With the spread of cosmetic products and fabric conditioners containing artificial fragrances, the number of complaints about headaches and nausea caused by the chemicals used to create scents is growing.
What risks does this new type of air pollution entail?
In the past decade, there has been an increase in complaints about odors causing nausea: they come from laundry hanging on the balcony of a neighbor in an apartment building, they permeate everywhere in overcrowded commuter trains.
их источником может оказаться даже парфюм, которым пользуются коллеги по работе.
Во многих случаях виновником этих неприятных запахов является кондиционер для белья,
используемый в домашних условиях при стирке одежды.
Явление,
ставшее известным как «загрязнение ароматами»,
также может быть вызвано применением синтетических моющих средств с отдушкой,
освежителей воздуха,
дезинфицирующих спреев,
дезодорантов и антиперспирантов,
а также духов.
The source of them can even be the perfume used by colleagues at work.
In many cases, the culprit of these unpleasant odors is the fabric softener
used at home when washing clothes.
The phenomenon,
known as "fragrance pollution,"
can also be caused by the use of synthetic scented detergents,
air fresheners,
disinfectant sprays,
deodorants and antiperspirants,
as well as perfumes.
Since the early 2000s, more and more people suffer from multiple chemical sensitivities as well as chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune diseases,
which were rare phenomena just half a century ago.
It is believed
that these conditions are associated with the use of chemicals,
but there are currently so many artificial chemical compounds
that it is difficult to determine
which ones are causing the problems.
For this reason, people's complaints about deteriorating health do not attract due attention: they are attributed to excessive sensitivity of the nervous system. It is believed that the source of aroma pollution is household items and goods: the chemicals contained in them pollute the air and can pose a danger when inhaled.
One of the problems associated with aroma pollution is that the health hazard is often ignored: it is considered no more than a matter of "personal taste" or "genes".
In 2020, an article on the environmental pollution caused by fragrances was published in the newspaper "Asahi Shimbun." While the article notes that some doctors are observing a worrying trend of increasing patients suffering from this ailment, it also quotes an expert's comment asserting that "intolerance to fabric softeners depends on your genetic makeup." I am concerned that such an opinion is taken as unequivocal.
Considering that many people are complaining about health problems, not just discomfort,
pollution by aromas can no longer be considered a matter of individual sensitivity or genetics.
What risks does this new type of air pollution entail?
In the past decade, there has been an increase in complaints about odors causing nausea: they come from laundry hanging on the balcony of a neighbor in an apartment building, they permeate everywhere in overcrowded commuter trains.
их источником может оказаться даже парфюм, которым пользуются коллеги по работе.
Во многих случаях виновником этих неприятных запахов является кондиционер для белья,
используемый в домашних условиях при стирке одежды.
Явление,
ставшее известным как «загрязнение ароматами»,
также может быть вызвано применением синтетических моющих средств с отдушкой,
освежителей воздуха,
дезинфицирующих спреев,
дезодорантов и антиперспирантов,
а также духов.
The source of them can even be the perfume used by colleagues at work.
In many cases, the culprit of these unpleasant odors is the fabric softener
used at home when washing clothes.
The phenomenon,
known as "fragrance pollution,"
can also be caused by the use of synthetic scented detergents,
air fresheners,
disinfectant sprays,
deodorants and antiperspirants,
as well as perfumes.
Since the early 2000s, more and more people suffer from multiple chemical sensitivities as well as chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune diseases,
which were rare phenomena just half a century ago.
It is believed
that these conditions are associated with the use of chemicals,
but there are currently so many artificial chemical compounds
that it is difficult to determine
which ones are causing the problems.
For this reason, people's complaints about deteriorating health do not attract due attention: they are attributed to excessive sensitivity of the nervous system. It is believed that the source of aroma pollution is household items and goods: the chemicals contained in them pollute the air and can pose a danger when inhaled.
One of the problems associated with aroma pollution is that the health hazard is often ignored: it is considered no more than a matter of "personal taste" or "genes".
In 2020, an article on the environmental pollution caused by fragrances was published in the newspaper "Asahi Shimbun." While the article notes that some doctors are observing a worrying trend of increasing patients suffering from this ailment, it also quotes an expert's comment asserting that "intolerance to fabric softeners depends on your genetic makeup." I am concerned that such an opinion is taken as unequivocal.
Considering that many people are complaining about health problems, not just discomfort,
pollution by aromas can no longer be considered a matter of individual sensitivity or genetics.
