What Is Chemical Sensitivity?

Most people are familiar with mild forms of chemical sensitivity. Symptoms might include a rash from washing powder or shampoo, headaches from traffic fumes, asthma from perfume, or hyperactivity induced by chemicals in foods. Symptoms can usually be managed by avoiding the problem products.

Individuals with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) react to far more than one or two items. Severe sufferers cannot tolerate any synthetic or petrochemical substances, and some even react to natural products. Because of modern manufacture, many people with MCS find themselves allergic to practically everything in their homes. Reactions vary in severity from disorientation to collapse.

MCS has many different triggers and can start at any age. It may develop after an illness, viral infection, or a single exposure to a toxic substance such as pesticides or industrial solvents. Occasionally the illness arises gradually as a result of long term exposure to very low level toxins.

Once sensitised, individuals often react to minute traces of chemicals at levels far below those usually considered to be harmful.

Some airborne irritants are odorless and sufferers may find themselves in the distressing position of having no idea what they are reacting to. Severe reactions can leave sufferers bed bound for several months, while many more become confined to their homes.

MCS affects family, relationships, employment, social interaction, and even simple things such as taking a bath, getting dressed or reading a book. Hypersensitive individuals may become intolerant of a great many foods and some find themselves unable to tolerate anything except liquid nutritional feeds. Others become sensitive to electromagnetic fields and are unable to use a telephone, computer, radio or TV - effectively becoming housebound without any form of outside communication.

Although symptoms can be managed and sometimes improved, there is no known cure. Recovery involves avoidance of as many problem substances as possible, which has a huge impact on everyday life. Early access to appropriate information and support is vital for any chance of recovery.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is a devastating and isolating illness that can affect anyone at any stage of life. In 2003, research indicated over 12% of the US population was affected with severe MCS - over 36.5 million people - and statistics have continued to rise. Exact numbers of sufferers in the UK are still not known but include thousands of soldiers affected by Gulf War Syndrome. Despite this, the medical profession still varies widely in its support and there are currently no clinical guidelines for the treatment of patients.


Links from this page:
Diagnosis
Recovery
Symptoms
What Is MCS
An Allergy Free Bedroom
Improving Health

References

Caress, S. and Steinemann, A. (2003). More than 12% of Population Reports Extreme Sensitivity to Low Levels of Common Chemicals. Published in Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), the journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 11 September 2003 Retrieved 18/02/05, from http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/press/12pop.html.