We thank those who acknowledge our right to breathe and our right to access. They know it is not unreasonable to request fragrance-free accommodation. It's ADA in action!

The University of Minnesota's School of Social Work, Ford Hall, developed a policy -- which it enforces -- to protect staff and students who have Environmental Illness/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (EI/MCS).

TCI Southwest Division's executive staff have addressed an employee's need for a fragrance-free environment. An executive officer issued a memorandum requesting that employees use fragrance-free products and remove flowers/plants, if asked. Danville [California] Congregational Church has requested its members attend services fragrance-free.

The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Education recognize EI/MCS as a disability. San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz and Berkeley recognize EI/MCS -- two of those cities, in their fashion. Transportation agencies and other entities request meeting attendees refrain from wearing scented products.

Individuals who have -- of their own volition -- stopped wearing fragrance products to work or to public meetings. We are also indebted to all coworkers who have developed "sniff" networks. They warn us of potential hazards such as: someone who is wearing flagrantly fragrant products, or if pesticides or air fresheners have been sprayed, or of a newly painted area in our vicinity.

Huzzah! to the above. Others? We'd like to hear. Let us continue to put sense into this real dollars and (s)cents issue. Write letters, make calls. Inform all that today's fragrances are petrochemical products and are a barrier to our access. Protect health: yours, theirs ... and mine.

--barb

Can we really call upon Berkeley to provide EI/MCS accommodation at city-sponsored meetings and events?

The fragrance industry reps left smiling as the city approved the Acting City Manager's version of "voluntary language" to be printed on meeting notices.

Interestingly, the word "scents" was replaced by "odors" at the last minute on April 30, 1996, as the "attendees" watched on. The statement is:

"ATTENDEES AT PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE REMINDED THAT OTHER ATTENDEES MAY BE SENSITIVE TO VARIOUS ODORS, WHETHER NATURAL OR MANUFACTURED, IN PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS. PLEASE HELP THE CITY RESPECT THESE NEEDS."

The Commission on Disability's language for notices was only supported by Councilmembers Diane Wooley-Bauer, Dona Spring and Linda R. Maio and 247 out of 248 pages of corroborating testimony [from 52 people contacting the city -- the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce was not supportive of the Commission's language]. The language that failed was:

"OUT OF RESPECT FOR CITIZENS WITH CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES, WE ASK THAT YOU REFRAIN FROM WEARING SCENTED PRODUCTS."

-- barb

BERKELEY -- Mayor Shirley Dean wrote a friend on Jan. 15, 2002:

"I am pleased to inform you that at the Council meeting of January 15, 2002, the following language was moved by Councilmember Betty Olds and approved unanimously by the Council:
'The City Council requests that people refrain from wearing scented products to the meetings.'

"This new language will start appearing immediately on all notices of meetings held by the City."

For more information on access, please visit EHN's page Take Heart! http://www.ehnca.org/www/ehnhompg/takheart.htm

FDA Petition: FDA to declare "misbranded" fragrances released to market without adequate testing, according to their own regulations already on their books.

For information on the TRADE SECRET-protected chemicals in modern synthetic fragrances, please visit EHN's Citizens' Petition before the FDA, "Docket Number: 99P-1340/CP 1." Included is FDA contact information, as well as analyses of six popular scents, plus the image of a label with links out to more edifying information regarding the chemicals used to formulate modern, synthetic scents. FDA Petition http://www.ehnca.org/www/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm

Folks, do take advantage of this golden opportunity to inform the FDA about your negative reactions to synthetic fragrances, whether first- or secondhand. Reference "Docket Number 99P-1340/CP 1"
E-mail: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov

Visit EHN's Avoid Fragrances -- a list of links to august organizations, which inform their patients that fragrances are triggers to illnesses. See http://www.ehnca.org/www/ehnlinx/a.htm#AVOID