“I have to wear my mask to do laundry in the basement because of mustiness and other people’s fragrances.”
~ Marie LeBlanc
Marie also shared an artistically altered image of her wearing her mask while waiting to see a doctor, because people were ignoring the fragrance-free signs on the wall behind her. Continue reading
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Fragrance, Health Care, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
Tagged chemical sensitivity, doctors, environmental sensitivities, Fragrance, fragrance chemicals, fragrance-free, hazardous air pollutants, masks, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, petrochemicals, toxic trespass, VOCs
May is MCS/ES Awareness Month
Due to the wide variety of chemical pollutants in our air these days, many people with MCS/ES have to wear a mask when leaving home (and sometimes even at home) to prevent or reduce debilitating and disabling symptoms.
Having an invisible (and inconvenient, or so we are told) disability is difficult, especially when many of the adverse effects are delayed and we have to deal with them in isolation, out of sight, out of mind, and without witness to our suffering.
If there’s any good that comes from wearing a mask or respirator in public (in addition to protecting our health a bit) wearing one when we have an invisible disability helps make us visible, and alerts other people that they too are at risk.
Breathing is not optional.
Pollution is!
Wearing a protective breathing device can minimize some of the damaging effects exposures to pollutants cause, but people often feel self conscious about wearing a mask, especially if we can’t find a “pretty” one that we are able to use, Continue reading
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Chemicals, Disability, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Pollution
Tagged allergies, asthma, autism, awareness month, canaries, cancer, Chemicals, environmental sensitivities, fragrance chemicals, hazardous air pollutants, health, IAQ, indoor air quality, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, petrochemicals, sensitive to pollution, toxic trespass
I’ve been observing advertising for fragranced products over the years and have found some of the ads to be quite telling.
For instance, every time I’ve seen an ad for this product, it looks like the people using it are inhaling drugs.
And this product too. All the ads show adults and/or children who look like they are getting stoned:
I was informed by someone that they saw this seriously inappropriate ad from KOHL’s, selling perfume for Valentine’s Day, on one of the posts they read on this blog!!!
Screenshot of (modified) toxic fragrance ad
I have no control over what ads get shown here, I don’t even see them!
If anyone ever sees an ad like that here again, please let WordPress know that it is seriously inappropriate for them to place ads for things made of toxic chemicals on this site (if you are new here, look around, and you’ll see why)!
Here’s what to do if you see something advertised here that is harmful for human and environmental health: Continue reading
Posted in Environmental Health, Fragrance
Tagged bad ad, health, MCS, petrochemicals, phthalates, sensitive to pollution, toxic chemicals, toxic trespass
My LOVE!
Be fragrance-free!
♥
What’s love got to do with it?
Who among us wants to harm another? Modern fragrances cause harm. Stop them!
Guest post by T.M. Canary
Valentines Day has a different meaning for me. Three years ago in February 2013 my life changed forever. I was diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease due to the use of air fresheners at the clinic where I worked. There is no way to describe how my life has been permanently changed in just a few words. My severe asthma is permanent and likely progressive. Those that care about me have the power do something about this though. You can make the effort to choose products that do not pollute the air we all breathe.
1. Avoid fragranced body products [perfume, body creams, sun screens, deodorant, shower gels, shampoo/conditioner, hair products, hand soaps lotions, and sanitizers]
2. Avoid fragranced laundry products [detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets]
Some people think they have the right to do whatever they want, regardless of how it affects anyone else around them. Sometimes what they do is from ignorance (not knowing or understanding causes and effects), sometimes it’s a deliberately hurtful, even criminal action. Either way, what they do causes all kinds of suffering that is fully preventable.
Here are a few images you can think about and share if they “speak” to you:
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Fragrance, Human Rights, MCS/ES
Tagged allergies, autism, EHS, fragrance chemicals, gluten, hazardous air pollutants, health, IAQ, MCS, MCS/ES, peanuts, petrochemicals, rape, toxic trespass, wireless
Progress is being made!
Even if you can’t actually get a fragrance-free flight, you can now get to the plane along a fragrance-free route if you are in Vancouver, BC!
Maybe it needs some work to make the English language portion clear?
Right now, it could be taken to mean that they have a free route to fragrance!
So, once they get the English fixed for those who don’t understand French (where it’s clear they mean without perfume, but then again, how many people actually read their box or bottle of laundry detergent to see that there’s parfum in there? and in their deodorant? and in their shampoo?) we can (maybe) get to the plane without being assaulted by fragrance chemicals (but, oh, it’s only “free” from the duty free shops with fragrance). Still, I guess it IS progress… kind of… Right?
Assuming we can actually get there without a life threatening (or merely disabling) reaction, what happens once we are in the actual plane?
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Fragrance, Human Rights, MCS/ES
Tagged airplane, allergies, asthma, duty free, flying, fragrance-free, IAQ, MCS, phthalates
Guest post by Sandra McPherson
I have a niece who moved back from out west just a year or so ago. I love her dearly. Her son that she had so much difficulty to have is named Owen. I lost a son named Owen and she contacted me to tell me she wanted to name him after my son unless it would upset me. She is so thoughtful!
I was sucking it up and inviting her here to my place, (safe place) for meals and visits now and then when I was strong enough. Her laundry fragrances and personal products were hard on me but it was only every few months, though I wished it could be more. We talked often about my MCS because she saw me go from a person that was at EVERY party and kid sport gathering and family get together, etc., etc., to a hermit.
I had not seen her in several months and she inquired about getting together again. We set up a date for lunch at my place again.
Posted in Environmental Health, Fragrance, Friendship, Health
Tagged allergies, asthma, Chemicals, family, fragrance-free, MCS, petrochemicals
Did you know they add fragrance chemicals to fire-starters and logs now???
Dashing through the snow
Coughing all the way
Over fields we go
On a frosty winter’s day
No fresh air to breathe
Chimneys puffing smoke
Pine and fragranced fireplace logs
Are ruining the day Continue reading
Posted in Air Quality, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Pollution
Tagged asthma, carcinogens, fire, fragrance chemicals, Scented Fire Logs, smoke, wood smoke
 | linda @ Seriously "S… on MCS/ES |
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| Tabatha Schnorr on The CDC and MCS |
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Seriously "Sensitive" to Pollution 