Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is an invisible disability, effecting millions
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities is an invisible disability that is beginning to reach epidemic proportions effecting millions worldwide. More, from an old Emerge webpage no longer hosted on their site but good information non the less. I have updated the links to the original research no longer hosted over at Emerge.com
About Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Much of what follows has been referenced from the NICNAS report on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) entitled: A Scientific Review of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Identifying Key Research Needs. Otherwise information has been obtained from the websites quoted.
People with MCS get a wide array of complex symptoms (vide infra) from low levels (normally non-toxic) of exposure to chemicals. These levels would not cause symptoms in most people. People who suffer from MCS will have multi-system illnesses as a result of exposure a wide variety of environmental chemicals.
MCS is a condition within the sphere of “environmental sensitivities”, a descriptor used in a wider sense to describe a variety of reactions to environmental stressors including chemicals and physical phenomena such as electromagnetic radiation (cf. Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity, EHS) at levels commonly tolerated by the majority of people (Sears, 2007).
Like ME/CFS there are currently no bio-marker(s) used to diagnose MCS, so Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) was identified in a 1989 multidisciplinary survey of 89 clinicians and researchers, and modified in 1999 (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A 1999 Conshhensus) for MCS define the condition by these criteria (Bartha et al., 1999):The Condition is Chronic
The condition is chronic;
Symptoms recur reproducibly (with repeated exposure – of the same chemical);
Symptoms recur in response to low levels of exposure [lower than previously or commonly tolerated];
Symptoms occur when exposed to multiple unrelated chemicals;
Symptoms improve or resolve when trigger chemicals are removed;Multiple organ systems are affected (added in 1999).
While a case definition of MCS has not been universally agreed. The 1999 Consensus Criteria are commonly used in research definitions of MCS and these criteria have been cited in Australian surveys.
Like ME/CFS, MCS ranges in severity from mild to very severe.
MCS has also been known by different names in both the scientific literature and by the lay media – these terms are as follows:
Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance (IEI)
Environmental Illness
Chemical Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Chemical AIDS)
20th Century Disease
Cerebral Allergy
Chemical Sensitivity or Intolerance
Environmental Hypersensitivity
Toxic Encephalopathy
Toxicant-induced loss of tolerance (TILT)
Acquired Intolerance to Solvents
Total Allergy Syndrome
In many cases, specific terms reflect particular views of individuals or groups regarding the underlying pathogenesis/cause of MCS.
Emerge 😉
Like with ME/CFS, some researchers believe MCS may not be just one single defined disease but as a collective term describing a range of symptoms associated with environmental exposures that may represent more accurately a class of disorders (Ashford, 1999, Lancour, 2005).
People with MCS often face situations where their condition and symptoms are poorly understood, mis-diagnosed or not even believed. They may be provided with health care that is less than optimal or even counterproductive. They often find that there is a stigma attached to their illness, and face discrimination or disbelief in many quarters of society – be it by friends, family, colleagues, employers and so on.
With Multiple Chemical Sensitivity as an invisible disability now effecting millions of people around the world, it’s time for medical recognition and a change. People do get sick from chemicals. It’s a fact.
I believe that humans are going overboard with all the Chemicals which are used daily. The result is not just destroying themselves but also nature, atmosphere etc. We just need to look at labels and identify all the bad stuff what’s in it.