AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION; Trends in Asthma Morbidity and Mortality
January 2001
Economic Concerns
Health Costs
There are economic considerations regarding fragrance. Disorders that are triggered and exacerbated by exposure to fragrance often involves medical costs, losts days from work, workers compensation claims, and lost productivity. There are no specific statistics on what percentage of of costs is directly attributable to exposure to fragrance. So it is impossible to know exactly how much fragrance contributes to these costs. The information is general rather than specific.
ASTHMA
Up to 72% of asthmatics report fragrance is a trigger for attacks. While fragrance is not the only trigger, it is a frequent one and one of the most difficult to avoid.
TABLE 13: ECONOMIC COST OF ASTHMA, DIRECT MEDICAL AND INDIRECT EXPENDITURES, US, 2000
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION;
Trends in Asthma
Morbidity and Mortality
January 2001
NOTE: ESTIMATES OF DIRECT MEDICAL EXPENDITURES AND INDIRECT COSTS WERE DERIVED USING MORTALITY AND HEALTH SURVEY DATA AVAILABLE FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS, HEALTH EXPENDITURE DATA FROM THE HEALTH CARE FINANCING ADMINISTRATION, AND INCOME DATA FROM THE US BUREAU OF CENSUS. THE COST ESTIMATES WERE PROJECTED TO 2000 DOLLARS.
THESE NUMBERS ARE ESTIMATES AND SHOULD BE CITED AS SUCH.