Study: Musks in Fragrances May Weaken Immune System

[Guest guest]

I don't have a link to this as this was info forwarded to me a while

back, but I came across it and figured folks here might be interested.

 

Have a wonderful and safe Independence Day weekend!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

Natural Soap Bases

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

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" FRIDAY, Jan. 7 (HealthDayNews) -- Synthetic musks that are widely

used as fragrances in products such as soaps, cosmetics and

detergents may reduce the body's ability to defend against toxic

compounds, says a study in the January issue of Environmental Health

Perspectives.

 

About 8,000 metric tons of synthetic musks are produced worldwide

each year.

 

In laboratory research using human tissue, researchers at Stanford

University's Hopkins Marine Station found that exposure to synthetic

musks inhibited the tissue's natural defenses against toxic compounds

from California mussels. This effect persisted long after the end of

the tissue's exposure to the synthetic musks.

 

The synthetic musk levels used in this study were several times

higher than those found in the environment, the study authors noted.

However, these musks concentrate in fats, including breast milk, and

remain in human tissue long after exposure. This means that long-term

exposure to these synthetic musks could result in tissue

concentrations high enough to impair natural cellular defenses in

humans, the authors suggested.

 

" While other studies have shown that humans are constantly exposed to

musk compounds, routine toxicology screens have always shown these

compounds to be nontoxic. This study's suggestion that they could

harm the body's ability to fight other toxicants certainly merits

further examination, " Dr. Jim Burkhart, science editor for

Environmental Health Perspectives, said in a prepared statement. "

 

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So...if you use synthetic fragrances, the information above should

concern you. I strongly encourage you to share it with other

discussion lists you may be on.

 

It is NOT just fragrances " called " musk, or that smell " like " musk,

that contain these chemicals.

 

It is found in many synthetic fragrances at a level of 1 to 3.5%.