Some people are promoting their essential oils and EO containing products as being #FragranceFree.
A few years ago others were claiming their essential oils were #ScentFree.
It seems we need to have a closer look at this before more people are hurt.
Continue reading
Dear everyone, if you are Canadian, please sign this petition, and no matter where you are, please share this with all the Canadians you know!
e-2729 Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
…
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Create an international classification of disease designation code in Canada for environmental sensitivities so that those affected may have access to medical care;
2. Include environmental sensitivities as a disability that must be accommodated on all relevant documents and forms in governmental departments and organizations that minister social assistance, housing, medical, and other public services; and
3. Ensure all indoor public spaces are declared scent and fragrance-free.
Posted in Accessibility, Disability, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Government, Health Care, Human Rights, Policy, Public Health
Tagged allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity, CIRS, EHS, environmental illness, fibromyalgia, fragrance-free, human canaries, IAQ, ICD, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, mould, multiple chemical sensitivities, petition, scent free, TILT, video
“Accepting the leadership offered by the Task Force on Environmental Health to address the health care system, proactive change can begin immediately at all levels of society including federal, provincial, and municipal governments and public departments and agencies.
These would include, but are not limited to, public transportation providers, school boards, and the private sector.”
screenshots
of the report recommendations
with source added
The Legal Rights and Challenges Faced by Persons with Chronic Disability Triggered by Environmental Factors
From ARCH Disability Law Centre and the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA), September 2019
“3. Conclusion While there has been significant research and study into barriers to include persons with EH disabilities, critical obstacles remain.
Seeking help in the health system, trying to find and/or retain adequate housing or employment, entering public spaces, shopping, or using public transportation, limit the inclusion of persons with EH disabilities in our communities.
Much more needs to be done to acknowledge the significant hurdles faced by persons with EH disabilities.
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Health Care, Housing, Human Rights, Policy, Pollution, Public Health
Tagged allergies, ARCH, asthma, autism, barriers, cancer, CELA, chemical sensitivity, education, employment, environmental sensitivities, federal, fragrance-free, IAQ, jobs, marginalization, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, municipal, non-toxic, poverty, provincial, scent free, shopping, stigma, toxic chemicals, transportation, universal design, VOCs
Holidays
are not easy for human canaries these days.
But friends CAN make it better:
Posted in Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Friendship, Gifts, Support
Tagged accessibility, allergies, asthma, autism, chemical sensitivity, fragrance-free, Gifts, hazardous air pollutants, holidays, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, non-toxic, non-toxic gifts, petrochemicals, presents, resources, sensitive to pollution, toxic chemicals, VOCs
Here’s yet another example of a systemic issue regarding health harming accessibility barriers, happening in a province (and country) where we have Human Rights laws that recognize people with environmental ‘sensitivities’ as having a disability, and where everyone is encouraged to remove accessibility barriers instead of creating new ones.
Unsuspecting Oshawa Costco Canada shoppers are being subjected to this fragrance assault and/or accessibility barrier between November 26, 2019 and December 8, 2019.
Info which was found buried on Costco Canada’s website in the Special Events page, there may be other locations as well.
How many members see these announcements?
In December, it appears that those who shop at Costco’s Ste Foy location will also be sprayed, without alternative accommodations made for member shoppers whose lives are harmed by this kind of thing (unless there’s a public outcry before it happens).
Not only is the store air thoroughly polluted by this kind of diffusion (as experienced by someone who reported it to their mother who has environmental sensitivities and is severely allergic to fragranced products) for the 2 week duration of this “special event”, but everything in their store(s), *including food*, will also have absorbed substantial residues of undisclosed (and not food-safe) fragrance substances, that may be difficult if not impossible to remove.
This ‘special event’ can cause significant harm to people with asthma, autism, chemical and environmental sensitivities, fragrance allergies, migraines, and mast cell activation syndrome (to name a few). Even 2nd and 3rd hand residues of this type can cause serious (and life-threatening) health problems and long lasting disabling effects, so a suggestion of having someone else do the shopping is not a reasonable or feasible accommodation.
See below for the product details and the store manager’s and assistant manager’s responses when called.
Posted in Air Quality, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Fragrance, Human Rights, Indoor Air Quality, Pollution, Products
Tagged accessibility barriers, allergies, asthma, autism, cancer, chemical sensitivity, contaminated food, Food, hazardous air pollutants, health, Human Rights, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, perfume, shopping, toxic trespass, VOCs
When you need a product that says it’s fragrance-free
and the product’s web page states:
“It’s 100% dye-free, perfume-free and dermatologist-tested. Take laundry day to the next level. … With Persil® Sensitive Skin you can achieve a deep clean without scents and perfumes that can aggravate skin sensitivities.”
Guess what? You still need to read the ingredient list, because some manufacturers think it’s ok to do this:
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Fragrance, Human Rights, Laundry, Products
Tagged allergies, asthma, autism, chemical sensitivity, environmental sensitivities, false advertising, fragrance sensitivity, fragrance-free, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, toxic trespass
Great news!
Pamela Reed Gibson’s groundbreaking and information filled book “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Survival Guide” (2nd Edition) is now available to read online, or as a download, for FREE!
It’s still very relevant and extremely useful even though it came out in 2006.
There are also a lot of other excellent resources, including research papers, available on the new website: Continue reading
It seems like the best way to clear up some confusion about being fragrance-free, is to provide a checklist of products and places where fragrances that can make you not be fragrance-free are found, so that you don’t inadvertently bring fragrances with you when going somewhere with a strict fragrance-free policy.
The checklist addresses some common misconceptions about what being fragrance-free really means.
Being fragrance-free is about more than not using perfume or cologne.
It’s also not about skipping deodorant, as some people seem to think.
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Health Promotion, Human Rights, Policy, Products
Tagged allergies, asthma, autism, cancer, checklist, chemical sensitivity, Chemicals, environmental sensitivities, fragrance-free, hazardous air pollutants, health, IAQ, MCS, MCS/ES, migraines, toxic trespass, VOCs
Did you know?
If you use conventional laundry products, you might not knowingly be feeling the effects now, but you more than likely have some neighbours who do!
Dryer vents are undisclosed, unregulated chemical distribution devices.
When you choose your laundry products,
you choose what your neighbours have to breathe!
Please think about your neighbours and choose non-toxic & fragrance-free products, so that your neighbours do not become ill or disabled
and can enjoy their homes and properties too!
A growing number of people (millions, not handfuls) cannot enjoy walking about their neighbourhoods, sitting or working in their own outdoor spaces, or even open the windows of their homes due to the harmful pollutants released from dryer vents that were designed to emit moisture, not drifting toxic chemicals.
Laundry products should not be disabling people or cause short term adverse health effects like asthma, headaches, migraines, confusion, vomiting, dizziness, etc., or longer term effects like reproductive and neurodevelopmental problems!
EWG has a website where you can check the ratings for the products you use. It’s a great place to start learning which products to avoid, and which are safer options.
Posted in Air Quality, Chemicals, Community, Environmental Health, Housing, Laundry, Pollution, Public Health
Tagged allergies, asthma, cancer, chemical sensitivity, Fragrance, fragrance-free, free and gentle, GAIN, hazardous air pollutants, health, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, petrochemicals, Tide, toxic trespass, ultra pure, VOCs
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