Don't buy air fresheners.
Okay, so I'm not fond of the scent of fresh spring meodows wafting out from the latest product from ______ (insert name of manufacturer who makes stinky products here).
Okay not fond is a bit mild. Air fresheners, especially the plug in ones cause me a migraine. I had to go to a meeting on another floor of my building today. Instant migraine (complete with unhappy stomach) thanks to the odor.
When the meeting was done, I went to my boss and he took me to HR with him to lodge an official complaint about scents in the workplace. I've lost time and the company has had to pay me sick pay due to this in the past - twice actually). HR is not willing to go into the "don't wear perfume" discussion but they are willing to send something out regarding being considerate of your fellow employees and overly scented items like air freshener.
Money and Health Tip
September 26th, 2006 at 10:25 pm
September 27th, 2006 at 12:56 pm 1159361764
I was just thinking about all the plug-in devices last night when going through the last four months of Sunday paper coupon inserts, where there are so many coupons for these products.
I can't imagine who buys all of them, to justify the huge amount of advertising done.
And I'd really like to know what an independent laboratory would say about the particulate matter released into the air by these supposed air "fresheners" -- yeah, I seriously wonder if they might be outright dangerous for some people, and if they could possibly contribute to the soaring rates of childhood asthma -- but who knows? I've never seen any studies anywhere about it, but maybe they exist.
I cannot imagine ANY employer allowing these things in the workplace, if your human services department is so lackadaisical, why don't you check with an attorney or OSHA to find out if there are any rules & regulations about NOT permeating the work environment with any of these intrusive scents.
September 27th, 2006 at 01:23 pm 1159363380
This is the third time in 4 years I've had it happen. The first two times - the person doing that is no long with the company - but trust me that was one of the more considerate things she did (think sociopathic manager).
A note is supposed to go to all employees at our worksite on not doing this. Hopefully soon.
Yikes. You just got me thinking about those poor children in a house with parents that smoke and then these "air bombs". Yikes.
September 28th, 2006 at 11:14 pm 1159485281
Stung Lung: Volatile Chemical May Cut Respiratory Capacity
Science News ^ | 8-6-2006 | Ben Harder
Stung Lung: Volatile chemical may cut respiratory capacity
Ben Harder
A chemical in some air fresheners and pest-control products may slightly impair lung function in millions of people, a nationwide study suggests.
The compound, para-dichlorobenzene, is used to make mothballs, urinal deodorizers, and air-freshening blocks for household use. At room temperature, the strong-smelling chemical gradually changes from a solid to a gas.
Para-dichlorobenzene was previously detected in the blood of more than 95 percent of the participants tested in a U.S. study called NHANES III.
Scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C., looked for effects of the chemical and 10 other volatile organic compounds commonly detected in U.S. residents. Led by internist and epidemiologist Stephanie J. London, the team.....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1678826/posts