For some, that ‘fresh’ air is deadly

I was very interested to read Laurie Berger’s article about body odor on airplanes [“If a Seatmate Smells Bad, Come Clean to the Crew -- Quickly,” Travel Q&A;, Dec. 4]. And I was alarmed to read that the woman who wrote to you reported that the flight attendant sprayed air freshener in the plane and that passengers dowsed themselves with rosewater in the lavatory.

Had I been on that flight, the airline would have had a passenger in anaphylactic shock within moments -- and possibly a dead passenger, me. I am one of millions of people who are allergic to perfumes, scents, cleaning fluids and yes -- even to many “natural” scents, such as rosewater. Spray air freshener anywhere near me and I stop breathing.

I have both asthma triggered by perfumes/fumes and reactive airway disease. At any time, flying is very problematic for me. Because I routinely wear my face mask when traveling, I find that folks seated near me are very cooperative. But I think the airlines need to take a stand about this situation too.

MARGARET LAUDERDALE

Pasadena