Is Your Perfume Toxic? Avoid These Common Chemicals

You may not realize that perfumes and colognes contain many chemicals, some of which may affect your health. Those who have chemical sensitivities and/or allergies often find that perfume will bring on symptoms - which can range from mild allergic symptoms such as congestion or sneezing, to more serious symptoms such as wheezing, rash, or difficulty breathing. Following is a list of some of the common chemicals found in perfumes and the health concerns linked to them.

Shelves of perfumes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* Benzaldehyde is used in many cleaning products and cosmetics such as deodorant, lotion, shaving cream, and shampoo.  It is said to depress the central nervous system and cause irritation in the respiratory and digestive tracts. Some studies suggest it may even cause kidney damage.

* Acetone, the chemical found in nail polish remover, is also in many perfumes. The US Environmental Agency (EPA) lists acetone as a hazardous waste(!). Breathing acetone can have a profound effect on the nervous system, causing dizziness, sleepiness, slurred speech, and possibly even coma in extreme cases.

* Benzyl alcohol is found in perfume, air freshener, deodorant, and fabric softener (to name a few). It can affect the respiratory tract and the central nervous system, causing headache, nausea, and respiratory irritation and even failure.

* Methylene chloride is a perfume ingredient that was banned by the FDA in the late 80s, but some claim the law is impossible to enforce. The problem with this chemical is that it is stored in body fat (many chemicals are fat soluble) where it is metabolized by the body into carbon monoxide. This can lead to symptoms of oxygen deprivation, such as headache, fatigue, and tingling in the extremities.

* Limonene is found in a lot of cleaning products as well as perfumes. It is considered carcinogenic, and is a skin and eye irritant. Inhaling the vapor of limonene is considered dangerous.

* Ethanol is also found in perfumes, as well as a host of other products. In fact, ethanol is in so many products that it's hard to believe it's on the EPA's hazardous waste list - from colognes to makeup, facial cleansers, toilet bowl and shower cleaners, and more. Whether ingested or inhaled, ethanol can cause blurred vision, drowsiness, and disorders of the central nervous system.

These are only a few of the toxic chemicals found in perfumes. If you are concerned about the possible health effects of perfume but still want to apply some sort of scent, consider making your own scented spritzer or oil, or buy a commercially-prepared, non-toxic scent - several companies now make non-toxic perfumes. (For help finding non-toxic beauty products, visit www.thenaturalproductdirectory.com.)

To make your own scent, mix a few drops of the essential oil of your choice with an ounce of rubbing alcohol and 2 ounces of water. Put in a small spray bottle and use as a spray-on scent. You can also blend essential oils into a neutral carrier oil such as sesame oil that can be rubbed on the skin.

Natural Perfumes & Information On Making Your Own:
   

Toxin Alert: The Dangers of Aspartame

When choosing between 150 calories and 0 calories, for many the choice is apparent.  Zero calories sounds a whole lot better - right?  Yet that 0-calorie item may be causing more harm than good.  Aspartame, also known as Equal and NutraSweet, is a toxic food additive with a long and questionable history.  Here are just a few of the dangers of Aspartame.

Birth Defects

aspartame; Asp-Phe methyl ester (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aspartame is suspected of causing brain damage in sensitive individuals and unborn children may be especially at risk for these effects. Some researchers have suggested that high doses of aspartame may be associated with problems ranging from dizziness and subtle brain changes to mental retardation.

Cancer

Numerous studies on rats have shown a strong link between brain cancer and aspartame.  And while the FDA has approved aspartame for human use, the data is too suspicious.  In fact, in 1981, an FDA statistician commented that the brain tumor/aspartame data was too "worrisome" to recommend approval of NutraSweet. (Nonetheless, it was approved following intense pressure from the food industry - see the documentary "Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World" for more info on the story of how the approval was pushed through despite many warnings and adverse results in numerous studies.)

Diabetes

Research has shown aspartame to be a leading agent in developing clinical diabetes (which is especially disturbing since many diabetics and pre-diabetics choose this sweetener over sugar, thinking it's healthier for them).  It has also shown that aspartame causes diabetics to have less control over their condition when they’re on insulin or oral drugs.  It’s been linked to diabetic complications and has been shown to cause diabetic convulsions. 

Emotional Disorders

According to a double blind study of the effects of aspartame on people suffering from mood disorders, aspartame caused a dramatic increase in symptoms.   Additionally, there are numerous reported cases of low brain serotonin levels, depression and other emotional disorders which all link the cause to aspartame. 
In addition to the above listed conditions caused by or worsened by aspartame, the dangers of aspartame reach far and wide. 

Here’s just a few of the many symptoms proven or suspected to be caused by aspartame:
* Seizures
* Dizziness
* Tremors
* Migraines and severe headaches
* Memory loss
* Slurring of speech
* Confusion
* Numbness or tingling of extremities
* Chronic fatigue
* Depression
* Insomnia
* Irritability
* Panic attacks
* Rapid heart beat
* Asthma
* Chest pains
* High blood pressure
* Diarrhea
* Abdominal pain
* Menstrual problems
* Impotency
* Food cravings
* Weight gain
* Hair loss
* Urination problems
* Bloating
* Joint pain

Where is Aspartame Found?

Diet Coke Products (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to the Aspartame Information Society, aspartame is consumed by over 200 million people around the world and is found in more than 6,000 products. Aspartame is commonly found in most diet drinks from soda to lemonade and bottled teas.  It’s also found in many food products including yogurt, cereal, ice cream, jams and jellies, maple syrup, pudding and many low sugar candy, gum and mints. Be sure to read the label if you’re trying to avoid the dangers of aspartame.

Simply put, Aspartame, Equal and NutraSweet are toxins.  Your body cannot process them effectively.  This inability to process them causes your body to try to compensate for their presence.  There’s only so much a body can take before it gives out.  When that happens, symptoms appear.  They may begin as whispers like fatigue, headaches and bloating, however as more aspartame is ingested, the symptoms worsen.  The effects, as studies have shown, can be deadly.

For more information on aspartame and related artificial sweeteners, you may want to check out the following resources: