A significant number of attendees suffer from heightened sensitivity to solvents and petroleum products, including perfume and fragrance. These chemicals can act not only as respiratory irritants, but also as cardiac stimulants (skyrocketing blood pressure, palpitations) and neurotoxins (symptoms include tremors, mental confusion, equilibrium loss, blurred vision).
Exposure to products containing even small amounts of the chemicals can cause these symptoms. Please understand that this is not a preference issue - it is a serious health concern. Chemical sensitivity results from continued exposure to solvents and products in doses thought to be safe: this could happen to any one of us.
Because the dance and dining areas are enclosed spaces, even small amounts of fragrance or scented or toxic products on a few people can add up quickly to intolerable amounts. Our fellow dancers with chemical sensitivities can attend the ball and satellite events only if we all work together to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals in the air. We will supply the bathrooms with fragrance-free soap and hand lotion for your convenience.
We ask that you please:
Last Updated: Sun Jan 4 14:05:45 2009