chemical injury

May 5 2016

Let’s Rid Our Homes and Bodies of Neuro-Toxic Chemicals

Sherri Awareness, Making a Difference, Reaching Out to Others air fresheners, awareness, awareness month, chemical injury, chemicals, chronic illness and pain, cleaners, cleaning products, deodorant, diet, environmental illness, fabric softener, fragrance-free, fragrances, friends and family, invisible disabilities, laundry products, multiple chemical sensitivities, personal story, relationships, shampoo, toxic chemicals, toxic encephalopathy, toxic injury, video

MAY IS ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS MONTH!

Many may not consider themselves to have an Environmental Illness, but everyone is affected by chemicals. Moreover, everyone is at risk and millions are affected, but not all make the connection.

When we think of exposures to chemicals, we often think of a hazmat situation or “sick building syndrome.” However, an Environmental Illness such as a Chemical Injury can occur through a large, sudden exposure or a small, gradual exposure to chemicals or mold.

We may be aware of the obvious offenders in our environment, such as smoke, exhaust, paint or even new carpets. Nevertheless, we often don’t realize the affects of every day cleaning products, as well as personal care products that contain synthetic fragrances made up of neuro-toxic chemicals.

For example, these are chemically fragranced products such as perfume, laundry detergent, fabric softener, air fresheners, deodorants, lotions, shampoo’s, etc.

In a 2010 study, in 25 standard products, an average of 17 VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) were emitted; many of which are “regulated as a toxic/hazardous chemical” under 1-7 laws.

About 15% of the population knowing lives with Chemical Sensitivities to the chemical fragrances in these products (1999 Study, Kreutzer). Some of the symptoms reported are difficulty breathing, vertigo, migraines, loss of consciousness, memory loss, seizures and more.

About 38% of the population reports some sort of “adverse health affect” when exposed to fragranced products (Exposure Assessment, Steinemann) and it is suspected that many more are experiencing symptoms, but have not made the connection. Sadly, for millions of people, mild to serious reactions can cause isolation from public, friends, family, special events and more.

I have lived with Chemical Injury due to the use of everyday products such as perfume, air fresheners, body sprays and fragranced laundry products since 1996. I started out having vertigo and migraines from strong perfumes and exposure to the cleaning products isle in the store.

Unfortunately, I continued to use other products I didn’t think I was reacting to. Thus, I became more and more reactive to more products until I ended up isolated in my home, unable to attend church, family dinners or step into a store.

As if that were not bad enough, people cannot come to visit me unless they do not use any chemically fragranced products, nor do they have a newer car or have walked through a store. It has been devastating!

These neuro-toxic chemicals can affect us all, whether we notice immediate reactions or not. My story is not rare. So, I am here to warn people that this could happen to anyone!

Again, Environmental Illness often occurs through exposure and use of every day cleaning and personal products. Therefore, it is vital that we clear our homes and bodies of these offenders, before we develop reactions to them that are debilitating and cause a person to be isolated from the world and those they love.

As a result, I implore everyone to take a look at the products we use in our homes and on our bodies. We can start replacing these products with natural and fragrance free alternatives. After doing this, most experience a moderate or huge change in how they feel, whether they are healthy or whether they are dealing with illness.

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♡ Sherri

#mcs #chemicalsensitivities #chemicalinjury #awareness #fragrance #fragrancefree #perfume #scent #chemicals

May 1 2015

Chemical Injury Awareness Month

Sherri Awareness, Making a Difference awareness, chemical injury, chronic illness and pain, Disney, environmental illness, fragrance-free, friends and family, invisible disabilities, minnie mouse, multiple chemical sensitivities, personal story, pluto, relationships, resource, videos

May is Awareness Month for Environmental Illness, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Toxic Encephalopathy and Chemical Injury Awareness.

Adverse health reactions to low or moderate levels of chemicals is not a rare disorder some people have and the rest are immune to developing it. A Chemical Injury can happen to anyone! It can occur through a large, sudden exposure or more commonly, from the use of from the use of regular, everyday products (such as air fresheners, cleaners, perfumes, chemically fragranced personal care products, pesticides, paints, stains and new cars or furniture).

In 1996, the California Health Services Dept found that 15.9% reported being unusually sensitive to everyday chemical. In 2010, University of Washington discovered that 30.5% reported they find scented products on other people irritating.

Adverse health effects include, but are not limited to: difficulty breathing, burning eyes, burning skin, blurred vision, headaches, migraines, vertigo, nausea, organ pain, memory loss, cognitive dysfunctions, paralysis, seizures and more.

In addition, I am sure there are many more who have headaches and other symptoms, but have yet to make the correlation. What’s more, these chemicals attack the immune system, nervous system, organs and cells, as well as block and modulate hormone production. As a result, we are all affected, whether we notice it right this moment or not.

It is not the “smell” that is the issue. The term “fragrance” is considered a trade secret, therefore companies can use any conglomeration of dozens of chemicals they desire to create their fragrance.

“A study led by the University of Washington discovered that 25 commonly used scented products emit an average of 17 chemicals each. Of the 133 different chemicals detected, nearly a quarter are classified as toxic or hazardous under at least one federal law” (Steinemann, UW 2010).

As you can imagine, millions like me end up extremely isolated in their homes, missing out on time with friends and family, church, parties, weddings, graduations and holidays, because they wear chemically fragranced products.

This disorder is preventable! I only wish I had known BEFORE and it is my passion to get the word out for others, before they end up where I have been.

Here is my plea: Please stop using toxic chemicals in your home, on your lawn and on your body! There are many wonderful alternatives for cleaning and personal care products. Please do it for those who react to these products and are isolated from you if you use them. Please do this your family and for those around you. Please do this for you!

Read My Full Story!

For more information go to the Invisible Disabilities Association’s website, Cleaner Indoor Air.

MCS Can Be Lonely

Choose Friendships Over Fragrances

Visiting with a Loved One with Chemical Injury

Chemical Sensitivities with Pluto and Minnie

Toxins in Everyday Household Products with Anne Steinemann PhD

October 8 2014

Check Your Labels for “Fragrance!”

Sherri Awareness, Making a Difference awareness, chemical injury, chemicals, chronic illness and pain, cologne, dryer sheets, environmental illness, fabric softener, fragrance, fragrance-free, ingredients, invisible disabilities, labels, laundry products, multiple chemical sensitivities, perfume, personal story, toxins, vitamin cottage

Product manufacturers are protected under Trade Secret laws to not have to reveal the chemicals used to create scents in their products. They need only to list the term “Fragrance.” Often many of the chemicals used to create fragrances are on the Hazardous Waste list, neurotoxins, petroleum products, etc.

According to a 2010 study:

We investigated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from 25 common fragranced consumer products—laundry products, personal care products, cleaning supplies, and air fresheners—using headspace analysis with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Our analysis found 133 different VOCs emitted from the 25 products, with an average of 17 VOCs per product. Of these 133 VOCs, 24 are classified as toxic or hazardous under U.S. federal laws, and each product emitted at least one of these compounds (2010 Study, Steinemann).

Here are some of the chemicals found in laundry products alone for example, by the University of Washington:

The following are “regulated as toxic/hazardous chemical” under 1-7 laws (except Benzyl Acetate). They are also listed as either a recognized or suspected as a Carcinogen, Neurotoxicant, Immunotoxicant, Kidney Toxicant, Liver Toxicant, Blood Toxicant, Developmental Toxicant, Respiratory Toxicant, Gastrointestinal Toxicant, Reproductive Toxicant, Endocrine Toxicant, Skin and/or Sense Organ Toxicant. Acetaldehyde (recognized carcinogen), 1,4-DIOXANE (recognized carcinogen), CHLOROMETHANE (recognized developmental toxicant, 2-BUTANONE, a-Pinene, Benzyl Acetate, Ethanol, Ethyl Acetate, Limonene, Linalool (Steinemann, Laundry).

More information: www.CleanerIndoorAir.org
My Story: https://sherriconnell.com/about-me/living-with-chemical-injury-intolerance/
Where to find good products: Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage