Ditch your perfume

Ditch your perfume

Of the thousands of chemicals used in fragrances, most have not been tested for human toxicity. And of those that have been tested in lab experiments, many fragrance ingredients have been associated with cancer and neurotoxicity, and other serious health effects.

Some fragrance enhancing chemicals, such as diethyl phthalate, or DEP, are widely used in cosmetic fragrances to make the scent linger. Phthalates are common ingredients in cosmetics because they are cheap and versatile. But, the European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has listed DEP as a Category 1 priority substance, based on evidence that it interferes with hormone function.

Phthalates have been linked to early puberty in girls, reduced sperm count in men, and reproductive defects in the developing male fetus when the mother is exposed during pregnancy. There is also evidence suggesting that exposure to phthalates may cause liver and kidney failure in young children when products containing phthalates are sucked or chewed for extended periods.

Other ingredients used in fragrances are of particular concern from an ecological perspective. Several musk compounds are persistent in the environment and build up in the fatty tissue of aquatic organisms. Measureable levels of synthetic musks are found in fish in the Great Lakes and the levels in sediment are increasing.

For all of these reasons, ditch the perfume or cologne or at least opt for an organic or natural option, such as essential oils.

The above info comes from davidsuzuki.org, if you’re interested in learning more.

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