Fragrance Sensitivity in Americans

What follows is a short abstract from "Prevalence of Fragrance Sensitivity in the American Population" published in the March 2009 Issue of the Journal of Environmental Health, the official publication of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).

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This study determined the percentages of individuals who report adverse effects from exposure to fragranced products in the U.S. population and in subpopulations of those with asthma or chemical sensitivity. Data were collected through telephone interviews from two geographically weighted, random samples of the continental U.S. in two surveys during 2002-2003 and 2005-2006 (1,057 and 1,058 cases, respectively).

Respondents were asked if they find being next to someone wearing a scented product irritating or appealing; if they have headaches, breathing difficulties, or other problems when exposed to air fresheners or deodorizers; and if they are irritated by the scent from laundry products, fabric softeners, or dryer sheets that are vented outside.

Results aggregated from both surveys 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. 

Reprinted by permission from the March 2009 Issue of the Journal of Environmental Health, the official publication of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).

About NEHA

NEHA is a non-profit association for public health professionals. Since 1937, the association has worked to advance the environmental health and protection professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all. NEHA’s 4,500+ members practice their profession in the public and private sectors as well as in academia and the uniformed services, with a majority being employed by state and local county health departments. In addition, NEHA’s Journal of Environmental Health has subscribers in over 40 countries around the world. Because it encompasses the entire environmental health profession, this single organization effectively serves as the forum for discussion of - and can address the broad spectrum of - environmental health issues. For more information, go to www.neha.org.

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About Stanley M. Caress, Ph.D. and Anne C. Steinemann, Ph.D.

Stanley M. Caress, Ph.D. is a Professor with the State University of West Georgia.

Anne C. Steinemann is Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Public Affairs, and Director of The Water Center at the University of Washington.

Together, they authored the article, "A National Population Study of the Prevalence of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities," published in the Archives of Environmental Health, Volume 59: Number 6, June 2004.