Doctors in Canada have called for a ban on the use of perfumes and aftershaves in hospitals and clinics. They say the chemicals in the scents can trigger asthma and allergies. Research shows that over half of asthma attacks are caused by irritants such as powerful smells. Besides perfumes and aftershaves, these can include cigarette smoke, cleaning fluids and other strong fragrances and odours. Dr Ken Flegel and Dr James Martin of McGill University in Canada wrote about the dangers of smells in hospital in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. They said: "Hospital environments free from artificial scents should become a uniform policy, promoting the safety of patients, staff and visitors alike."
在加拿大,醫(yī)護人員呼吁人們禁止使用香水和潤膚水。他們表示稱,香水中的化學制品會引起哮喘和過敏。研究表明有超過半數(shù)哮喘都是通過刺激物引起,例如刺激性氣味。除了香水和潤膚水,還有香煙、清潔劑以及其他刺激性氣味。在加拿大《醫(yī)學協(xié)會雜志》上,來自麥吉爾大學的肯·弗萊格爾和詹姆斯·馬丁醫(yī)生對香水的危害進行了描述。他們稱:“無香醫(yī)院的制定應該得到統(tǒng)一,這既能保證病患的安全,同時也能保證醫(yī)護人員和訪問者的安全。”
Strong smells affect many of us in one way or another. Around a third of people say they are physically affected by artificial scents worn by others. The doctors noted that this should be a serious concern in all hospitals. They wrote: "While artificial scents are designed to make us more attractive, they may result in unintended harm to those who are vulnerable. There is emerging evidence that asthma, in some cases, is primarily aggravated by artificial scents." They added that: "This is particularly concerning in hospitals, where vulnerable patients with asthma or other upper airway or skin sensitivities are concentrated." They warn that scents in hospitals can make these patients' condition worse.
刺激性氣味對人們的影響是多方面的。有大約三分之一的民眾表示,他們遭受過他人香水氣味的侵擾。醫(yī)生特別提到這將是所有醫(yī)院要面臨的重大問題。他們寫到:“香水的目的是要讓人們變得更有吸引力,但同時它也會無意間傷害到易感人群。有多項證據(jù)表明,香水是導致哮喘發(fā)作的主要原因。”他們還稱:“這在醫(yī)院尤為讓人擔心,因為醫(yī)院是哮喘,上呼吸道感染以及皮膚敏感人群的集中區(qū)。”他們警告稱,醫(yī)院中的香水氣味會加重病患病況。