General Discussion

jmbar2

(7,606 posts)

42. You've got me thinking...

Thu Dec 25, 2025, 01:03 PM

Dec 25

Length of prior exposure to chemicals could be a factor. I grew up in Houston, and a lot of my adult career was working for the oil & gas industry. I wasn't close to the refineries very often, but they definitely affected Houston's air at times.

A big part of safety training was following regulations on Exposure Limits to various chemicals. There were different levels of exposure limits to be able to safely endure a specific substance without experiencing any adverse health effects.
-Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL)
-Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Max exposure over a lifetime
-Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
-Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
-Time-Weighted Average (TWA)
-Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL)
-Ceiling Exposure Value (CEV)
https://surehire.com/blog/2023/07/05/7-essential-exposure-limit-terms-that-all-employers-should-understand/#:~:text=A%20TWA%20exposure%20limit%20uses,Term%20Exposure%20Value%20(STEV).

These limits are supposed to be determined by rigorous testing. However, the perfume industry is exempt from this testing. Makes me think that prior chemical exposures might indeed contribute to reactions to chemicals in perfumes, but there is no science on it.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

81 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I for won do not understand the current trend towards "scent" laundering [View all] NotHardly Dec 24 OP

This message was self-deleted by its author yorkster Dec 24 #1

I even like some perfumes, but can't stand yorkster Dec 24 #2

Especially Gain ProfessorGAC Dec 25 #25

I've always wondered about the environmental aspects of "scent-beads" jmbar2 Dec 25 #38

Probably Not ProfessorGAC Dec 25 #44

I respect your scientific knowledge! jmbar2 Dec 25 #46

No matter how obscure and specialized... 3catwoman3 Dec 25 #64

I was in California EarthAbides Dec 25 #53

Bounce packaging was intense. BadgerKid Dec 25 #77

I absolutely hate that toxic shit. diane in sf Dec 24 #3

What Toxic Shit? ProfessorGAC Dec 25 #45

European product safety standards have identified toxic compounds in scents. jmbar2 Dec 25 #47

Phthalates, parabens, synthetic musks, VOCs, terpines, benzene, aldehyde etc womanofthehills Dec 25 #54

I have a theory about how these stories develop, it goes like this BootinUp Dec 25 #69

Things to consider jmbar2 Dec 25 #71

Connecting dots is fun. But I think people need to pay more attention to how their BootinUp Dec 25 #73

I hate scented detergent. Mz Pip Dec 24 #4

All stores now sell FREE of scent laundry detergent womanofthehills Dec 25 #55

chill, man. while you are entitled to your personal preference and/or aversion ... stopdiggin Dec 24 #5

Actually, about 30% of the population ihas adverse health effects or irritation from scented products. jmbar2 Dec 24 #9

Bullshit. Sorry for your (individual) difficulties stopdiggin Dec 25 #13

That was a big leap to dishwashing liquid and deodorant... jmbar2 Dec 25 #18

the OP is literal a rant against scented laundry detergent stopdiggin Dec 25 #19

my guess is that the OP has greater sensitivity to scented stuff than we do. CTyankee Dec 25 #24

Not really. Ms. Toad Dec 25 #33

I am allergic to some chemical drying accelerants. haele Dec 25 #40

You've got me thinking... jmbar2 Dec 25 #42

There is plenty of evidence that fragrances lower air quality and pose health risks. femmedem Dec 25 #49

the question isn't whether fragrence(s) are 'detectible' (Duh!) stopdiggin Dec 25 #52

Would you call a peanut allergy a "preference"? RockCreek Dec 25 #57

no. nor would I have any expectation that other people were going to stop using/consuming them stopdiggin Dec 25 #59

So you have never been on an airplane when people were asked not to consume any RockCreek Dec 25 #67

Is that what my post said ? stopdiggin Dec 25 #74

The difference is, if I eat peanuts in a restaurant, it doesn't affect anyone else. femmedem Dec 25 #68

and therefore people cannot wear fragrance to a restaurant? stopdiggin Dec 25 #75

I have literally never been to a clinic, school, hospital, theater, or office Ms. Toad Dec 25 #31

My dentist's office has a sign at the entrance saying it's a fragrance-free office femmedem Dec 25 #50

When I was in the hospital for surgery fo a broken leg womanofthehills Dec 25 #60

It's the musk scents that hit me that way. n/t Ms. Toad Dec 25 #78

My husband has asthma. The last time we visited a local gallery we had to leave femmedem Dec 25 #35

Wrong - so many people now have sensitivity to even tiny scents womanofthehills Dec 25 #56

Since forever, most scents didn't have VOC's and lots of other toxic chemicals womanofthehills Dec 25 #58

as predicted - we now break out the 'nasty chemicals' line of argument stopdiggin Dec 25 #76

I really admire your attempt to put things in perspective Wifes husband Dec 26 #79

I buy unscented everything. bamagal62 Dec 24 #6

I had bad multiple chemical sensitivity for yrs womanofthehills Dec 25 #63

My experience has been similar jmbar2 Dec 25 #72

Agree completely, from someone who is allergic to many cheap perfumes and colognes. Bev54 Dec 24 #7

It's kind of pricey, too. Morbius Dec 24 #8

Actually, you have to pay more for unscented products. Ms. Toad Dec 25 #29

I stand in the laundry aisle and open every type of product I want to buy and smell it. Marie Marie Dec 24 #10

We have lots of chemically sensitive people in our community because it wasn't used for farming. summer_in_TX Dec 24 #11

Wow - what a wonderful church to construct such a safe space jmbar2 Dec 25 #17

I have asthma and when my mother went out someplace special, she always wore perfume Rhiannon12866 Dec 25 #12

I'm very sensitive to scents James48 Dec 25 #14

I was allergic to my fifth grade teacher. Intractable Dec 25 #15

Remember sachet? It was put in with your clothes in a drawer. Nice, light scent, not overdone.... CTyankee Dec 25 #16

Scented garbage bags are the worst. milestogo Dec 25 #20

"Scent" laundering has a very long history jmowreader Dec 25 #21

I don't have sensitivities, nor am I a "super-smeller" Nittersing Dec 25 #22

Has something changed? Polybius Dec 25 #23

I agree, for people with allergies it can become unbearable and detrimental to their health. Irish_Dem Dec 25 #26

What Trend Are You Talking About? ProfessorGAC Dec 25 #27

I don't agree Mossfern Dec 25 #34

Post removed Post removed Dec 25 #43

Did somebody say something mean? Mossfern Dec 25 #51

I didn't see it either, but my guess is that it's about you saying "toilet waters" Polybius Dec 26 #80

Ah Mossfern Dec 26 #81

This message was self-deleted by its author womanofthehills Dec 25 #65

"Health Effects of Fragrance Exposure "- 34% of US responders womanofthehills Dec 25 #66

Wool dryer balls are awesome and work better for me than dryer sheets with no odor, static Ziggysmom Dec 25 #28

I use wool dryer balls Niagara Dec 25 #37

I experience the same misbehaving with mine. Also my cats love them! They steal them Ziggysmom Dec 25 #48

I'm glad to know it's not just me that they misbehave for Niagara Dec 25 #70

Off topic but tangential: scented and flavored dental floss hvn_nbr_2 Dec 25 #30

I had a bad skin reaction to scented dryer sheets. QED Dec 25 #32

Makes me sneeze. viva la Dec 25 #36

I sincerely doubt that venting about it will have any lasting impact. BootinUp Dec 25 #39

It's gross. Thankfully more and more people are going free and clear. Unscented options are the way to go. Blues Heron Dec 25 #41

It was way worse when powdered detergents were common. GoCubsGo Dec 25 #61

Scenting everything! mamacita75 Dec 25 #62