I took my wife and 7-month old daughter on their first Uber ride in Miami Beach, Florida today.

I had a strange gut feeling about it before the driver arrived 2 minutes later. I immediately smelled an extremely strong fragrance in the vehicle.

I rolled down the windows and had my wife do the same.

It wasn't enough.

Within minutes, my wife and I were discussing the intense headache that we felt from the air fresheners.

When I asked the driver about using air fresheners, he laughed and replied: "Yeah, I used an air freshener bomb in here yesterday, it's a bit strong".

I kept my face near the window so I could get as much fresh air as possible to make it to our destination without becoming completely nauseated.

It took me about 15 minutes after getting dropped off to stop feeling dizzy. Granted, I am more reactive to synthetic chemicals than others and do my best to avoid them, there are dozens of pieces of research that prove their harm.

This is especially true for pregnant mothers, infants, and young women.

That is why I've started this petition. People are not listening to my voice alone. Will you join me and make a call so loud Uber can't ignore us?

If you need scientific evidence to support this petition, here it is:

Phthalates: Low-molecular-weight phthalates (LMWP) (e.g., diethyl phthalate) are commonly found in personal care products (fragrances, shampoo, cosmetics, and nail polish).

Human exposure to phthalates can occur through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact.

Research and Health Implications of Phthalates and Chemical Fragrances

1. Autistic features linked to prenatal exposure to commonly found phthalates (1)
2. ADD and ADHD in children linked to phthalate exposure (2)
3. Phthalates heighten risk for childhood asthma (3)
4. Acute toxic effects of fragrances can include neurotoxicity (4).
5. In August 2016 a study published by veteran fragrance chemical researcher Anne Steinemann, Ph.D, found that more than 50 percent of the population would prefer fragrance-free workplaces, health care facilities and professionals, hotels, and airplanes. (5)
6. Overall, 34 percent of the population reported one or more types of adverse health effects from exposure to fragranced products. (5)
7. Exposure to three common chemical classes -- phenols, phthalates, and phytoestrogens -- in young girls may disrupt the timing of pubertal development and put girls at risk for health complications later in life. (6)
8. 1,4 dichlorobenzene found in many air fresheners may cause modest reductions in lung function (7)

Please join us in our call. Ask Uber to enact an immediate ban on the use of ANY and ALL air fresheners and other fragrances in Uber driver's vehicles which includes but is not limited to:

• Tree air fresheners 
• Plug-in air fresheners
• A/C vent clip air fresheners
• Interior cleaning solutions and sprays with fragrance
• Perfumes, colognes and body sprays

To Your Health,

Evan Brand

Research Citations:

1. Endocrine Society. (2015, March 5). Autistic features linked to prenatal exposure to commonly found fire retardants, phthalates. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 5, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150305125148.htm

2. Engel SM, Miodovnik A, Canfield RL, et al. Prenatal Phthalate Exposure Is Associated with Childhood Behavior and Executive Functioning. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2010;118(4):565-571. doi:10.1289/ehp.0901470.

3. Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. (2014, September 17). Phthalates heighten risk for childhood asthma. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 5, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140917073225.htm

4. Anderson RC, Anderson JH. Acute toxic effects of fragrance products. Arch Environ Health. 1998;53(2):138-46.

5. Steinemann A. Fragranced consumer products: exposures and effects from emissions. Air Qual Atmos Health. 2016;9(8):861-866.

6. The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine. (2010, April 5). Exposure to three classes of common chemicals may affect female development, study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 5, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100405122309.htm

7. NIH/National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences. (2006, July 27). Chemical In Many Air Fresheners May Reduce Lung Function. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 5, 2017, from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060727100258.htm