Fragrances:  Beyond the Stink

Perfume use began in Egypt with the burning of incense and quickly spread to Persia, Greece, and Rome.  It was often used as a prelude to love making and by royalty.  Profound change in the nineteenth century led away from alchemy, the early form of chemical technology exploring the nature of substances in medieval times, to chemistry.  New synthetic fragrances were manufactured that cost less and were less labor intensive.  The first modern day perfume was marketed in 1882.  Now, most perfumes are made from synthetic chemical ingredients. 

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Spotlight: Vanessa Edgington

How did you learn you had MCS?

It was September 12, 1989, a drought year.  I lived on the family farm and our home was infested with crickets, as well as other kinds of bugs trying to get to some kind of moisture due to the dryer climate that year. We were eating with them, bathing with them, sleeping with them, and they were in all of my cupboards.  A local pesticide company came to spray and get rid of the infestation for us. We were at work when they came, but when we got home from work, the smell was horrible! 

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MCS Activist's Corner

This month, MCS America engaged in a collaborative effort with Take Back the Air to create a series of public service announcements (PSAs) entitled “Are You At Risk?”.  The PSAs are available for download and resizing.

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Acute Pesticide Poisoning

Scientists at the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health found that pesticide exposure results in abnormal levels of cholinesterase in cut-flower farmers.     

Certain pesticides are believed to attack the cholinesterase enzymes and may result in symptoms and conditions such as asthma, skin disorders, and multiple chemical sensitivity.

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Air Freshener Dangerous

Fourteen household air fresheners from the $1.72 billion air freshener industry were analyzed and  shown to contain chemicals which may cause reproductive damage and asthma, among other health problems, and are particularly dangerous to children.
 
Air fresheners are not currently tested or regulated.  There are no safety standards that manufactures must uphold.  The dangerous chemicals found in these common household air fresheners show a great need to establish such standards.

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Perfume Reduces Respiration

Scientists have shown that environmental perfume exposure, such as breathing secondhand perfumes, may cause respiratory symptoms.  People with asthma and allergy report respiratory symptoms more frequently, though such symptoms from environmental perfume exposure may affect everyone.

An international brand of perfume, such as one that would be commonly found in ambient room air from perfume users, was used in the study.

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Neurotoxic Injury Not Treatable

The Journal of Neurological Science published a review from the Department of Neurology, USF Health, University of South Florida entitled The allegory of a mountain: An environmental introduction to neurotoxicology on August 29, 2007.

 
Neurotoxicology is the science which investigates the relationship between exposures to chemical or physical agents and adverse effects on the nervous system.  Most studies of neurotoxicology are carried out on animals and mammals.

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Assessing Environmental Exposure

Shendell and Pike-Paris, two researchers, recently discussed environmental exposure assessment.  As more and more children develop asthma, autism, developmental disorders, and hyperactivity, it is becoming increasingly more important to address exposure assessment in children as these conditions have all been linked to environmental exposures.  Chemical pollutants are encountered in the places where children eat, learn, play, and sleep. 

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Self-Serve Gas Stations & the Americans with Disabilities Act

It is a requirement of the law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for self-serve, as well as full-serve, gas stations to provide refueling assistance for persons with disabilities upon their request. Keep in mind that not all disabilities are visible, and there are plenty of persons with painful chronic illnesses/disabilities that simply cannot be seen. So, to assume, that a person who looks good cannot possibly have an illness/ disability could not be any further from the truth.

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Sal’s Place

Toxic Politicians

 
Environmental Defence in Toronto, Canada tested Ontario's political leaders for seven categories of environmental contaminants.  Recent news articles have reported that if anyone thought Ontario's political leaders were full of it, they now have incontrovertible proof!  Full of toxics that is!  Worse, the toxics found in their bodies showed higher pollution levels than the average person with over 40 contaminants found in each leader as compared to 32 in the average person.

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Inside MCSA

We have added two new stores to our Café Press shops with brand new designs by Vanessa Edgington on these items and more. 

View all shops on the MCSA website.

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Community News

Chronic Illness Often a Taboo Subject: Survey: 
Just a third of U.S. adults feel comfortable discussing it.
http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/news-161771-31.html  

Fired MPCA scientist returns to testify about Atrazine
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=267054  

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Featured Research Studies

Environmental thyroid toxicants and child endocrine health.

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Changed Clinical Chemistry Pattern in Blood After Removal of Dental Amalgam and other Metal Alloys Supported by Antioxidant Therapy.

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