Live free or sneeze? New Hampshire weighs ban on scents worn by state workers

Less is more, according to New Hampshire lawmakers debating whether to ban the use of scented or fragrant soaps by state employees.

Under House Bill 1444, state workers who interact with the public would be prohibited from wearing fragrances or scented products while on the job, MyFoxBoston reported.

The reason for the proposed ban -- exposure to scented products can irritate or worsen symptoms for people with asthma or allergies.

"The chemicals in some of these products can trigger the nasal congestion, sneezing and the runny nose," Dr. Stanley Fineman, an allergist with Emory University and the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic, told MyFoxBoston. "With the asthmatics, there's really good data showing their lung function changes when they're exposed to these compounds."

The legislation will get a vote Wednesday. If passed and signed into law, it would take effect within 60 days.

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