People are hearing about chemicals and toxins more often in the news today. While they have been a focus in the functional and holistic world for some time, they are becoming more of a mainstream topic. Companies often tout their products as “green” or “natural” to show an awareness of the issue (whether these marketing terms are truthful is another topic). However, even on some otherwise clean products, one chemical that is still often found in the ingredient list is the word “fragrance.” And yes, fragrance should be synonymous with chemicals. Let’s explore why.
Fragrance may bring to mind images of perfume and candles, but it is also found in many household and personal items, ranging from cleaning products to shampoos to lotions to deodorants. When a company uses the vague term “fragrance”, they are actually bypassing telling a consumer exactly what is in their product. This is because “fragrance” is a catchall term that could encompass dozens to hundreds of different chemicals, none of which are disclosed to the buyer. It is estimated that fragrances can be made from any number of over 3,000 different chemicals. And once the product is opened or used, many of these compounds are absorbed across the skin or inhaled through the lungs, often continuing to the bloodstream. Alarmingly, most of these chemicals have not been tested for consumer safety, especially in the multitude of combinations that can be made. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), “There is very little regulation of the U.S. personal care products industry. No other class of products is so widely used, and in such large quantities, with so few safeguards . . . personal care products, including cosmetics, are not required to go through even basic safety tests.”
One might think the health risks are minimal since these fragrances are only being inhaled or applied to their skin. However, while the degree of absorption varies depending on the person, product, and quantity, these routes initially bypass the protective effects of the liver, allowing compounds to enter the bloodstream unfiltered. This is in contrast to substances that enter via the digestive tract. Certain medications that are given transdermally or inhaled produce systemic effects, showing these are indeed routes for absorption into the body. Unfortunately, chemicals found in fragrance (once again, especially in combination and with repeated use) can cause serious side effects ranging from headache, allergies, and hormone disruption to asthma attacks, reproductive toxicity, and neurotoxicity. In addition, some chemicals in fragrance are known human carcinogens.
As mentioned above, one common side effect of using synthetic fragrances is endocrine disruption. The chemicals that do this are known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Once absorbed into the bloodstream, they can interfere with the endocrine system by mimicking a certain hormone or blocking a hormone receptor. EDCs can also alter the amount of actual hormones in the body by disrupting how they are produced, metabolized, and stored in the body. Over time, the use of these chemicals in the body can lead to things such as early puberty in adolescents, estrogen dominance, endometriosis, decreased sperm count and motility in men, and infertility. In addition, they also affect the way hormones communicate with almost all other systems in the body and are linked to promoting certain cancers. Therefore, it is easy to begin to see how much havoc EDCs can create in the human body.
All of this being said, perhaps you are wondering how to start protecting yourself from the aforementioned health risks? First, start by looking at the back of products and reading the ingredient lists. Does it list the vague term “fragrance” or “parfum”? What else does it list and use? Look at one product around your house at a time and see if a safer alternative is needed. And while essential oils are often thought of as a good or safe alternative, not all oils are equal in quality, so try to find companies that are fully transparent about their oils and are well-vetted.
I would like to finish with one important piece of advice, especially if this toxin information is new to you: do not let yourself become overwhelmed by or fearful of it. Start with one product at a time. Try to investigate and research the best you can. Know that you can usually only control what you use around the house; you still need to go out and live in the modern world. Keep pushing for stricter standards that will protect fellow consumers. Pass along this information—in a nonjudgemental way—to others. Remember, you vote with your dollar, so ask yourself where your next paycheck is going and whom it is supporting. After reading this, hopefully it will be directed to a company that has your health at the top of its list.
What can you do? Take it one step further and check out your products via the following resources for healthy swaps and alternative options:
If you or someone you know is struggling with hormonal disruptions or EDC's, contact us and learn more about how we can help with hormone regulation and detoxing from toxins in your body.
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