Travel Lodging and Airbnbs

 

It was my first official, formal trip in twenty years (not counting road trips and camping adventures) and I needed a place to stay that was fragrance-free safe. Hotels are impossible for me due to the offgassing of new furniture, laundry detergent smells, and toxic cleaning supplies used to de-stink a previous customer's stay. What do I do?

I considered driving and camping at my destination, but decided driving would take too much time and since I sold my van months ago, sleeping in a tiny car would not work. Besides the weather in Tucson was expected to be in the 90s. Nope.

I started searching online months ago. Would an Airbnb work? There are many posts and comments from people searching for fragrance-free Airbnbs or any kind of private accommodation that would be willing to be nontoxic. It seems this search is very difficult. 

Airbnb has a filter for number of rooms, number of guests, number of bathrooms, other amenities, but no general word search options. Their website even has an "Accessibility" filter so people with disabilities are able to search for wheelchair access or other helpful features. No mention of chemical sensitivity which is an official disability according to ADA. It seems they are excluding a whole group of disabled people who need fragrance-free accommodations.

I got creative and joined several online community groups and posted the question, "Does anyone know of an Airbnb that is fragrance-free?" Some of the responses were along the lines of, "NO." Or "Good luck with that!"  One woman who was an Airbnb host offered to become fragrance-free just for me not understanding that would involve washing her linens at least twenty times to get the laundry stink out of them for it to be safe enough for me. I really had little hope, but I persisted in my search.

Fortunately and miraculously, one group member was an Airbnb host who belonged to an Airbnb host support group. She posed the question on her group and gleaned a whole list of people who claimed to be fragrance-free! But were they really? We all know unless people are chemically sensitive they often don't even know what fragrance-free means.

I selected one that was a small casita for one person. The host seemed the most aware of fragrance-free cleanliness and I posed questions regarding cleaning and personal hygiene products as she did not have these things featured on her listing. Yes, she uses only vinegar and hydrogen peroxide for cleaning, free and clear laundry detergent, and provides fragrance-free and nontoxic personal hygiene products. Hmmm...OK! I didn't ask how old the mattress was to assess if it would offgas chemicals nor what kind of mattress. I didn't ask if there was any remodeling, new furniture, or new paint? I know it would be a risk, but I did what I could to make sure it was safe and booked it (no refunds!) I also purchased the optional travel insurance in case of sickness as I hoped if the space made me sick, I could leave and get a refund. (If Airbnb doesn't even recognize chemical sensitivity as a disability, it might have been a struggle to convince them had I actually became violently ill because of the space. I think a lawyer might have convinced them....)

I arrived and got into the casita. There was a second, adjoining, unoccupied Airbnb space, but no other customers were staying while I was there. The casita smelled musty! What was that? Formaldehyde? Bug spray? My lungs started hurting. Oh no, this is not good.

I noticed the air conditioning was not on and this was controlled by the host so I requested she turn it on. She suggested I open windows and run the ceiling fans on high as well. I left and began my tour of Tucson praying when I returned the air would be tolerable. I asked her if I could have access to the swimming pool since other tenants weren't there. I did not explain why I wanted access. It was not to swim, but as an option should I be unable to stay overnight in the casita, I could just sleep out by the pool in a lounge chair. I was not excited about sleeping outside with lizards, snakes, and other creepy crawlies, but it was better than suffocating. (The rental car had a slight smell of "new car smell" so I knew I would not be able to sleep there.)

I apprehensively returned a few hours later and the casita aired out magnificently! Whew! Relief! I noticed as I looked at rentals in Tucson many had the same musty smell and I am now assuming it might just be the way Tucson is when air-tight and locked up. The host did confess she uses ozone, but said she didn't use it on the casita. I do wonder what her pest control procedures are, but I didn't ask. I hoped for the best and made the assumption if she was that aware, she probably wasn't using toxic pesticides like so many in Tucson do. 

The mattress was a natural latex that was a couple years old. Incredibly comfortable with no smell at all! Her linens smelled so clean, even cleaner smelling than my own!

I have heard some hotel chains provide "hypoallergenic rooms". I stopped into the Hyatt Place and asked hoping they would let me smell one to see how safe it might be. No, they did not have "hypoallergenic rooms". Oh well. They lose my business!

I can't even express how happy I was it all worked out!! But expensive...it's not cheap to stay in an Airbnb and it was the highest expense of my trip. Did I pay extra for nontoxic accommodations? Maybe, but this is typical. It's expensive to be chemically sensitive!

Consumer Terrorism, or Air Pollution for Purchase

ScentAir is the latest gimmick in consumer marketing. They call themselves smell consultants. Here is one of their marketing slogans:

Add More Excitement to Your Crowd Experience! 

 

It seems it is their mission to poison people with toxic chemicals worldwide and on a grand scale. Currently they are operating in 105 countries with over 40,000 deployments. Deployments? Isn't deployment a word used during wartime to describe military maneuvers? Fitting. It's no longer enough for the corporate machine to legally poison individuals with perfumes and colognes. If a little is good [for profit], then much more is much better [for much more profit]. To hell with health. Very American.

The trend began with perfumed clothing, then expanded to whole retail outlets in hopes of higher profits. The target is now large gatherings of people: arenas, shopping centers, casinos and stadiums. Where ever people congregate in mass numbers. Sound familiar?  Like a terrorist operation? Legalized terrorism. Here are some of ScentAir's deployments, clients, companies and locations and their choice of stink:

Barclays Center in New York smells like their sponsor Calvin Klein. 

The Edward Jones Dome or St. Louis Rams' stadium smells like Cotton Candy.

Bloomingdale's smells like Baby Powder, Lilac and Coconut, except at Christmas when they smell like Sugar Cookie, Chocolate and Evergreen.

Hard Rock Hotel smells like Sugar Cookies, Waffle Cones, and Ocean.

City of Dreams casino in Macau smells like Rainforest.

Coors smells like something called Ice Show, a mix of peppermint and vanilla. (What? They don't want to smell like beer?)

Times Square in the middle of Manhattan in New York smells like chocolate...right outside the Hershey's store. On the street. "It's not really chocolate. It's nose chocolate."

NOSE CHOCOLATE?

REALLY?

Other stinkers include the Westin Hotel and Resorts, Anytime Fitness, Jimmy Choo Shoes, Saks Fifth Avenue, the Children's Museum in Indianapolis, and Florida Hospital. Yep, that's not a typo...a scented hospital. No wonder I have no confidence in our medical system.

ScentAir boasts over four billion individual enduring impressions. In addition to impressions, pretty words like scent and fragrance are used in abundance on their website along with relaxation and belonging. The words POISON, POLLUTION, or DEATH are not found anywhere.  No mention of ingredients used to make this purposeful air pollution. No mention of toxic chemicals. No mention of the health effects of these impressions on at least 15% to 33% of the population. No mention of asthma, anaphylactic shock, depression, joint pain, brain fog, migraines, or illness. No warning label. There is one claim of "scent studies" implying serious scientific research although the focus is entertainment rather than meaningful public education. Great advertising if your target is the unquestionably stupid. I wonder when they'll figure out how to puff toxic chemicals through a computer if someone clicks on their website?

 

Why don't company managers and consumers question how chemically-contaminated air might affect their health and the health of everyone around them? Do they care or is ignorance to blame? And what about the innocent bystanders? Are they warned in advance? Do they get a choice whether to breathe clean or polluted air? Is there a disclaimer to read prior to purchasing event tickets, making reservations, or buying memberships? Do they get their tickets, reservations, or memberships refunded if they can't breathe? Are their medical bills paid by the host company if they are rushed to the hospital with asthma attacks or anaphylactic shock?

But there is still hope! People have been complaining about ScentAir, in Las Vegas, anyway:

The use of air fresheners in Las Vegas businesses HVAC, are creating barriers under Title III of the ADA. The businesses refused to address requests for accommodations resulting in the US Department of Justice filings.

Hooray Americans with Disabilities Act! One of the businesses was Abercrombie & Fitch, a retail business known for offending many. Not only are they perfumed, but they have in the past marketed Nazi clothing and have stated they cater only to "popular" and "beautiful" people so if you are overweight, uncool or just plain ugly, don't bother. They claimed no wrong doing, of course. Several other businesses, mostly casinos, claimed it wasn't their fault and the customer should contact the distributor, ScentAir, directly. Wow. Talk about lack of responsibility. Passing the buck. They don't think they are responsible for hiring a company to create the problem? It amazes me if up to 33 % of the population is negatively affected by chemically-based scents and if these businesses are dependent on having and keeping customers, why wouldn't they figure out toxic impressions aren't good for business? Logic 101. Is the ambiance worth it?


It is good ScentAir lists some of their clients. This is helpful so we know who, where and what to avoid.

 

The world gets smaller every day.

Accommodation

The Workplace Environment

If you have been medically diagnosed with multiple chemical sensitivity according to most state laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you are considered disabled. Be sure this diagnosis came with a letter of accommodation that clearly describes your specific condition and your safety needs. Under various disability laws, you have certain rights to accommodation depending on the situation. Is everyone in every situation legally required to accommodate your special needs? No. The two most accommodating environments are workplaces and schools.

Steps to Requesting Accommodation:

1.)  Assess exactly what kind of accommodation you will need in order to safely continue performing your job or educational responsibilities.

What aspects of the environment are causing your symptoms or illness?

Are there ways to rectify the situation and change the environment?

Are there alternative options? A change in location? An adjustment to your schedule in terms of days or hours you work?

Are there standard practices that may be changed? For instance, instead of chemical supplies using non-toxic alternatives.

Would employee policy reforms restricting the use of personal hygiene products help?

The Presentation of Options

To the best of your ability detail the exact steps needed to be taken to make your work or school environment safe. This will involve an honest evaluation of your health in relation to your situation. In some cases, no accommodation will work. Be realistic and be reasonable.

 

2.) Review company or institutional policies so you have an understanding of the organization's level of flexibility and limitations.

3.) Review and research state and federal accommodation laws regarding your situation. Seek assistance from the Americans With Disabilities Act (www.ada.gov), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (www.eeoc.gov), the Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov) and if you belong to a union, contact your union representatives. Not only will representatives from these organizations know the laws and pertinent information to your specific situation, but relationship building with key individuals may provide you with a valuable support system.



The Angels of Accommodation

4.) Meet with a lawyer, preferably one who specializes in employment law or civil rights law. Find one who will not charge you for the initial consultation, who may potentially take a case pro-bono, and who has experience with chemical sensitivity and accommodation. Ask about accommodation laws in conjunction with your situation. This lawyer may offer to write a letter to support your accommodation request or attend any meetings you may have with your supervisors. Take a rain check. Not only will they charge you through the nose for these services, you don't want to bring in the big guns. You only want their basic, legal advice at this point. (More on lawyers later....)

The Chemically Sensitive Employees Afraid
To Be Identified
(See the look in their eyes?)

5.) Find out who else would benefit from accommodation such as fellow employees, students, customers, clients, support staff, etc. Find out if anyone has requested accommodation. How was it received? Do this carefully, conversationally, and informally as personal research. Many people worry about job security and will not speak with you for fear you'll give their name to their supervisors risking their positions. Be confidential and trustworthy.

6.) Meet with your supervisor or school administrator to discuss your needs and options. Be prepared for scenarios for acceptance and assistance or denial and hostility, and everything in between.  Be open-minded and professional with an attitude of collaboration. Take detailed notes and listen carefully. Do the conversational contributions indicate they have experience with accommodation requests? Are they open? Are they clueless? Are they feeling threatened? Listen. The clues will help you strategize your plan of action.

The Accommodation Request
(Don't forget your sword!)

7.) Write a letter requesting accommodation. Clearly describe your environment, health issues, and possible options for accommodation. Attach your doctor's letter of accommodation requirements and any other correspondence from supportive healthcare experts.

8.) Meet with your supervisor or school administrator. Take your letter of accommodation, lists of accommodation options, and any research information you deem might be helpful. For instance, without naming names, let them know how many other employees/staff/students would benefit from accommodation. Assume the authority will invite backup personnel to your meeting to serve as witnesses. Do the same. Take along someone from your support system if available: someone from the ADA, EEOC, or your union.

9.) Keep detailed records of every step you take. Keep track of dates and times of contacts and information given.

Steps NOT to take:

The Legal Crusader

1.) Seek legal counsel for information only. Don't threaten authority with legal retribution. Threats can make authority defensive and less than willing to assist. Avoid divulging that you are even meeting with a lawyer or authority may panic, refuse to continue negotiations and arm themselves with their own lawyers. Also, once you get accommodation, you don't want to return to a hostile work or school environment nor be labeled as a troublemaker. It doesn't make for very good working relations. 

2.) Don't be argumentative, rude, disrespectful or entitled at any point no matter how frustrated or ill you are feeling. Your negative attitude will negate and dilute the focus of your request. Maintain an attitude of professionalism and intelligence.

3.) Give only the facts. Do not include excessive, unnecessary information based on emotion, hearsay, or conjecture. Assume everything you write or say will be recorded and possibly used against you later.

Chemically Sensitive Troops

4.) Don't rally the troops by enlisting support from fellow employees and students. This creates an us against them mentality that can backfire. At this point you want a collaborative solution where all parties are working for the betterment of each other. By finding out who else might need accommodation, you may use this as a form of statistical analysis when approaching authority during the initial meeting, but don't imply you've been gathering support (before you declare war) or you'll be seen as a troublemaker negating the positive spirit of the workplace. Don't make them feel defensive or they will decide they have no reason to help you. Once it's viewed as a war, sides are taken and boundaries drawn. It's difficult to reestablish trust.

For someone who doesn't want to rock the boat, being this proactive is not easy. Getting to the point where you are sick all the time and unable to be a productive employee, yet desperately wanting to keep your job will force you into action in hopes of rectifying the situation. Desperation is a great motivator. I have heard of MCSers experiencing harassment from fellow employees who purposely make their lives a living hell by not only wearing perfume, but squirting it on the person's work station or body. Anger is a great motivator, too.

Hissssss. Spit. Hisssss.

In most cases, your employer or school administration will bend over backwards to help, especially if they are in anyway competent when in comes to managing people. The inept employer or school administrator will deny accommodation and in some cases refuse to discuss it regardless of your presentation or proactivity. They just don't want to deal with it.

Good luck!