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WHEREAS, Women for a Healthy Environment educates and empowers women to act as ambassadors about environmental risks so they can make healthy choices for themselves and their families and advocate for change for a better tomorrow for all; and
WHEREAS, Women for a Healthy Environment provides educational workshops throughout the year that focus on environmental risk factors associated with food and consumer products, including personal care products and cosmetics; and
WHEREAS, the ingredient "fragrance" is in thousands of consumer products, but due to loopholes in federal regulations the chemical content of fragrance is often not fully disclosed-it can include a selection from 3,100 different chemicals, the majority of which have not been thoroughly investigated or proven safe; and
WHEREAS, fragrance emits Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which reduces indoor air quality and can affect one's health by triggering asthma attacks, allergic reactions and migraines, and may damage one's immune system and affect development and fertility in men and women; and
WHEREAS, Women for a Healthy Environment is hosting a free webinar that focuses on Fragrance-free Policies in the Workplace on May 22 that addresses health effects, legal issues, sample workplace policies and implementation practices; and, following the webinar, Women for a Healthy Environment is to host a public event in Market Square to educate the general public about the mystery ingredient "fragrance" and its potential harmful health effects, as well as safer and healthier alternatives.
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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh recognizes Women for a Healthy Environment for their efforts to educate the general public in order for them to be better informed consumers and advocates for safer and healthier ingredients in our personal care and products.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare May 22 to be Fragrance-Free Day in the City of Pittsburgh.