

using this material and before eating, drinking ...applying

cosmetics. Do not inhale limonene vapor. "

 

LINALOOL - Narcotic. Causes CNS disorders. ... " respiratory

disturbances "

.... " Attracts bees. " " In animal tests: ataxic gait, reduced

spontaneous motor activity and depression ...depressed heart

activity...development

of respiratory disturbances leading to death. "

 

PENTANE - " Danger - Harmful if inhaled ...Avoid breathing vapor. "

" Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting,

dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of

consciousness.

 

Repeated inhalation of vapors may cause CNS depression. Contact can

cause eye irritation. Prolonged exposure may cause dermatitis (skin

rash). "

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

[Guest guest]

Hi JoAnn

 

I stopped using fabric softener a while ago because I saw ours contained

formaldehyde. I remember from years ago that it was bad stuff but can't

remember why? My husband keeps asking why it's bad... I just wanted to

reduce the amount of chemicals that we come in contact with.

 

Those chemicals listed, would they be absorbed by the skin when you wear the

clothes or is it the scent they give off that is damaging when breathed in?

 

Ulrike

 

West Wales Ferret Welfare

E-mail: ulrike

http://www.ferretlove.co.uk

Last update 23/10/04

 

 

----

 

 

Principal chemicals found in Fabric Softeners/Dryer Sheets are:

 

ALPHA-TERPINEOL - Causes CNS (central nervous system) disorders...

" highly irritating to mucous membranes " ... " Aspiration into the

lungs

can produce pneumonitis or even fatal edema. " Can also cause

" excitement, ataxia (loss of muscular coordination), hypothermia,

CNS and respiratory depression, and headache. " " Prevent repeated or

prolonged skin contact. "

 

BENZYL ACETATE - Carconigenic (linked to pancreatic cancer). " From

vapors: irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, exciting

cough. "

" In mice: hyperanemia of the lungs. " " Can be absorbed through the

skin causing systemic effects. " " Do not flush to sewer. "

 

BENZYL ALCOHOL - Causes CNS disorders ... " irritating to the upper

respiratory tract " ... " headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drop in

blood pressure, CNS depression, and death in severe cases due to

respiratory failure. "

 

CHLOROFORM - Neurotoxic. Anesthetic. Carcinogenic. on EPA's

Hazardous

Waste list. " Avoid contact with eyes, skin, clothing. Do not breathe

vapors ...Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting,

dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of

consciousness. " " Inhalation can be fatal. " " Chronic effects of

overexposure may include kidney and/or liver damage. " " Medical

conditions generally aggravated by exposure: kidney disorders, liver

disorders, heart disorders, skin disorders. " " Conditions to avoid:

Heat... " Listed on California's Proposition 65.

 

ETHYL ACETATE - Narcotic. On EPA's Hazardous Waste

list. " ...Irritating

to the eyes and respiratory tract " ... " may cause headache and

narcosis (stupor) " ... " may cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage

to liver and kidneys " . " Wash thoroughly after handling. "

 

LIMONENE - Carcinogenic. " Prevent its contact with skin or eyes

because

it is an irritant and sensitizer. " " Always wash thoroughly after

using this material and before eating, drinking ...applying

cosmetics. Do not inhale limonene vapor. "

 

LINALOOL - Narcotic. Causes CNS disorders. ... " respiratory

disturbances "

..... " Attracts bees. " " In animal tests: ataxic gait, reduced

spontaneous motor activity and depression ...depressed heart

activity...development

of respiratory disturbances leading to death. "

 

PENTANE - " Danger - Harmful if inhaled ...Avoid breathing vapor. "

" Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting,

dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of

consciousness.

 

Repeated inhalation of vapors may cause CNS depression. Contact can

cause eye irritation. Prolonged exposure may cause dermatitis (skin

rash). "

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, " Ulrike "

<ferretlove_uk> wrote:

>

> Hi JoAnn

>

> I stopped using fabric softener a while ago because I saw ours

contained

> formaldehyde. I remember from years ago that it was bad stuff but

can't

> remember why? My husband keeps asking why it's bad... I just

wanted to

> reduce the amount of chemicals that we come in contact with.

>

> Those chemicals listed, would they be absorbed by the skin when

you wear the

> clothes or is it the scent they give off that is damaging when

breathed in?

>

> Ulrike

>

Hi Ulrike!

I believe the message speaks for itself, although from what I've

read regarding numerous chemicals the effects are replicated by

heating and would be easily absorbed through the skin. We are

surrounded by harmful chemicals and to use them to soften our

clothing at the risk of destroying our health is so ludicrous to me.

Unfortunately, detergents pose a risk as well, but at least we know

that if it undergoes a thorough rinsing, it will not pose that much

of a health hazard! The very water that we use to wash our clothes

includes tons of chemicals, which is something to ponder.

For years I have just taken it for granted that tap water contains

fluorides. So I said, " live with it " , everybody else does. Recently

there have been a few things occurring that have really opened my

eyes to the dangers involved. I had been having some problems with

my eyes. I thought that it may have been allergies as that was the

way the symptoms were reacting. For some reason I started linking

these problems with tap water (fluorides). The symptoms started to

subside over a very short interim after utilizing spring water

instead of tap for the daily eye cleanse. It makes you wonder

really, how many unrecognized ailments could be linked to something

so seemingly benign as tap water??

Something to think about!

Blessings, JoAnn

 

PS. There are SO many carcinogens listed, that is what impacts me and the fact

that so many people use them!

..

> PENTANE - " Danger - Harmful if inhaled ...Avoid breathing vapor. "

> " Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting,

> dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of

> consciousness.

>

> Repeated inhalation of vapors may cause CNS depression. Contact can

> cause eye irritation. Prolonged exposure may cause dermatitis (skin

> rash). "

> _________________

>

> JoAnn Guest

> mrsjo-

> DietaryTi-

> www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for providing the info. I am going to add it to my

website for parents of babies. I knew to stay away from it, but not

the seriousness of the problem. I am a chemical avoidance freak and

I think my babies will benefit in a great way. We are so chemical

and scent free that when my stepdaughter comes to our house I almost

choke from the scent on her clothes. I don't know if it is detergent

or fabric softener, but it is AWFUL. Maybe that's why she is so

dingy? And I'm not saying that to be funny. Of course all chemical

loads are more detrimental to newborns and all the bleaches,

detergents and fabric softeners parents tend to use have been found

to increase SIDS deaths in New Zealand. I am so glad that I have

this information and can prevent as much stuff as possible from

getting to us!

Evie

www.thediaperlady.com

 

, " JoAnn Guest "

<angelprincessjo> wrote:

> Unfortunately, detergents pose a risk as well, but at least we

know

> that if it undergoes a thorough rinsing, it will not pose that

much

> of a health hazard!