WWF-UK: Avoid Valentines Day headaches - don't buy your lover perfume
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Avoid Valentines Day headaches - don't buy your lover perfume
Friday 11 February 2005
If you are thinking about charming your lover into bed with an expensive bottle of scent this Valentine's Day perhaps you should think again.
Many perfumes and after-shaves contain phthalates - a group of chemicals believed to affect male sperm counts - and artificial musks - man-made chemicals which can sometimes trigger an unpleasant condition called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity can cause headaches, sneezing and a general feeling of illness.
As Valentine's Day this year has also been designated Chemical Awareness Day, WWF has been joined by Sam Roddick, owner of erotic emporium Coco de Mer to highlight the problem.
Sam Roddick said: "It is dreadful that man-made chemicals in some perfumes may be damaging our health and affecting men's fertility.
"My ex-boyfriend had terrible reactions to some perfumes. Why spray something on yourself to turn your lover on when actually it could be making them sick?"
WWF's Chemicals and Health Campaign is pushing for new European legislation that better controls the chemicals industry so that consumers know that what they are being sold is safe, and is not damaging the environment.
Justin Woolford, Director of the Chemicals and Health Campaign said: "Phthalates and artificial musks are among a raft of chemicals that may be affecting your health and damaging the environment. This Valentine's Day show you love your body and your planet too. Help us get better regulation of the chemicals industry by avoiding products that contain these chemicals."
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity can cause headaches, sneezing and a general feeling of illness.
As Valentine's Day this year has also been designated Chemical Awareness Day, WWF has been joined by Sam Roddick, owner of erotic emporium Coco de Mer to highlight the problem.
Sam Roddick said: "It is dreadful that man-made chemicals in some perfumes may be damaging our health and affecting men's fertility.
"My ex-boyfriend had terrible reactions to some perfumes. Why spray something on yourself to turn your lover on when actually it could be making them sick?"
WWF's Chemicals and Health Campaign is pushing for new European legislation that better controls the chemicals industry so that consumers know that what they are being sold is safe, and is not damaging the environment.
Justin Woolford, Director of the Chemicals and Health Campaign said: "Phthalates and artificial musks are among a raft of chemicals that may be affecting your health and damaging the environment. This Valentine's Day show you love your body and your planet too. Help us get better regulation of the chemicals industry by avoiding products that contain these chemicals."
Further information
Find out more about our work in this area by visiting the Chemicals and Health Campaign website.