With the holiday season quickly approaching there is a bombardment of catalogs coming into every American household. Have you noticed how many scented products there are? There are candles, sprays, lotions, diffusers, gels, plug-ins, car fresheners, scented pine cones – you name it. Many of us get a wonderful memory when smelling some of these scents or we merely want our homes to smell fresh and clean. But for others this translates into sneezing, congestion, itching, watery eyes and coughing. I have had many people come into my allergy office and state “I am allergic to perfume” or “I am allergic to those candles”. The fact is that these are non-allergic triggers but can produce the same exact symptoms as allergies.
An article published in the Journal of Environmental Health in 2009 attempted to quantify how much of the US population was affected by these indoor air pollutants. They found that “30.5% of the general population reported scented products on others irritating, 19% reported adverse health effects from air fresheners, and 10.9% reported irritation by scented laundry products vented outside”. The study also reported higher percentages among those with asthma and chemical sensitivities. There are more and more scented products found in work places, offices, schools and homes that can significantly exacerbate symptoms as mentioned above, but particularly in asthmatic patients.
We are entering a time of year when entertaining and visiting family and friends is a favorite activity, but you may want to think twice about the scents in your home or gifts you may bring. Let’s let the yummy aroma of a wonderful meal or the warmth of loved ones be the backdrop for these festivities!
References:
Journal of Environmental Health
March 2009, Volume 71, No. 7
Prevalence of Fragrance Sensitivity in the American Population
Stanley M. Caress, Ph.D., Anne C. Steinemann, Ph.D.
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