PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saint-Sauveur, Québec, Canada. November 7, 2025.
Environmental Health Associations Applaud La Presse for Highlighting the Urgent Need for Fragrance-Free Environments
The Environmental Health Association of Canada – Association pour la santé environnementale du Canada and the Environmental Health Association of Québec – Association pour la santé environnementale du Québec, welcome and applaud the recent opinion piece published by La Presse entitled « Les environnements sans parfum ne sont pas frivoles ». This thoughtful article brings long-overlooked public health and accessibility issues to the forefront and acknowledges the lived reality of people affected by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
The importance of La Presse’s coverage
The article underscores that fragrance-free or scent-safe environments are not a matter of personal preference. They are essential accessibility measures that enable people with MCS, and many others affected by chemical and fragrance exposures, to safely access workplaces, healthcare, schools, and public services.
It highlights an important truth: fragrances, scented products, and indoor chemical exposures create real barriers that can severely impact health, mobility, and community participation. For many, the air itself becomes an obstacle.
Why this issue is urgent
Individuals living with MCS may experience debilitating symptoms when exposed to fragranced products or volatile chemicals, including:
- respiratory distress
- headaches and migraines
- cognitive impairment
- dizziness and fatigue
- loss of functional capacity
These symptoms are widely documented and recognized in public health and disability frameworks. Yet Canadians with MCS continue to face exclusion, misunderstanding, and systemic accessibility gaps.
Recent guidance from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety notes that scent-free policies are a best practice to help ensure safety and inclusion for vulnerable populations.
Call to action
In light of the article and the growing awareness it has generated, the Environmental Health Association of Canada and the Environmental Health Association of Québec urge policymakers, institutions, and employers to take immediate action:
1. Adopt and implement fragrance-free policies across public institutions, workplaces, healthcare settings, and educational environments.
2. Establish fragrance-safe spaces to ensure equal access for people with MCS and other health conditions that depend on optimal air for accessibility and inclusion.
3. Ensure full disclosure of ingredients in cleaning, maintenance, and personal-care products used in shared environments.
4. Understand MCS as a disability requiring accommodations under human-rights and accessibility laws.
5. Promote public awareness of the health and accessibility implications of fragranced and chemical exposures.
Statement from the Environmental Health Associations
“We thank La Presse for shedding light on an issue that affects thousands of Quebecers and more than a million Canadians. Fragrance-free environments are not symbolic, they are necessary for safety, dignity, and equal participation. This article marks an important step toward the public understanding and policy change urgently needed to protect people living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.”
— Rohini Peris, President, EHAC-ASEC and ASEQ-EHAQ
“Fragrance-free environments are not a inconvenience, they are a medically necessary accommodation. The scientific evidence is clear: fragranced and chemical exposures can trigger profound physiological reactions. Ensuring clean indoor air is essential for protecting public health and enabling full participation in society.”
— Dr. John Molot, Environmental Medicine Specialist and medical advisor to EHAC-ASEC and ASEQ-EHAQ.
About EHAC-ASEC and ASEQ-EHAQ
The Environmental Health Association of Canada – Association pour la santé environnementale du Canada and the Environmental Health Association of Québec – Association pour la santé environnementale du Québec work nationally and provincially to promote safe, healthy, and inclusive environments for people affected by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Our mission includes public education, advocacy, research, and support services to ensure equitable access to indoor environments for all.
Media Contact
Michel Gaudet
Executive Director
Environmental Health Association of Canada (EHAC-ASEC)
Environmental Health Association of Québec (ASEQ-EHAQ)
office@aseq-ehaq.ca / 514 332 4320 / aseq-ehaq.ca
