The downstream dangers of your perfume

[JPace]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1216/p17s02-sten.htm

The downstream dangers of your perfume
By Robert C. Cowen
That morning trip to the bathroom - to brush your teeth, wash your hair, and put on perfume or cologne - may not be as benign as you think.

Every day, those chemicals wash down the drain. While they are not themselves poisonous, they may affect biological processes in unexpected ways. Now, Stanford University biologists have the mussels to prove it.

Welcome to the new science of ecotoxicology in which scientists try to understand how the synthetic chemicals we're pouring into our environment affect the way earthly life goes about its business.

Recent research about musk fragrances and mussels illustrates this point. When gills from live mussels were exposed to water with low concentrations of six commercial musks, they were not poisoned, point out postdoctoral fellow Till Luckenbach and Prof. David Epel of Stanford. That was expected.

But after two hours, the researchers washed the gills and put them in musk-free water that also contained a red dye. Cells in the gill tissue took up the dye. That was not expected.

Those cells have a mechanism to detect a foreign substance, such as the dye, and keep it out. That worked for cells not exposed to the musk in the first place. Cells that had been exposed lost this natural defense. more.....

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1216/p17s02-sten.htm

[illflem]

1. It goes right along

with an article I read a few months ago about how due to it's ability to pass though sewage treatment plants unscathed the drug Prozac has now reached detectable levels in most US rivers and fish.
It's just plain sick Americans are taking so many drugs.

[idiosyncratic]

2. Not to mention the air pollution of perfume

Many people are extremely sensitive to perfume and cannot enter public places because of it. Some courthouses now have "perfume-free" areas because that stuff is so toxic to some people.

[seasat]

3. My wife is like that.

Before she even smells a perfume or cologone, she will break out in a rash on her arms and chest. We're mostly fragance free in our household.

[idiosyncratic]

4. My sympathies to you and her.

It is very hard to live in this world with those kinds of sensitivities.

Attending church is out of the question, for one. Going to plays is out of the question. Going anywhere where the men and women get all "dolled up" with their perfume and aftershave is not an option.

Bless you for being understanding. Many spouses and SOs aren't so compassionate.

[LiberalEsto]

5. Some Unitarian churches ask members not to wear perfume n/t