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Fabric Softeners Create
A "Gas-ly" Family Visit
By: Dr. Gloria Gilbere
Kootenai Valley Times, September 7, 2000
Dear Dr. Gloria: As a person living with a respiratory system affected by multiple chemical sensitivities, I submit the following personal account to add some humor to a serious situation caused by the use of fabric softeners by others.
Our grandson, 2.5 years old at the time, saw an opportunity to get out of the house on to the front porch with me. I'm afraid my shock and dismay outweighed my grandmotherly spirit for I fairly shouted: JORDON, YOU'RE OUTGASSING! His big brown eyes welled up. Two big tears dropped onto his cheeks, ran down his face and onto his shirt. With the saddest face he said, "My mommy doesnít say THAT to me!" He ran inside sobbing and said, "Grandma said I was OUTGASSING!" My daughter-in-law with a bemused look, then with a grin, asked, "What is going on?" Apparently, her family had washed their clothes for them, using fabric softener -- which my son and daughter-in-law don't use. When they opened their suitcases and began dressing, the fumes wafted upstairs. It turns out that my granddaughter had started coughing as they were getting dressed. My grandson kept saying, "Oh, my shirt smells so good!" My son then had to wash the clothes repeatedly with Borax. The final touch was to throw vinegar into the rinse. The clothes came out fine and I was able to enjoy the family visit -- and my grandson still loves me. Both children now have respiratory and headache reactions to fragrances. Interestingly, neither child lived on his/her allergy medicines while visiting us, as they have to do while visiting the other grandparents. Barb Wilkie
An added thought: Do as Julia Kendall had recommened: Contact the Consumer Products Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 and emphasize your central nervous system disorder symptoms -- those that affect your brain and your nervous systems -- allergic symptoms are not given priority in Commission investigations.
Additionally, complain to your state's Air Resources Board. It is NOT just a "personal choice" issue, when products used by another pollute the air for those whose astute doctors tell them to "Avoid fragrances." These synthetic scents have moved the use of fragrances far beyond "PERSONAL CHOICE" and into the realm of air pollution for all regardless of age, regardless of health status. The industry, and our government agencies charged with protecting public health, have chosen not to listen to the already disabled public. Indeed, many of us have been ridiculed. And what's happened? The number of people becoming ill has escalated and that AIN'T "mass hysteria." That is chemical injury due to the poisoning of our air by commonly used consumer products, which contain fragrance chemicals that have become ubiquitous. Unfortunately, fabric softeners are one type of polluting consumer product. -- barb
P.O. Box 3220 Bonners Ferry, ID 83805-3220 or email: secondhandreactions@drgloriagilbere.com
Gloria Gilbere,N.D.,D.A.Hom.,Ph.D.
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EHN's General Links, page B, Books
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EHN's HomePage
http://www.ehnca.org
EHN's Fabric Softener info page -- YOU can use safer alternatives
http://ehnca.org/www/ehnlinx/f.htm#Softeners
EHN's page on Julia Kendall and her
Fabric Softeners = Health Risks From Dryer Exhaust and Treated Fabrics
http://ehnca.org/ehnfs.htm
EHN's Press Releases
http://ehnca.org/www/PressReleases/prsrelin.htm
Comments? (Barb's email is no longer valid, please contact EHN). Please put WWW in subject line. Thanks.
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