Air pollution at work due to fragrances your colleagues wear has become almost as big an issue as secondhand smoke used to be.

Both are about indoor air quality and public health. Secondhand smoke affects the lungs and can cause cancer.

Synthetic chemicals like those found in perfume affect the nervous system and can cause debilitating headaches, nausea, joint pain and respiratory discomfort.

These conditions are magnified for people suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) — symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, congestion, sore throat, chest pain, diarrhea and breathing problems — which can all be linked to contact with low levels of chemicals such as those in perfume at work.

“Fragrance is a known respiratory irritant and neurological toxin,” writes researcher Christy De Vader of Loyola University of Maryland.

“For many people, such as those exposed to asthma, exposure to perfume can pose serious health risks such as migraines, nausea, tightening of the throat, and respiratory impairment.”

If you already suffer from hay fever and asthma, smelling synthetic fragrance can make it worse.[/box]

How Perfume at Work Makes Us Sick

The fragrances used in most commercial perfumes and aftershave lotions are actually made up of chemical compounds, many derived from petroleum or coal tar.

Over the past 50 years, notes Loyola’s De Vader, 80-90 percent of fragrances have been synthesized from petroleum.

They may also contain acetone, phenol, toluene, benzyl acetate and limonene, toxic chemicals that have been linked to a whole host of human illnesses.

The fragrance industry uses over 4,000 chemical ingredients to make their products and over 80 percent of these chemicals have not been tested for their toxicity, reported the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in their 2003 Health and Safety Bulletin.

Even if you choose unscented products, they may still contain fragrances that could trigger a rash or allergic reaction, Prevention magazine reported in August, 2001. “Unscented” products could actually contain other chemicals that block unpleasant ingredient odors.

And if your coworkers aren’t using perfume, cologne or aftershave, they could still be applying lotions, hairspray, deodorant and even sunscreen infused with synthetic fragrances. For those who are particularly chemically sensitive, even that can be too much.

Some companies are taking matters into their own hands and putting policies in place that restrict employees from coming to work smelling of any kind of fragrance.

Click here to learn about 16 surprising things that may be polluting the air in your home or workplace.

√  Talk with your human resources department. If necessary, provide a note from your doctor explaining how your sensitivity to fragrance is affecting your health and work performance.

√  Ask to remove fragranced products such as deodorant, hair spray, aftershave or perfume in restrooms, or get them replaced with products that are truly fragrance-free.

√  Install air purifiers, or put a small fan on your desk to keep air circulating. You may also need to wear a respirator mask.

√  Ask employees to voluntarily limit use of fragranced products if your workplace won’t institute a policy.

√  Work from home as much as possible.

Encourage your employer to follow the lead of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. They’ve had a fragrance-free policy in effect since 2009 that not only includes perfume at work, but also:

⇒ Incense, candles, or reed diffusers

⇒ Fragrance-emitting devices of any kind

⇒ Wall-mounted devices, similar to fragrance-emitting devices, that operate automatically or by pushing a button to dispense deodorizers or disinfectants

⇒ Potpourri

⇒ Plug-in or spray air fresheners

⇒ Urinal or toilet blocks

⇒ Other fragranced deodorizer/re-odorizer products

Further, “Personal care products (e.g., colognes, perfumes, essential oils, scented skin and hair products) should not be applied at or near actual workstations, restrooms, or anywhere in CDC-owned or leased buildings.”

CDC also encourages employees to be as fragrance-free as possible when they arrive in the workplace.

“Fragrance is not appropriate for a professional work environment, and the use of some products with fragrance may be detrimental to the health of workers with chemical sensitivities, allergies, asthma, and chronic headaches/migraines,” the organization says on its website.

“Employees should avoid scented detergents and fabric softeners on clothes worn to the office. Many fragrance-free personal care and laundry products are easily available and provide safer alternatives.”

Has your employer put a fragrance-free policy in place? If not, send a copy of the American Lung Association policy and encourage other employees to limit perfume use.

The post Is Perfume at Work Making You Sick? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

We spend 90% of our time indoors – where the air is 2x – 5x more polluted than outdoor air. Shouldn’t the air we breathe indoors be as clean as possible? You bet, especially given how sick tainted indoor air can make us. In this previous post, we reviewed the top 16 causes of indoor air pollution. But what’s important is to fix the problem, which is why we’re focusing here on indoor air pollution solutions.

Fortunately, the solutions we’re suggesting are pretty easy actions, many of which you can take yourself and at an affordable price. But the truth is, if you’re suffering from indoor air pollution, you really can’t afford NOT to act. Hopefully this guide will make it a little easier for you.

Indoor Air Pollution Solutions

1) Test for Radon & Mold – It is easy to spot moldy build-up in your bathroom or around a drain. It is black or spotty and is hard to get rid of when it’s dark and damp. But mold can also build up inside an air conditioning system, where it’s difficult to see. Radon, meanwhile, can get into your home through cracks in your foundation or fissures in your walls. As a matter of course, have your home HVAC system inspected annually to maintain top performance. The inspector can test for mold at that time. As for radon, the U.S. EPA recommends starting here to find a qualified inspector who can also recommend mitigation if necessary. Home radon testing kits are also available online and in hardware stores.

2) Fix Water Leaks – You may be able to fix water leaks yourself by replacing a washer in a faucet or taping a pipe. If that doesn’t do the trick, call in a plumber. Many plumbing companies offer monthly service specials that will help you save a few bucks on the visit, but even if they don’t, you’ll end up saving money on your water bill in the long run once you have the drip fixed.

3) Repair Gas Leaks – If you suspect a gas leak from your stove or furnace, call your gas company immediately and they’ll send someone out to check your appliances and keep you safe. At the very least, install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to alert you if the gas reaches dangerous levels. Most smoke alarms these days also include a carbon monoxide detector. They’re inexpensive to buy and easy to install.

4) Install Air Filter Systems & Replace Filters Regularly – Air filters trap dust before it has a chance to circulate around your interior living space. But they need to be changed regularly in order to do their job. Get to know how to change the filters on your HVAC system and air exchange vents in your home. The filters are very inexpensive and easy to change out yourself.

5) Ventilate Your Bathrooms – Keep air circulating your bathrooms to prevent moisture and mold build-up. If you have windows, crack them open, especially when someone is taking a shower or bath. Install a ceiling or wall fan to help the space dry out more quickly.

6) Avoid Cleaning Products Filled with Artificial Fragrances – Forget so-called air fresheners and spray cleaners that rely on synthetic fragrances and phthalates, which mask orders rather than get rid of them. Instead, find the source of the bad odor and dispose of it. Simmer a pot of water and some cinnamon sticks, cloves and lemon to freshen up the smell of a room. Or here’s a unique idea: open a window and let in fresh air. Especially during winter months when our houses are all closed up, rooms can start to smell a little stale. Open a window for a few minutes and let a brisk breeze do what no artificial fragrances can – actually freshen the air. And remember, you can clean pretty much everything in your home with baking soda, water, vinegar, fragrance-free liquid detergent, and some lemon juice.

7) Skip Synthetic Perfumes, Deodorants, and Personal Sprays – Like cleaning products, personal care products may be filled with chemicals that hang around in the air and make us feel ill rather than pep us up. If you want a little perfume, dab some plant-based essential oil behind your ears or on your wrists. You can find lavender, jasmine, rose, and any number of other flower-based fragrances to choose from. Look for fragrance-free roll-on deodorants, too.

8) Make Your Home Tobacco Smoke-Free – No one should smoke inside your home. No one. If you and your guests must smoke, do it outdoors, out of consideration for any children or others who should not or don’t want to be subjected to your second-hand smoke.

9) Use No- and Low-VOC Paints – Pretty much any color paint you would want to use is now available from many paint companies in a no- or low-VOC option. Remember, the VOCs are what give you the headaches, nausea and sometimes even flu-like symptoms. Why put yourself through that when a no- or low-VOC option is so easily available?

10) Wash Bedding Frequently – If you or family members are susceptible to dust mites, you may find that you need to wash your bedding every week in hot water. Of course, you may do this as a matter of course, anyway. But it’s highly recommended to control dust mite build-up.

11) Place Floor Mats Outside Your Home Entry Points or Right Inside the Door, and Take Off Shoes Upon Entry – Our shoes track in all manner of pollutants, from basic dirt to pesticides that someone might have sprayed on their lawn. Keep them from contaminating your living space by wiping your shoes before you enter your home, and taking your shoes off once you get inside the door. Keep a pair of slippers near the door so it becomes habit to slip off your shoes as soon as you come in.

12) Clean Up After Your Pet – In addition to cleaning up any accidents your pet might have, make sure you vacuum regularly to pull up fur that’s been shed and dirt your pets might have brought into the home from outside. I keep a cloth by my door to wipe off the pets’ paws when they come in, especially if it’s been raining outside.

13) Leave Asbestos Alone – If you think your shingles or tiles might be made from asbestos, leave them alone if they are in good shape. However, if you are renovating or the tiles are deteriorating and they have to be removed, hire a licensed contractor to do the job. Asbestos if very dangerous and your should not work with it under any circumstances.

14) Hire a Professional to Remove Lead Paint – Because lead paint chips and peels, it is dangerous to have around. Ingesting lead causes birth defects, developmental delays, and many serious health problems that can be easily avoided by getting rid of the offending lead. It is essential to hire a professional who can capture the contaminated paint and dust as they are being removed. This is one of those fixes that does cost some money, but it is crucial to do this job correctly.

15) Reduce Wall-to-Wall Carpeting if Possible – Most carpeting is a trap for dirt, dust, and pollutants we and our pets track in from outdoors. Plus, cleaning wall-to-wall carpeting often involves strong chemicals infused with synthetic fragrances that can give us headaches and otherwise make us feel ill at ease. If it is possible to replace wall-to-wall carpeting with wood flooring and area rugs you can easily clean, go for it! If not, carpeting really needs to be vacuumed at least once a week, and cleaned with water-based, fragrance-free, non-toxic cleansers.

Many thanks to AirFilterBuy.com, our sponsors for this very useful and informative post. For more information, and to see a complete infographic about both the causes of and solutions to indoor air pollution, stop in here.

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