"Toxic effects of air freshener emissions; Rosalind Anderson Ph.D. and Julius Anderson M.D.-Ph.D. Archives of Environmental Health (1997) 52: 433-441. Air freshener emissions caused irritation of the eyes and lungs of mice. The mice also developed difficulty breathing (asthma-like attack) and signs of neurotoxicity such as loss of balance, tremors, and convulsions. Several of the mice died as a result of the exposure."

Anderson Labs
Box 323
West Hartford, VT 05084.

Dear Readers: The Andersons have peer-reviewed documents available, as well as videos of the mice and their adverse reactions. Visit their website http://www.andersonlaboratories.com/ to learn more about their documents. Write to them at the above address, or phone: 1.802.295.7344, or email: anderson.lab@connriver.net

We learn from the New York Times, national edition, 4/18/99 p. BU-13, that scented suits are in; that the "new fashion is the rage" in South Korea. The Times goes on to tell us, "Young men hoping to avoid reeking of cigarettes and liquor when they tiptoe home in the wee hours have been snapping up the suits since January. The suits are made of fabric impregnated with microcapsules that release aromas of lavender, pine or peppermint when touched or rubbed. The effect is said to mask the olfactory evidence of a night's socializing and to last for three years or 15 to 20 dry cleanings. Customers applied the sniff test to an offering by LG Fashion in a Seoul store, where scented suites are selling briskly for $250 to $400."

I wonder if there will be a sudden and "unaccountable" rise in asthma and asthma deaths in South Korea? Readers, please keep your eyes open for such a statistic. Thanks. -- barb

Report your adverse reactions to our government!

FDA CITIZENS' Petition -- This is a golden opportunity to inform the FDA of your adverse reactions, whether they are suffered first- or secondhand. Just write a note, or use the sample letter, available with the petition, to inform the FDA that the proven trade secret-protected toxic chemicals used in the formulation of modern synthtetic scents do exact a toll on human -- and pet -- health. If you know the name of the product that adversely affects your health -- or that of your children or elderly parentsÝ-- please tell them that also. Identify symptoms if possible. If you¼ve lost your job, your family, your home, inform them of that also. Suggest the FDA build a database. There is no set deadline for this project -- but PLEASE, take the time and energy today to inform the FDA!

Contact information is available at the top of the FDA Petition page at http://ehnca.org/www/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm.

Be sure to link out to the Analyses at http://ehnca.org/www/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm#Analyses and to Product Label at http://ehnca.org/www/FDApetition/eterbkpg.htm for more edifying information.

For those of you who also want to "take it to the top," of the Food and Drug Administration http://www. fda.gov/ -- for they have stated they want to hear from those of us whose health and lives are adversely affected by personal care fragrance products -- contact:

Mr. Lark Lambert LZL@cfsan.fda.gov
HFS FDA
Office of Cosmetics and Colors Cosmetic Adverse Reaction Monitoring Program
200 C St. SW
Washington, DC 20204
phone: 202.205.4706 -- fax: 202.205.5098

AND

Mr. Charles Haynes CRH@cfsan.fda.gov
CFSANHFS-105
200 C Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20204
phone: 202.205.4061 -- fax: 202.205.5098

Report unsafe products: Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html

From their web page: "Please note that [CPSC] does not have jurisdiction over products such as cars and other on-road vehicles, car seat performance in protecting children when riding in on-road vehicles, foods, drugs and medicines, cosmetics, and pesticides. ä " However, according to a representative from the Environmental Protection Agency, CPSC is the one to contact for fragrance products other than cosmetics (household cleaners, air fresheners). CPSC¼s Consumer Product Incident Report form resides at http://www.cpsc.gov/incident.html. You can also make a report by calling toll-free at 1.800.638.2772.

And a column ender ... an ad from elsewhere