It's Not the Smell, It's the Chemical - PERMISSION TO SHARE WITH ALL YOU KNOW...

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It's Not the Smell, It's the Chemical

 

Typical laundry detergents may be imparting more on your clothing than a “

fresh†scent. Most contain a toxic slew of chemicals that leave residues

behind

on your clothing that can potentially be absorbed by your skin or evaporated

into the air for you to breathe in.

 

Most laundry detergents in your typical grocery store contain:

* Petroleum distillates (aka napthas), which have been linked to

cancer

* Phenols, which can cause toxicity throughout the entire body

* Artificial fragrances, which have been linked to various toxic

effects on fish and mammals

* Phosphates, which stimulate the growth of certain marine plants when

they’re released into the environment and contribute to unbalanced

ecosystems

* Optical brighteners, which can be toxic to fish and can cause

bacterial mutations and allergic reactions

Almost all detergents contain fragrance - even many that are labeled " no

perfume " or " unscented " .

The problem with scented products is not so much the smell itself as the

chemicals that produce the smell. Nearly all scented products currently on the

market are made largely or entirely of synthetic chemicals, usually derived

from petroleum or coal tar. Nearly one-third of the chemical additives used in

perfumes and other scented products are known to be toxic, and it's not safe

to assume that the other chemicals are safe just because they aren't yet

known to be toxic.

Fragrances are not regulated by any government or health agency. According

to John Baily, PhD, Director, Colors and Cosmetics, FDA, " The fragrance and

cosmetic industry is the least-regulated industry. There is no pre-clearing of

chemicals with any agency. " There is no law that requires fragrance

ingredients to be put on product labels.

Regular users of scented products often say they " can hardly smell it. "

These products deaden your natural ability to smell, making you want to use

more

and stronger fragrances. Meanwhile, what you think is a light fragrance is

suffocating and nauseating people around you.

Fabric Softeners

People are discovering that fabric softeners are some of the most toxic

products made for daily household use. They contain chemicals that are known to

cause cancer and/or damage to lungs, brain, and nerves. These chemicals are

even more dangerous when heated in clothes dryers.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and

industry-generated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the 1990s, the

following is a

list of chemicals in fabric softener products, most in untested combinations.

Liquid fabric softeners additionally may contain formaldehyde.

* Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer.

* Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant.

* Ethanol: On the EPA's Hazardous Waste list and can cause central

nervous system disorders.

* Limonene: Known carcinogen.

* A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema,

and central nervous system damage.

* Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list.

* Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders.

* Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic.

* Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders.

* Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled.

The chemicals in fabric softeners are pungent and strong smelling -- so

strong that they require the use of these heavy fragrances (think 50 times as

much fragrance) to cover up the smells. Furthermore, synthetic fabrics, which

are the reason fabric softeners were created in the first place, do not smell

good either when heated in a dryer or heated by our bodies ... hence the need

for even more hefty fragrances.

To hide the chemical smell, companies load fabric softeners full of chemical

fragrances, which are potentially carcinogenic.

Fabric softeners are designed to stay on clothing for a long period of time

and slowly release their chemicals throughout the day, which leads to

prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals. They enter the body both through

inhalation

or are absorbed through the skin.

Chemicals Make Us Sick

The more often you breathe in these chemicals (24 hours a day if they are in

clothes and bedding), the more likely you are to permanently damage your

body. They also add to the damage done by chemicals present at work and in

public places. You may feel tired, breathless or lightheaded, sick to your

stomach, or get a headache, and not realize these are early signs of chemical

poisoning.

Some of the symptoms experienced from prolonged exposure to the chemicals in

dryer sheets include headaches, nausea, vomiting , dizziness, central

nervous system disorders, blood pressure reduction, fatigue, difficulty

breathing,

skin irritation, difficulty concentrating and remembering, cancer, irritation

to skin, mucus membranes and respiratory tract, and liver damage.

Safer Alternatives Exist

· Add a quarter cup of baking soda to wash cycle to soften fabric

· Add a quarter cup of white vinegar to rinse to soften fabric and

eliminate cling

· Check out your local health food store for a natural fabric

softener that uses a natural base like soy instead of chemicals

Remember, scents don't clean and scents don't freshen; they do pollute.

 

 

 

Mountain Green – least toxic brand readily available at the market.

 

 

 

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