Our team at the Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) Program at UT Health San Antonio wanted to share this important interactive poster on fragrances and health:
“Do Fragrances Compromise Your Health” from the Fragrance Free Coalition.
View the interactive poster or download a version to print or share.
We invite you to share this poster to raise awareness about the negative effects of synthetic fragrance chemicals found in cleaning, laundry, household, and personal care products.
The information behind the poster does the footwork for you and can initiate conversations about the importance of fragrance-free environments for the health and wellbeing of all individuals.
In addition to the interactive poster, the Fragrance Free Coalition has policy priorities. They seek to achieve fragrance-free compliance in the healthcare industry.
“[We] recognize fragrance not only pollutes indoor air, it also diminishes health and creates a huge access barrier for various patient populations,” said Sherrie Truitt, a member of the coalition.
The Fragrance Free Coalition and their work underscores the importance of eliminating fragrances from clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care environments, said Dr. Claudia Miller, allergist/immunologist, professor emeritus, and leader of the TILT Program at UT Health San Antonio.
“Fragrances pose a major access barrier for the 20-30% of the US population that have developed chemical intolerance—who have been ‘TILTed,'” Miller said. “We are opposed to the use of fragrances and other VOCs (pesticides, mothballs, phenolic disinfectants, etc.) wherever air is shared. This includes healthcare settings, offices, schools, and apartment buildings, etc.”
How chemically sensitive are you?
Answer these three questions from Hoffman TILT’s Brief Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (BREESI):
- Do you feel sick when you are exposed to tobacco smoke, certain fragrances, nail polish/remover, engine exhaust, gasoline, air fresheners, pesticides, paint/thinner, fresh tar/asphalt, cleaning supplies, new carpet or furnishings? By sick, we mean: headache, difficulty thinking, difficulty breathing, weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, etc.
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse or allergic reactions to any drugs or medications (such as antibiotics, anesthetics, pain relievers, X-ray contrast dye, vaccines or birth control pills), or to an implant, prosthesis, contraceptive chemical or device, or other medical/surgical/dental material or procedure?
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse reactions to any foods such as dairy products, wheat, corn, eggs, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, or food additives (e.g., MSG, food dye)?
If you answer YES to any of these three questions, take the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) and share the results with your doctor!