FRAGRANCE FREE ORGANIZATIONS SEE LOWER ON PAGEPlease share our site and information.How Safe Are Cosmetics? New Bill Wants to Find Out There is nothing that the Food and Drug Administration can legally do about it. But that may begin to change as two Democratic lawmakers -- Reps. Jan Schakowsky from Illinois and Edward Markey from Massachusetts -- introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 today. If passed, it will be the first meaningful effort to give the FDA the teeth, tools and mandate to protect consumers from harmful products that are used by almost everyone. Under the current absence of oversight, it's legal for cosmetics companies to use virtually any ingredient with no pre-market safety assessment. This has bothered many of FDA's risk experts and toxicologists, who say they're eager to have the authority to delve into the litany of potentially hazardous chemicals in these products. "This law is absolutely needed and the authority it will give FDA is even more crucial now as many manufacturers are using nano-sized chemicals such as titanium dioxide in their cosmetic and health products," an FDA risk assessor told AOL News at the Institute of Food Technologists annual meeting in Chicago this week. Some of what the legislation calls for includes: Many in the public health community hope that the legislation will prevent the cosmetic industry from hiding behind the overused and lobbyists-protected "confidential business information" exclusion, which has for decades allowed companies to refuse giving regulators information. "The industry insists it has to have the confidential business information rule, otherwise they [competitors] will know what is in our products," explained Stephenie Hendrick, environmental health media coordinator working with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and other groups. "The scientists at the companies already know what are in each others' products. It's only the public that's kept in the dark." The FDA is already conducting studies on some components of sunscreen. Paul Howard, director of the FDA's office of Scientific Coordination, told a room filled with attendees in a daylong conference on nanotechnology that the FDA is completing studies on the use of nano-sized titanium dioxide in sunscreens. For four weeks, pigs were slathered with sunscreen with differing sizes of nanoparticles. This is important because of controversy over the safety of titanium dioxide in many sunscreen and personal care products. He told the scientists that the preliminary studies showed the nanoparticles did not penetrate the skin deep enough to be harmful, but quickly added that more studies were being conducted. A Long Time Coming In 1938, Congress passed the Federal Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Its provisions required new products to be shown safe before marketing. That pretty much never happened with cosmetics. "This legislation would create a system that people think already exists -- one that requires companies to assess chemicals for safety and disclose all the ingredients in their products," Stacy Malkan, co-founder of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, told AOL News. "We all put these products on our bodies, and all of us are exposed to the toxic chemicals that are commonly found in cosmetics," she added, and cited the carcinogens formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane, which are found in bath products and shampoos; phthalates in fragrances and the antibacterial agent triclosan. Triclosan, which has become ubiquitous in scores of health care products, has a link to dioxin derivatives. That has raised concerns in several peer-reviewed animal studies that showed it can be highly carcinogenic and can weaken the immune system, decrease fertility, damage sex hormones and cause miscarriage and birth defects. However, while the FDA says that triclosan is not currently known to be hazardous to humans, it nevertheless is doing studies on the health effects of the chemical. Its findings should be made public next spring. Consumers Believe FDA Is Their Protector Under the present law, FDA can't even begin to regulate cosmetics until they are already on store shelves, which means they can be sold to the pubic without safety testing of the product or its ingredients. "Most people assume the FDA regulates cosmetics the same way it does food and drugs to ensure they are safe. In reality, cosmetics are one of the least-regulated consumer products on the market today," said Janet Nudelman, program director of the Breast Cancer Fund. "When there are cancer-causing chemicals in baby shampoo and mercury in skin cream, you know the regulatory system is broken," she added The Environmental Working Group has been studying cosmetics for years, and everywhere it has looked it has found hazardous or untested cosmetics ingredients. Jane Houlihan, the group's vice president for research, said its testing has found that blood and urine samples from 20 teen girls from across the country were tainted with an average of 13 potential hormone-disrupting preservatives, plasticizers and other cosmetic chemicals. Also, in umbilical cord blood from 10 newborn babies, synthetic musk fragrances were found to have crossed the mother's placenta to pollute the baby's body before birth, she added. Houlihan called the proposed federal legislation "long overdue," saying it would finally close major gaps in the law, giving FDA real authority to ensure that personal care products sold in the U.S. meet a basic standard of safety. The feelings on Capitol Hill are that this legislation will pass without much opposition. That's mainly because the trade association, in a letter to lawmakers last week, said it "plans to support legislation that would strengthen and modernize regulatory oversight of the industry and create a greater role for the FDA in assessing ingredient safety for personal care products." That was seen as a smart move by the industry's Personal Care Products Council because the public is demanding more information on the safety of the products it uses. Congress is already up to its neck in reforming EPA's dangerously antiquated Toxic Substances Control Act. Food safety legislation is moving through both the House and Senate and parties on all sides of the cosmetic safety battle knew that FDA's responsibility for personal safety products would be under the congressional microscope next.
SOME SCENT FREE FACILITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND EVENTS -WHO IN USA AND OTHER PLACES OBJECT TO TOXIC PERFUMES AND FRAGRANCES. CHECK OUT THE LIST AND ADD YOUR FACILITY OR SCHOOL OR PLACE OF WORK TO THIS LIST.National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation, POB 29194, Las Vegas, NV 89126 Personal communication from angel@mcs-global.org Chemical Injury Information Network (CIIN) The Chemical Sensitivity Foundation http://www.chemicalsensitivityfoundation.org/ Environmental Sensitivities Research Institute http://www.esri.org/index.html Global Recognition Campaign for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity HEAL®—Human Ecology Action League Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) committee (fragrance-free philosophy statement) http://www.matcmadison.edu/match/employee/officeholders/ MCS Beacon of Hope http://www.mcsbeaconofhope.com/ MCS NYC MCS Referral & Resources Share, Care and Prayer, Inc. http://www.sharecareprayer.org/ Chemically Injured (CSSS) of Phoenix HEAL http://www.geocities.com/phxheal HEAL of Southern Arizona Environmental Health Network of California Rocky Mountain Environmental Health Association Ecological Health Organization http://www.echomcsct.homestead.com/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Chemical Sensitivity Coalition of Chicago (CFCCC) http://www.mcshealthenviron.org/ Massachusetts Association for the Chemically Injured (MACI) http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/maci/ Planet Thrive Feminist Therapy Associates, El Cerrito, CA (scent-free psychotherapist’s office) http://www.FeministTherapyAssociates.com http://www.dragonflyvillage.com/jeannec56 Center for Disabilities Studies, University of Delaware, Wilmington, DE (scent-free) http://www.serviceandinclusion.org/conf/RehobothRegForm.doc INTERNATIONAL
MCS Canadian Sources University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada (scent-free workplace) http://www.ottawahospital.on.ca/ about/reports/access-res03-04-e.pdf Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, ON, Canada (scent-free) “If you are sending flowers to someone in hospital, please ensure they are...” http://www.kgh.on.ca/media/media_releases.asp http://www.kgh.on.ca/media/media_releases/MR_05_july01.asp Hotel Dieu, Kingston, ON, Canada (scent free work environment) “... Patients who do come into the hospital wearing scented products will be...) http://www.hoteldieu.com/scentfree.html Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, ON, Canada (scent-free) “Scented personal products like perfume, cologne, aftershave, scented deodorant, talc...” http://www.osmh.on.ca/know.htm Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital, Niagara on the Lake, ON, Canada http://www.aahd.us/conferences/FlyerJul2005.pdf
Ontario Federation of Labour Allergy Alert, ON, Canada (scent free) http://www.whsc.on.ca/Publications/hazardbulletins/summer2002/fragrances.htm Adelaide Gay and Lesbian Cultural Festival, Nov, 4-27, 2005, Adelaide, South Australia (scent free) http://www.feast.org.au/2005/?article=news&view=news&id=10220624 3rd Western Nurse Leaders Forum, Power Through Leadership in Practice, Nov. 23 - 25, 2005, Westin Hotel, Edmonton, AB, Canada (scent-free) http://www.buksa.com/conferences/NLF/Forum-AdvanceProgram.pdf Special Seminar Joe Wong January 14-15, 2006 General Hospital, Toronto; Wellesley Hospital, Toronto; Lyndhurst Spinal Hospital, Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada “Scent Free Environment Policy: please, no perfume!” http://www.afcinstitute.com/forms/ Special Seminar Joe Wong January 14-15, 2006 Brochure3.doc Middlesex Hospital Alliance, Middlesex, ON, Canada (fragrance free facility) http://www.mhalliance.on.ca/smgh/ jobs/JobPostingDetailsSMGH.aspx?ID=247 Leamington District Hospital, Leamington, ON, Canada (scent free) http://www.leamingtonhospital.com/ for-your-information/patientinfo.htm Grand River Hospital, Freeport Health Centre, Kitchener, ON, Canada “Due to patient and staff allergies, fragrance-free products are strongly…” http://www.grandriverhospital.on.ca/ patient/complex/pat-com-healthinfo.cfm Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, ON, Canada (scent free) http://www.cheo.on.ca/english/4040.html
USMaine Dept. of Labor, ME http://www.safetyworksmaine.com/pdf/news_spring04.pdf.
The Department of the Interior, Guidance and Training on Greening Your Janitorial Business http://www.doi.gov/greening/sustain/trad.htm
CURE Childhood Cancer Cautions Parents on Increased Cancer Risk for Children From Gene-Damaging Chemicals, Monday October 3, 10:39 am ET Recent EPA Announcement Says Children May Be More Vulnerable ATLANTA, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- CURE Childhood Cancer wants to alert parents about the substantially greater risk of cancer to children versus adults from a variety of pollutants, based on a recent EPA environmental guidelines update. (“Use fragrance-free fabric softeners and dryer static
sheets when doing laundry, and avoid plug-in or other room fresheners. Chemicals that make dryer sheets smell
good are known poisons.”)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051003/clm047.html?.v=22
Shutesbury, MA “…recommended, and the town agreed, that the annual town meeting would be scent-free with a separate area for people who forgot…” http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/dda/subs/sub194.pdf
Ohio Governors Council on People with Disabilities, OH “The
Committee established a ‘scent free' environment for participants with
disabilities attending the …”
http://www.gcpd.ohio.gov/Aug1503Mins.htm
Transportation and the 2005-06 California Budget, CA “…please attend the meeting smoke and scent-free...” http://www.sccrtc.org/packet/2005/0505/TPWagenda0505.htm Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Agenda: 3/8/2005, CA “… please attend the meeting smoke and scent free...” http://www.sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/Govstream/
ORGANIZATIONS / OFFICES
USAmerican Public Health Association http://www.apha.org/meetings/access.htm - cs Protection Advocacy Inc., Sacramento, CA “ PAI requests that employees (and applicants) refrain from wearing scented products (e.g. scented perfumes/colognes or lotions etc.) in all PAI locations. This includes an employee’s regular work site and other PAI offices, regional centers, state hospitals or other facilities.” http://www.ndrn.org/jobs/CA_PATIENTS_RIGHTS_ADVOCAT.htm National Institute of Building Sciences - Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Cleaner Air Rooms “…be perfume and scent free (no hair spray, no mousse gels, lotions...”) http://www.ieq.nibs.org/rooms/app_b.php Artists with Disabilities Alliance http://www.angelfire.com/mn3/awda Santa Cruz AA Boulder Creek Meetings, Santa Cruz, CA (fragrance free) http://www.aasantacruz.org/schedule/BC.htm Scent-free environmentally conscious office, Colorado
Springs, CO
http://www.snowcrest.net/lassen/eident.html Seattle Job Board, Seattle, WA (fragrance free office) http://www.businesscareers.com/
INTERNATIONAL
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/scent_free.html
South Australian Task Force on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Response to The Environmental Public Health Crisis Of Chemical Injury, Port Adelaide, South Australia http://www.feast.org.au/2005/?article=news&view=news&id=10220624 GreenCampus (appeal to the staff of the University of Ottawa for scent-free indoor spaces) Ottawa, ON, Canada http://www.ie.uottawa.ca/English/ AboutIE/green campus description.pdf The SGS Library at 1870 Lorne Street in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada http://www.saskgenealogy.com/general/sgs_library_hours.htm Canadian Association of Electroneurophysiology Technologists, IWK Health Centre Halifax, NS, Canada (scent free) Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/scent_free.html Canadian Hearing Society, London, ON, Canada “…all visitors, consumers and clients to the London Office refrain from wearing perfume, cologne and scented lotions.” http://www.chs.ca/offices/london/pdf/fall winter 2005.pdf Australian Chemical Trauma Alliance Inc http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/dda/subs/sub194.rtf Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists / Société canadienne des pharmaciens d'hôpitaux “Smoke-Free, Scent Free” http://www.cshp.ca/productsServices/cjhp/2004/february_e.asp Application For Child Care Subsidy Brampton and Mississauga, ON, Canada “…we request that you refrain from wearing scented...” http://www.peelregion.ca/childcar/pdfs/subsidy-application.pdf
SCHOOLS with scent-free policy
USJefferson City Public School, MO http://www.adaproject.org/FragranceFreePolicy.html Shutesbury Elementary School, Shutesbury, MA (scent free) http://www.shutesbury.k14.mass.edu/ parentguide/7SchoolProcedures.html
INTERNATIONALHealthy Schools Project Advisory Committee, Peel Region, ON,
Canada
“…scent-free strategies…” http://www.pollutionprobe.org/Reports/schools
append.pdf
Digby Regional High, Digby, NS, Canada (scent-free school) http://www.digbyregionalhigh.ednet.ns.ca/pages/administration.htm
Landmark East (International School for students with learning disabilities), Wolfville, NS, Canada (scent free school) http://www.landmarkeast.org/pdffiles/ Student & Parent Handbook.pdf Vernon Barford School, Edmonton, AB, Canada (scent free school) Meadowbrook Elementary School, Coquitlam, BC, Canada (scent free school) Northeast Kings, NS, Canada (scent-free school) http://www.nkec.ednet.ns.ca/News.htm Colby Village Elementary School, Halifax, NS, Canada (scent free school) http://www.colbyvillage.ednet.ns.ca/policies/scentfree.htm
UNIVERSITIES
Office of Career Services at Polytechnic University (fragrance- free) http://media.poly.edu/alumni/job_posting/job_display.cfm?volID=105&vol_num=25&vol_date=2005-01-01 University of Wisconsin-Stout, Student Health Services, W. Menomonie, WI “Avoid fabric softeners and use scent-free detergents.” http://www.uwstout.edu/studenthealth/ documents/BattlingDrySkin.doc INTERNATIONALUniversity of Calgary Scent Free Awareness Program, a joint health promotion project of University of Calgary Indoor Air Quality Committee, Calgary, AB, Canada http://www.ucalgary.ca/scentfree/ University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada “the 3rd floor of the University Center, will be designated a scent-free area...” http://www.slcs.uoguelph.ca/csd/UofGCSDscentfreecampaign.cfm University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada “Avoid using scented products; instead, use scent-free alternatives.” http://www.utoronto.ca/safety/ScentsGuidelines.htm University of Toronto School of Social Work. (scent free guidelines) http://www.socialwork.utoronto.ca/fsw/ McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada “Persons entering our facilities should be encouraged to use scent-free...”) http://www.workingatmcmaster.ca/link. php?link=eohss:eohss-sa%20guidelines Athabasca University, Calgary Learning Centre, Calgary, AB, Canada (scent free) http://www.athabascau.ca/html/depts/lrn_centres/clc.htm Athabasca University, Edmonton Learning Centre, Edmonton, AB, Canada (scent free) http://www.athabascau.ca/html/depts/lrn_centres/elc/elc.htm University of Prince Edward Island Occupational Health and Safety, PEI, Canada (“scent free on campus is voluntary…”) Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) http://www.upei.ca/humanres/20Dec02.min.pdf University of King's College, Halifax, NS, Canada (scent free) http://www.ukings.ns.ca/kings_3483.html University of Waterloo Campus Sustainability Assessment. Framework Guide, Waterloo, ON, Canada “ Total square metres of scent-free indoor spaces…” http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infowast/watgreen/projects/library/w04sustframework.pdf University of Windsor, Faculty of Nursing, Windsor, ON, Canada (make-up may be used conservatively, but must be scent-free)
BUSINESSES
USEnvirologics - Non toxic Design and Building. Environmental Depot - Non Toxic Building Materials and Home Improvement. Trattoria Nostrani Restaurant, Santa Fe, New Mexico (fragrance free environment) http://www.trattorianostrani.com/reservations/ CyberWolf Inc., 1596 Pacheco, Suite 203 , Santa Fe, NM, 87505: ... http://www.acumenbook.com/Home/howapply.cfm Anderson Laboratories http://www.andersonlaboratories.com/alweb30.htm http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehnlinx/donmix.htm
LODGING
USBed and Bagels of Tucson, Tucson, AZ (Saltillo tile floors, scent-free cosmetics, natural insecticides, no fresh paint or carpeting odors, cotton bed linens, a chlorine filter in the shower, non-allergenic cleaning products, and stainless steel cookware) “Bed and Bagel accommodates even those with the toughest of environmental and chemical sensitivities” http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/report/Spring-05/asksandy.htm Garratt Mansion, Alameda, CA (certified by Alameda County as a green business, waste management, water, appliances, and cleaning supplies pass rigorous inspections, landscaping redesigned for water conservation, pest control, and composting areas, drains flushed monthly with baking soda and vinegar, linens are line-dried,no potpourri, room deodorizers, and fragrance dryer sheets, most cleaning is done with microfiber cloths, vinegar and baking soda, cotton linens and robes, and choice of feather or hypo-allergenic pillows) http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/report/Spring-05/asksandy.htm The Stone Lion Inn, Wellfleet, MA (low-allergen environment, scent and dye-free detergents for laundry and washing, unscented, all natural cleaning agents used for day-to-day cleaning, low concentration bleach-water mixture (mixed at the inn to avoid dyes & perfumes) for sanitizing toilets, down-alternative comforters and fiberfill pillows, wood floors, no wall-to-wall carpeting) http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/report/Spring-05/asksandy.htmCountry Life B&B, Saratoga Springs, NY (environmentally sensitive innkeeper, pillows and mattress covers are hypo-allergenic, all cleaning and laundry done with fragrance-free cleaning products utilizing vinegar, baking soda, and other natural products) http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/report/Spring-05/asksandy.htm Walnut Lawn B&B, Lancaster, PA (committed to maintaining a healthy, chemical-free environment, no strong-scented or aerosol cleaning products or room deodorizers, air-conditioning and HEPA filters in vacuum cleaners, a portable HEPA room filter is also available, hormone-free eggs and milk from local farms served at breakfast with organic fruits in season) http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/report/Spring-05/asksandy.htm 1807 Phoebe Pember House, Charleston, (allergy-sensitive innkeeper, organic soy-based detergents and fabric softeners, hardwood floors cleaned regularly with plain black tea, vinegar is the main cleaning staple, guests can request hypo-allergenic pillows) http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/report/Spring-05/asksandy.htm Barclay Cottage, Virginia Beach, VA (hypo-allergenic mattress toppers and pillows, fragrance-free detergents used to clean all linens, no chemical softener additives, non-allergenic amenities including soaps and shampoos) http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/report/Spring-05/asksandy.htm Holly Inn Gardens, Bainbridge Island, WA (ask for the allergy-free units, bedding and toweling washed in fragrance-free detergents, non-toxic cleaning products) http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/report/Spring-05/asksandy.htm White Pines Victorian Lodge, Sturgeon Bay, WI (chemically-sensitive innkeeper, no pesticides or herbicides, natural cotton linens washed with perfume and dye-free natural soap, cleaning is done with white vinegar, baking soda, sea salt, and organic cleaners, guest amenities are organic and natural products, facial and toilet tissue are certified recycled, guests are discouraged from using hair sprays, perfumes, candles, other chemically laden products) http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/report/Spring-05/asksandy.h The Lily Pad Bed & Breakfast - Milford, Connecticut “This is a smoke free environment, and one guest room is kept scent free for guests.” http://www.bbonline.com/ct/lilypad/ Smoke-free, scent-free accommodations for those with MCS visiting the Syracuse, New York area http://www.members.tripod.com/cparkh1001/Links.htm INTERNATIONALMaitland Vacation Rentals Villa 4BR, 2 Bathrooms, Sleeps 10, Oceanfront, Close to Halifax, Shore Haven, Maitland, NS, Canada “…provide scent-free laundry and dishwasher soaps, all linens are free of scented fabric softener products.” http://www.a1vacations.com/vacationbythesea/2/ http://www.perfectplaces.com/vacation-rentals/5002.htm Environmental Bed Breakfast, Brampton, ON, Canada (fragrance-free) Centrally located for day-trips to Toronto, Niagara and Muskoka Regions http://www.geocities.com/environmentalbb/ Nova Scotia Hotels, Inns, and Motels Business Directory Search Engine “Elegant chemical and fragrance-free accommodations. Serving organic and locally…” http://www.novascotiabusiness.ca/html/Nova_Scotia/ Scent-free accommodation on Digby Neck, NS, Canada http://www.checkinnovascotia.com/ enewsletter/August2004_issue.htm Downtown Digby, NS, Canada (scent and smoke-free) www.bbcanada.com/associations/novascotia/2004BB.pdf Waverley hotels and lodgings, 4-Star scent-free accommodations. Close to downtown Halifax, NS, Canada http://www.ase.net/servlet/HotelList/ 607/44.78312/-63.60311/Waverley EscapeRental “…We also provide scent free laundry and dishwasher soaps and all of our linens are free of scented fabric softener...” Nearest Airport: Halifax International. ... http://www.escaperental.com/viewproperty.asp?PropertyID=1580 Tennecape, NS, Canada Vacation Rentals - Oceanfront Retreat, 1 hour north of Halifax “We also provide scent free laundry and dishwasher soaps.” http://www.krazymoose.com/kmns1026.asp Halifax Nova Scotia - House - Sleeps: 10 (Halifax International Airport, 45 minutes Halifax 1 hour) “We also provide scent-free laundry and dishwasher soaps.” Halifax Regional bed and breakfast directory (scent-free and smoke-free) http://www.halifaxregional.worldweb.com/ WheretoStay/BedBreakfasts/ Chanterelle Country Inn and Cottages, Baddeck, Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, NS, Canada “A "Green" environment, using natural fibers, organic soaps, fragrancefree cleansers, solar space and water heat.” http://www.canadaselect.com/NovaScotia/CapeBretonTrails/ChanterelleCountryInnandCottages.cfm The King George Inn, Annapolis Royal, NS, Canada “… a scent- and smoke-free inn. “ http://www.area902.com/local/Nova_Scotia/ city/Annapolis_Royal/421
check out affiliates for chemical free nontoxic and options of fragrance free products and in dr mercolas web site -how to stay healthy -really valuable newsletter.
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