Introduction

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are smaller versions of the familiar fluorescent strip-lights found in schools, public buildings and many people's kitchens. Like the strip-lights, they are about five times more efficient than tungsten incandescent lamps at turning electrical power into light. They also last many times longer and the saving in energy over their lifetime more than offsets their extra cost. Governments all over the world are either encouraging or coercing us to replace our tungsten lamps with CFLs to save energy and reduce our carbon footprint.

The principle of operation is the same as a fluorescent strip-light. An electric current is driven through a tube containing argon and a small amount of mercury vapor. This generates invisible ultra-violet light that excites a fluorescent coating (the phosphor) on the inside of the tube, which then emits longer-wavelength visible light.

Environmental impact

Unlike incandescent lamps, CFLs contain toxic chemicals. Each one contains about 4mg of mercury, which is a cumulative poison. However, because coal also contains mercury, which is released into the atmosphere when burned, this too is a source of mercury pollution. If we assume that all our electricity came from coal, then the amount of mercury pollution saved by switching to CFLs is about double that in the lamps themselves http://tinyurl.com/68t3u6 so their use could reduce the net mercury burden on the environment.

Nevertheless, there can be problems with local pollution if they are not properly disposed of. In Europe, there are regulations requiring retailers of CFLs to provide free facilities for their recycling, but these are poorly implemented in the UK. Most of them still end up in land-fill, where they may be broken and release their mercury and other toxins. This can give high local concentrations, with a risk of contamination to water supplies.

Breakage

We also have to think of what to do if we actually break one indoors. Because mercury vapor is toxic, the best solution is to open the windows and vacate the room for about 15 minutes until the mercury vapor clears. Then wear rubber gloves to clear up the fragments (which also contain toxic phosphors) with a dustpan and brush (not a vacuum cleaner). Any remaining shards of glass should be cleaned up with a moist paper towel and everything double bagged for disposal.

Light output

CFLs are physically larger than the equivalent tungsten lamps and you may have to use a smaller and dimmer one if it is to fit into an existing fitting. They are also not best suited for outdoor use since they perform poorly in the cold. Even indoors, many of them can take several minutes to reach full brightness and are unsuitable for short periods of use such as in a toilet. Not only may they not reach full brightness during you visit, but their life span will probably be reduced to no more than that of an incandescent lamp under these conditions. A further problem with their brightness is that most of them cannot be dimmed with dimmer switches since they tend to be either fully on or fully off.

Color of the light

The color of a fluorescent lamp is usually described by its color temperature, which is the temperature to which a metal would have to be heated to give that color. For example, a warm white lamp has a color temperature of around 2700 degrees Kelvin (Celsius + 273) whereas natural noon daylight is somewhere between 5000 and 6000 degrees Kelvin. Different colors are obtained by choosing different phosphors. Often, there is a mixture of phosphors to give something that looks like daylight. However, this is an illusion. Real daylight consists of a broad spectrum of all wavelengths, but fluorescent light is a mixture of peaks at different wavelengths with dark areas in between.

Color-rendering

Even a "daylight" fluorescent lamp doesn't give the equivalent of true daylight because of the gaps in its spectrum. These gaps reduce the "richness" of the colors seen under its light and it makes accurate color matching difficult. It is possible to fill some of the gaps by adding extra phosphors, but these also reduce the efficiency of the lamp so that the number normally added is a compromise. Just how good a particular lamp is for matching colors is measured as its color-rendering index. A continuous spectrum from daylight or a tungsten lamp is taken as 100, whereas a fluorescent lamp may have a color rendering index of between about 50 (very poor) and over 90 (good). Triphosphor lamps give good but not perfect, color rendering with a near daylight color temperature. However, many people who are used to incandescent lighting find them too "cold" for a living room and prefer the warmer colors such as warm white.

Electronics

Fluorescent lamps will only run on alternating current. They also need a pulse of high voltage and heated filaments at either end to start the electrical discharge that lights them. After that, the current must be limited externally, otherwise too much would flow and they would burn out. In a traditional fluorescent strip light, this is accomplished by the starter switch and the choke (a coil of wire wound around an iron core). Once started, the current flows through the tube as a smooth sine wave at mains frequency, which is 50Hz (cycles per second) in Europe and 60Hz in America. This makes the light flash on and off with each half cycle (i.e. 100 or 120 times a second) and some people, such as epileptics and migraine sufferers find this disturbing.

However, almost all CFLs use electronic control gear. This usually incorporates a switched-mode power supply in the base of the lamp itself. It rectifies the AC from the mains to convert it to DC and then chops it electronically into a series of sharp rectangular alternating pulses, which then light the lamp. However, the new frequency, which is usually about 40 kHz (40,000 cycles per second), is so high and the gaps between pulses are so short that the relatively slow response of the phosphors can fill them easily. Consequently, these lamps do not flash.

Biological effects

Despite the absence of flashing, many people have reported ill effects when using CFLs. Typical symptoms include dizziness, nausea, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears), headaches and various skin disorders. In particular, many sufferers from migraine and epilepsy have found that they still aggravate their conditions.

http://tinyurl.com/6449ed
http://tinyurl.com/6c6hnz
The effects may be due to pulsed electromagnetic radiation.

The symptoms of exposure to CFL radiation are remarkably similar to those reported by electrosensitive individuals when exposed to pulsed electromagnetic fields. Since the lamps do not flash, it seems probable that they are a direct effect of the pulsed radiation on the brain and nervous system. The magnetic component of the radiation is the more dangerous because it can penetrate deep into the human body where it generates electrical voltages proportional to its rate of change. The rapid rise and fall times of these magnetic pulses can therefore give relatively massive and potentially damaging voltage spikes both in living cells and across their membranes.

Contamination of the mains

Poor quality CFLs often allow these pulses to leak back into the mains wiring to contribute to "dirty electricity" and increase the range of their effects to neighboring rooms or houses. You should be able to detect these by holding a portable radio tuned between stations on an AM band near the wiring. This is because pulses, by their very nature, also contain harmonics (multiples of the original frequency) that can extend well into the radio frequency spectrum. If you hear a buzzing sound from the set, it means that pulses are leaking into the mains and you should replace the offending lamp by another of better quality.

Contamination of the mains to give "dirty electricity" can come from many sources, not just CFLs. Measurements made by David Stetzer in the library of an American school showed it to consist of hundreds of sharp spikes that could be up to hundreds of millivolts high, superimposed on each cycle of the 120 volt mains supply. Although the largest of them was only a tiny fraction of the overall mains voltage, their rapid rise and fall times give them biological activity. The sharp magnetic spikes they generate penetrate living tissue easily,

where their sudden changes in field-strength induce large voltage spikes.

Several studies by Dr Magda Havas of Trent University in Canada and various co-workers have shown that simply removing these spikes in the mains with "Graham/Stetzer" filters gave improvements in the health, learning ability and behavior of schoolchildren, reductions in the insulin needed to treat diabetics and an alleviation of the symptoms of electrosensitivity.

Electrosensitivity

People who are affected badly by weak electromagnetic fields in this way are described as being electrosensitive or as suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). Only about three percent of the population are thought to suffer from EHS at present, although this proportion is expected to rise as more people become sensitized and people who are already sensitive but do not realize it discover that their symptoms are related to electromagnetic exposure.

The symptoms of electrosensitivity are many and varied and not everyone suffers in the same way or to the same degree. Some of the effects are on the brain and nervous system and often become apparent during or shortly after exposure. They include dizziness, tinnitus, pins and needles, sensations of burning, numbness, fatigue and headaches. Longer-term effects include skin disorders, gut problems and an increased tendency to allergies and multiple chemical sensitivities.

See http://tinyurl.com/6qs8ew.

Mechanisms of electrosensitivity

Electrosensitive individuals are physiologically different to the rest of the community. Eltiti and her co-workers at Essex University showed this very clearly in a project for the mobile phone industry and the UK Government. They wanted to see if electrosensitive individuals could detect the radiation from mobile phone masts. They excluded epileptics and people wearing pacemakers for cardiac arrhythmia who might be particularly sensitive and most of their results were less conclusive than they should have been. However, they did show very clearly that their group of EHS sufferers had skins with a significantly higher electrical conductance than the non-sensitive controls (p < 0.001). This means that their skin cells were more permeable to ions (charged atoms and molecules) that normally carry electricity in living tissues. There is now considerable evidence that most of the symptoms of electrosensitivity result from ions leaking through membranes in response to electromagnetic fields. Consequently, if electrosensitive individuals already have abnormally leaky membranes, they will be more likely to be affected by these fields.

Sensory disturbances

Membrane leakage can account for the neurological symptoms of EHS sufferers. We know that weak electromagnetic radiation can temporarily remove structurally important calcium ions from cell membranes to make them leak.

http://tinyurl.com/2nfujj

Unfortunately, all of our senses depend on ions flowing through the membranes of sensory cells at a rate that depends on the strength of the stimulus. This works well for most of us most of the time, but if the sensory cells of electrosensitive individuals are already leaky, any further electromagnetically-induced leakage will be more likely to trigger them to generate nerve impulses and give false sensations.

The effects on the ear are like motion sickness

The main sensory cells of the ear are the hair cells. Hairs at the apices of these bend when they sense movement in the surrounding medium. This makes ions leak through their membranes to reduce the voltage across them. They respond by releasing neurotransmitters that stimulate neighboring nerve cells to send signals to the brain. Those at the ends of the semicircular canals have their hairs embedded in a light jelly, which deforms in response to movements of the fluid within. Because the fluid inside the canals tends to stay stationary when the head twists suddenly, it appears to flow past the jelly so that it measures rapid changes in the orientation of the head. The jelly in other parts of the ear is weighted with mineral granules (otoliths) and deforms in response to gravity and linear acceleration. The hair cells in these regions act like plumb-lines and give us most of our sense of balance.

We are all familiar with what happens if we feed them false information. If we spin our bodies rapidly and suddenly stop, the fluid in the semicircular canals continues to swirl for a while, the signals from the hair cells conflict with what we see around us and we feel dizzy. The stress and nausea of people who get motion sickness is due to a similar conflict between the signals from the ear and those from the other senses such as touch, sight and pressure on specific regions of the skin. It is therefore not surprising that false signals generated by electromagnetically-induced leakage in the hair cells cause dizziness and nausea in some electrosensitive individuals.

It can also cause tinnitus

The hair cells in the cochlea (the hearing part of the inner ear) respond to sound. They are arranged in a graded sequence with different length hairs along the length of the cochlea. Like the strings of a harp, they resonate at different frequencies. When an incoming sound matches their resonant frequencies, the hairs vibrate more strongly. This makes the cells concerned leak more ions, and trigger neighboring nerve cells to send impulses to the brain. Which cells are stimulated tell it the pitch of the note. The frequency of the impulses tells it the loudness. False stimulation of these cells by electromagnetic radiation can in some people cause tinnitus, which can range from a mild ringing in the ears to buzzing and complex sounds that may be loud enough to drown out normal conversation.

Effects on the other senses

There are countless cells all over our bodies that sense various forms of touch (mechanoreceptors) temperature (thermoreceptors) and pain (nocireceptors). Each group contains many specialized variants but they nearly all function by letting ions flow through their membranes at a rate that depends on the strength of the stimulus. This reduces the voltage across the cell membrane, which triggers the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain, either by the cell itself or by releasing neurotransmitters to stimulate neighboring nerve cells. Electromagnetically-induced membrane leakage in sensory cells in the skin explains the pins and needles, sensations of burning and pain experienced b EHS sufferers.

The eye is different

The light-sensing rods and cones in the retina of the eye are an exception in that when they respond to light they increase rather than decrease the voltage across their membranes. Consequently, any uncontrolled electromagnetically induced leakage here might be expected to reduce their sensitivity. It may be no coincidence that electrosensitive people whose vision is affected usually report a blurring or partial loss of vision rather than seeing things that aren't there.

Effects on the brain

It isn't just the sensory cells that are affected by electromagnetic radiation. False nerve impulses can be generated by electromagnetic fields in the neurons of the brain. These can cause hyperactivity, make it more difficult to sleep, trigger random thoughts, and result in a loss of concentration and confused thinking.

http://tinyurl.com/55286a
It may therefore not be advisable to use CFLs in a study or any other place where a great deal of concentration is required, especially if you are electrosensitive. This effect is probably the real reason why we are four times more likely to have an accident by using a mobile phone when driving, since using a hands-free type is no better but talking to a passenger has little or no effect.

Non-neurological effects

Spurious action potentials caused by membrane leakage in the heart muscle can give rise to cardiac arrhythmia and an increased risk of heart attacks. Increases in the permeability of skin cells can give rise to dermatological problems as well as a greater tendency to develop allergies and multiple chemical sensitivities. Electromagnetically-induced increases in the permeability of the gut to toxins, carcinogens and its partially digested contents might be expected to cause a whole array of disorders and have been implicated as a risk factor in the development of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and type-1 diabetes.

http://tinyurl.com/55286a

All of these illnesses have been linked scientifically to electromagnetic exposure, so people with a tendency to any of them should take the utmost caution in the use of CFLs and avoid using them totally if possible.

Are there alternatives?

If you are affected by CFLs, an obvious solution is to stock up on incandescent bulbs before they are phased out. If this is not an option, try using high voltage halogen incandescent lamps as a replacement since there are no immediate plans to phase these out. However, do not use the low voltage types, since many of them use switched mode power supplies to reduce the voltage. These could well give the same symptoms as CFLs.

What next?

It is becoming increasingly obvious that CFLs are not the best option for low energy lighting, and special dispensation needs to be made to supply alternatives to people whose health is unduly affected by them. Even so, we should regard CFLs as being just a stopgap until LED (light emitting diode) lighting is perfected. LEDs last indefinitely, they run on DC or rectified AC without generating damaging electromagnetic pulses, and the best of them are already more efficient than CFLs. At the moment, the main problem with them is with their color; the most efficient "white" ones have a harsh blue tint. Although they are commonly used in flashlights, they have very poor color rendering abilities and aren't really suitable for domestic lighting. Their spectrum can be improved by adding phosphors to absorb some of the blue light and re-emit it as other colors, but this causes a dramatic loss of efficiency. An alternative is to use an array of differently colored LEDs so that between them they give a spectrum that corresponds more closely to true white light. Hopefully, research on these devices will be given a high priority so that cheap high-quality LED lighting for domestic and industrial installations becomes available and CFLs, with all their attendant problems, become things of the past.

Dr. Andrew Goldsworthy

Reprinted with Permission

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Fragrances

Carcinogenic Culprits

The article in The Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Bill to fund childhood cancer research moves to white house,” made me both sad and glad.

http://tinyurl.com/5wzmfe

I'm sad that exposures to environmental pollutants can predispose children to cancer so easily, yet glad that research may finally uncover what is so obvious that it has gone unrecognized; fragrance chemicals contain many of the same cancer-causing toxicants that are in tobacco smoke, and they are everywhere.

Fragrances are unavoidable and found in scented laundry products, for example, which emit volatile organic compounds into the air and people’s lungs 24 hours a day.

How can this be allowed, one might ask?

The fragrance industry is unregulated and under trade secret laws the fragrance industry does not have to disclose the ingredients in fragrance.

Most of today’s fragrances are either petroleum, formaldehyde, or terpene-based despite industry claims that they are “organic,” “non toxic,” “safe” or “natural.”

They contain a host of other hazardous toxicants, including phthalates, known hormone disrupters, which are also in plastics. Yet plastics are easier to avoid than fragrances, which contaminate the air indiscriminately in classrooms, malls, stores, workplaces, and our homes.

Scented products even contain toxins that are on the EPA’s Top Hazardous Waste list!

May skyrocketing cancer rates be a wake-up call to clean up fragrance chemicals in our homes, for the sake of children and people everywhere!

Fragrance-free laundry products can be purchased at most grocery stores at no additional cost.

Julie Mellum

President, Take Back the Air

Website: www.takebacktheair.com

Email: info@takebacktheair.com

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Scientific Study

Teaching Medical Students About Unexplained Illnesses

Patients with unexplained illnesses are broadly underserved by the medical profession. By and large this is due to poor reception from doctors and the stigmatization of having an unexplained illness.

Researchers have proposed that these attitudes may be due to a fundamental lack of education and understanding of factual information on the part of medical providers.

Unexplained illnesses are medical conditions for which science had yet to find a concrete cause or confirmatory diagnostic test. Some unexplained illnesses include fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple chemical sensitivity.

Friedberg and colleagues at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stony Brook University, New York, recognized the difficulty that patients with unexplained illnesses have when obtaining medical care and how it impacts their ability to recover.

Seeking a solution, they examined how an interactive seminar focusing on two medically unexplained illnesses, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM), influenced medical student attitudes towards stigmatized illness.

The study was geared toward forth year medical students. Forty-five students attended a 90 minute seminar on the management of medically unexplained illness which focused on CFS.

Prior to the seminar, the students took an attitudes test. This test was administered again immediately after the seminar. Student attitudes at the end of the seminar were more favorable towards CFS and showed recognition of the need for:

Supporting more CFS research funding,
Employers providing flexible hours for people with CFS, and
Viewing CFS as not a physical rather than psychological disorder.

This data has led Friedberg and colleagues to conclude that, “This type of instruction may lead to potentially more receptive professional attitudes toward providing care to these underserved patients.”

Activists have long fought for additional education for medical professionals in this area.

In 2005, MCS Awareness (www.mcs-awareness.org) petitioned the America n Medical Association and Association of America Medical Colleges to include extensive training in toxicology and environmental illness for all new physicians and to require continuing education in these fields for all currently practicing physicians.

A 2007, MCS America (www.mcs-america.org) further petitioned the American Medical Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institute of health regarding multiple chemical sensitivity. The petition clearly asserts, “Physicians and health care systems lack education and training in chemical injury, toxicology, and environmental controls and are ill prepared to serve this population of patients.”

Clearly, MCS, CFS, and FM each require additional research funding, education, and training of physicians so that underserved patients may obtain the care they require to heal and live the fullest lives possible.

Reference

Friedberg F, Sohl SJ, Halperin PJ. Teaching medical students about medically unexplained illnesses: A preliminary study. Med Teach. 2008 May 20:1-4.

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Scientific Study

Science Lacking Integrity

Science is trusted to provide accurate information to help us understand how the world works and to guide doctors to make proper medical decisions, policy makers to enact beneficial laws, and others to make decisions for the greater good.

Domenico Franco Merloand his colleagues at the National Institute for Research on Cancer, Genoa, Italy say, “It is the task of us, scientists, to create an atmosphere of trust within the scientific community and more widely in society.” However, science is not always trustworthy.

By definition, science is the process by which we discover and understand how the physical world works. The basis of science is empirical evidence. This means that scientific findings are based on observable evidence and experimental data that either proves or disproves a hypothesis (suggested explanation for a phenomenon).

Scientists first theorize how something works and then form a testable hypothesis, which is then studied for validity using observation and experimentation in a scientific experiment.

While this seems honorable and trustworthy as an accurate information source, there are a quite a few challenges.

Focus on Familiarity

The scientist must be objective and unbiased. A scientist who has a specific interest in mind is likely to experience swayed observations based on currently held opinions and knowledge. Observable evidence viewed through a biased lens may produce recorded observations that are more subjectively based, rather than objectively based. For example, a psychologist observing someone trembling in an interview may assume, based on his education, experience, and opinion, that the individual is experiencing “interview anxiety”. A physician doing the same interview may suspect low blood sugar, while a neurologist may see a neurotransmitter imbalance and be thinking about Parkinson’s. In reality, the individual may have entirely different reasons for the visible trembling.

Theory and Truth

Scientists may hold theories very strongly in their beliefs and come to believe their theory is true when it is only a theory and has yet to be proven. It is extremely difficult for a scientist to objectively evaluate data when he is certain he already knows what the outcome will be.

Confounding Variables

It is very hard to identify and eliminate all variables. For example, a study may show that children in polluted China are more likely to have asthma than children in America. Such a study is likely to conclude that air pollution in China is correlated with childhood asthma. However, other variables may also affect childhood asthma rates. Though there is pollution in China, Chinese children also eat a different diet than children in other countries. There are cultural variables, religious differences, climate variations, and many other factors that may also be at play which the study does not examine.

Special Interest Funding

Most scientific research is funded by governments, pharmaceutical companies, and special interest groups. Scientists are often forced to tailor their agenda and findings accordingly, lest they lose their funding. Large corporations and industry hire scientists to prove that their products are safe. Pharmaceutical companies hire scientists to prove their drugs are effective. These special interest groups are not interested in unbiased findings, rather they have a specific financial goal in mind and often a ton of money rests on it. The outcome frequently produces studies which are altered, changed, fabricated, falsified, plagiarized, or have other manipulated the statistical findings in a misleading way. This can be observed in similar studies which contradict one another with extremely opposite findings.

An example of a special interest group is vaccine manufacturers. Most are familiar with the autism/vaccine debate and the unreasonable claims to vaccine safety, which outcome the vaccine manufacturers have vested interests in.

Theory Replacement

Most researchers will not reject a former theory which has been proven incorrect until a new replacement theory is proposed that is widely accepted. This leads to promoting mistruths as objective evidence and truth.

Non-existent Data

Science has a tendency to declare that something does not even exist if it cannot be measured or a way to measure it has not yet been discovered. This leads to claiming something is not true simply because no evidence exists to prove it, while at the same time no evidence exists to disprove it either.

For example, it is common for health problems to be denied simply because science has not yet discovered a way to “prove” they exist. Patients often endure the humiliation of a psychiatric diagnosis until science figures out a way to measure and prove a complaint. This is an ignorant approach that only compounds real health problems. Merlo and colleagues confirm that “cases of misconduct in medical sciences have been documented.”

Environmental Health Research

No where is there more of a problem with medical science than in environmental health research, where the mere finding that a product, drug, or chemical is harmful to human health produces uproar from industry. With lots of funds to protect investments and products, industry has well paid staff with the corporate responsibility of nothing more than to aggressively debunk science, ensure the scientist is bullied into submission, and misrepresent information in an attempt to falsely prove that health effects are merely psychological.

The integrity of science is lost in environmental health research as the majority of peer-reviewed journals are owned by chemical and pharmaceutical industry with vested financial interest in protecting and promoting their products.

Merlo and colleagues say “Integrity is central to environmental health research searching for causal relations. It requires open communication and trust and any violation (i.e., research misconduct, including fabrication or falsification of data, plagiarism, conflicting interests, etc.) may endanger the societal trust in the research community as well as jeopardize participation rates in field projects.”

Scientific integrity, according to the Institute of Medicine, "embodies above all a commitment to intellectual honesty and personal responsibility for one's actions and to a range of practices that characterize responsible research conduct. It is an aspect of moral character and experience” and “a commitment to creating an environment that promotes responsible conduct."

The public assumes that science follows standards of excellence to produce trustworthy research findings that can be confidently relied upon. This is not always the case for various reasons as described above.

Merlo and colleagues explain that the other end of the spectrum is a strict regulation of the scientific community which may lead to paralysis of innovation and research as well as new deviant behaviors designed to circumvent the regulations.

It’s a double edged sword, but if we don’t institute strict and unbiased regulation, then what value is misrepresented science providing... other than human suffering?

Reference

Merlo DF, Vahakangas K, Knudsen LE. Scientific integrity: critical issues in environmental health research.. Environ Health. 2008 Jun 5;7 Suppl 1:S9.

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Scientific Review

Children in Danger

The insensate denial of the ability of low-level chemical exposure to injure the brain and nervous system of infants, children, and adults is enduring.

Occasionally, scientific literature acknowledges information regarding the effects of low-level exposures to common indoor environmental contaminants. More frequently, this data is ignored or denied publication by medical journals, which are largely owned by chemical and pharmaceutical companies with vested industrial interest in the selling and use of the very products which negatively impact human health.

A rather large percentage of the population reports negative effects from exposures to pesticide, fragrance, flame retardants, plastics, formaldehyde, and other pollutants customarily found and used in the home, school, and work place.

Samarawickrema and colleagues, researchers it the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka, recognized that little scientific information exists on the health effects of exposure to organophosphate pesticides.

Samarawickrema says, “The possible deleterious effects of low-grade, chronic environmental and occupational exposure to organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) are not well documented.”

Samarawickrema was particularly interested in the effects of OPCs on pregnant mothers and their fetus. Infants and children are well known to be more susceptible to environmental exposures during development. This is compounded by their small body size which increased the chances of a smaller dose having a larger effect.

A single drop of food color in a glass of water, for example, will generate a much darker fluid than a single drop of food color in a pitcher of water. Similarly, the same exposure will be much more concentrated in a smaller individual than a larger individual.

Samarawickrema’s focus was primarily on oxidative stress and oxidative tissue damage as a result of maternal OPC exposure

Cord blood samples obtained during the spray season showed significant inhibition of BChE activity, increased oxidative stress, and DNA fragmentation. Samples taken during non-spray seasons did not show these changes.

Samarawickrema concluded that, “Inhibition of cord blood BChE (butyrylcholinesterase) activity indicates fetal exposure to organophosphorus compounds during times when there is a high probability of environmental drift.”

Pesticides are capable of drifting a great distance and affecting individuals out of the immediate spraying area. This aerial drift has been documented to cause illness in school children playing in school yards within a few miles proximity to farm lands.

Individuals may not immediately know what caused illness, and some may never know. Simply not spraying in one’s own home is not sufficient protection from exposure. These clearly toxic substances must be strongly regulated to avoid their use in any area which may impact nearby human inhabitants.

These exposures, according to Samarawickrema, cause oxidative stress and high DNA fragmentation in the fetus. Oxidative stress is causes an imbalance between reactive oxygen and the ability to detoxify the body and easily repair any resulting oxidative damage.

Oxidative stress is involved in many diseases, including cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, Gulf War illness, and aging.

Reference

N, Pathmeswaran A, Wickremasinghe R, Peiris-John R, Karunaratna M, Buckley N, Dawson A, de Silva J. Fetal effects of environmental exposure of pregnant women to organophosphorus compounds in a rural farming community in Sri Lanka. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2008 Jul;46(6):489-95.

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Scientific Review

Money-Spinning Fungi

There may be more than 1.5 million types of fungi, including yeast and mold.

Fungi. according to the American Society for Microbiology, are largely ignored by science and doctors as a disease predicament despite causing toenail infections, athlete's foot, asthma, allergy, and life threatening systemic infections. The lack of information on fungi diseases makes proper treatment almost impossible.

Agriculture is also at risk as the majority of plant disease are caused by fungi, which increases toxic pesticide use, health problems, and costs to consumers.

Nevertheless, modern life is about making money and, unbeknownst to most citizens, fungi spin money in the worlds of food and vaccine manufacturing. Therefore the mantra is “harm not thy fungi reputation” as agriculture and human health are shoved under the rug. Biotechnology utilizes fungi and some high profit-making vaccines are produced on yeast, a fungi.

Since vaccine makers are notorious for pushing under-tested vaccines full of neurotoxicant fillers on the unsuspecting population with little regard for human casualties, it is not surprising that this greedy and wealthy industry would also defend fungi.

Fungi are an vital part of the ecosystem and aid in breaking down plants into organic matter which is used by other plants. However, fungi behaving badly also play and crucial role in the toxic black mold seen in many homes and schools.

A balanced perspective must be sought which addresses the concerns of human health, agriculture, environment and industry. Science Daily has adapted several tips from the American Society for Microbiology, including:

Evaluate the Impacts of Mold in Homes and Businesses
Create a Fungal Genomes Database
Report and Track Fungal Infections

It is only through mutual cooperation that a common ground can be found. After all, if fungi kill off the population in diseased despair, who will be left to buy industry products?

It may seem far fetched, however the large and hearty dinosaurs never thought they’d be extinct either.

Reference

American Society for Microbiology (2008, July 3). Fungi The Cause Of Many Outbreaks Of Disease, But Mostly Ignored. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 19, 2008, from:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701145522.htm

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Scientific Study

When Violence is not a Behavioral Problem

It’s always easy to blame the victim, especially when so-called behavioral issues arise. We view behavior as voluntary actions, decisions, and reactions. In this way, we convince ourselves that behavior can be controlled with mere self-control. Further, since we ourselves have self-control, behavioral issues will never affect us. It’s “their” problem and “they” need to fix it. It’s just learned violence. It’s just weakness. It’ll never happen to me.

Surprisingly, science disagrees. Behavior is not all-in-the-head in the sense of being voluntary or simple “stinking thinking”.

Researchers Wash, Glab, and Haakenson from the Illinois based Pfeiffer Treatment Center have found that violent behavior is greatly reduced with the implementation of biochemical therapy.

Biochemical therapy is the discovery through testing and medical treatment of biochemical imbalances, including metal-metabolism disorders, methylation abnormalities, heavy-metal overload, blood glucose imbalance, and malabsorption.

Toxicity from environmental exposures is commonly correlated with many of these chemical imbalances.

Each and every subject who followed through with the testing and therapy achieved relief from behavioral manifestations previously diagnosed as behavioral disorders.

The results of this scientific study strongly suggest that individualized biochemical therapy may be an effective treatment that results in behavioral improvements. Further, it is important to note the environmental connection to these disorders.

Toxicants are impossible to avoid in our modern environment. These common exposures may inflict biochemical imbalances described above. Mercury leads to heavy metal intoxication and can be found in vaccinations, thermometers, switches, light bulbs, and fish.

Pesticides are known metabolic disruptors which lead to disorders of metabolism including thyroid disease, adrenal dysfunction, and diabetes. Even fragrances contain neurotoxic ingredients.

As autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, antisocial behavior disorders, violence, and aggression are on the rise, one has to ask if our environment is becoming too toxic for human inhabitants.

This study clearly shows that the answer is a resounding yes! We need safer products!

Reference
Walsh WJ, Glab LB, Haakenson ML. Reduced violent behavior following biochemical therapy. Physiol Behav. 2004 Oct 15;82(5):835-9.

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Scientific Study
Fragranced Products Proven Toxic by Scientist

A new study reveals that your air freshener pollutes the air. Your laundry soap and fabric softener may make you sick or contribute to your asthma. Both contain highly toxic carcinogenic chemicals that are not revealed on the label by manufacturers.

For decades, people with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) have been the highly susceptible canaries in the coal mine who report the toxic effects of everyday products. The larger community has received these reports with doubt and even denial, often misguided by industry’s misrepresentation that their products are benign in the name of financial profits.

However, there is now proof that every day fragranced consumer products such as air fresheners, laundry supplies, personal care products, and cleaners are as toxic as people with MCS say they are.

A University of Washington study of six top-selling fragranced consumer products which are widely used in homes, businesses, institutions, and public places found the products emit dozens of toxic chemicals such as acetaldehyde, acetone, benzaldehyde, tert-butyl alcohol, 2-butanone, chloromethane, 1,4-dioxane, ethanol, ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, and α-pinene. Many of these chemicals are listed on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous chemicals list.

In a recent press release Anne Steinemann, PhD said, “"I was surprised by both the number and the potential toxicity of the chemicals that were found. Nearly 100 volatile organic compounds were emitted from these six products, and none were listed on any product label. Plus, five of the six products emitted one or more carcinogenic 'hazardous air pollutants,' which are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to have no safe exposure level."

Steinemann analyzed three air fresheners and three laundry products and discovered that, unlike the European Union, no law in the U.S. requires disclosure of all chemical ingredients in consumer products or in fragrances.

Until the legal system catches up and stronger regulations are in place, Steinemann suggests that, “Instead of air fresheners people use ventilation, and with laundry products, choose fragrance-free versions."

Reference

Steinemann AC, Fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients, Environ Impact Asses Rev (2008), doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2008.05.002

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Hospital Accessibility Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

An estimated 16% of the US population suffer from the devastating chemical and environmentally triggered illness and disability known as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). For those of you unfamiliar with this alarming and growing public health problem, I recommend you visit the award winning MCS Homepage at: http://tinyurl.com/6dvr6n

One would think that since "The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" was passed into law, (U.S. Department of Justice, ADA Homepage at: http://www.ada.gov) hospitals, clinics, medical facilities, and other public places would have made their premises accessible for people disabled by MCS and would be providing the necessary accommodations. Unfortunately, in too many places it is still not so!

It is especially tragic that people disabled by MCS are unable to acquire simple accommodations, either as patients or as visitors to hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities without becoming terribly ill or even risking their lives. Many facilities are not accessible as they have failed to create policies ensuring safe access and accommodations.

Air polluted by biocides, pesticides, sanitizers, medications, disinfectants, cleaning products, and other toxic chemicals found in these hermetically closed facilities makes access impossible.

Due to the failure of facilities to have adequate accessibility policies, medical personnel in ambulances, emergency rooms, and patient care inadvertently cause people disabled by MCS to suffer negative health effects and reactions which could result in fatalities.

It is urgently necessary for hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities to provide safe access and appropriate accommodations for people disabled by MCS.

Many disinfectants used in hospitals such as bleach, phenols, and quaternary ammonium compounds, are toxic and even registered as pesticides with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These chemicals are routinely used on every surface in nearly every hospital. Health effects from long term exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds can include hypersensitivity syndrome and occupational asthma.

Cleaning chemicals are often purchased in concentrated solutions that require mixing or dilution by employees. Unfortunately, proper procedures are often not followed and result in over-concentrated, more toxic applications that can increase adverse health effects.

The Archives of Environmental Health has noted that some people exposed to products with fragrances experience respiratory difficulty; nose, eye, and throat irritation; asthma like-reactions; and central nervous system reactions such as confusion, fatigue, lack of coordination, and dizziness. If chemical cleaning products have to be used, they should be unscented and environmentally preferable.

By using non-toxic products and steam to clean and sanitize, using air filtration, increasing air exchange, and providing windows that can be opened, the concentrations of toxic chemicals in the air can be greatly reduced.

Some emergency personnel and hospital staff should always be free of perfumes, fragrances, fabric softeners and disinfectants. The person with MCS should be allowed to use his or her own mask and oxygen equipment if available, usually a ceramic mask with stainless steel or tygon tubing. Staff should provide a wrist band, if tolerated, stating multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).

In an emergency, people with MCS should be taken straight into an isolation room or other area where they will not be exposed to biocides, pesticides, fragrances, sanitizers, medications, cleaning products, and residues of laundry chemicals on the clothing of others. It should be a space with pure filtered air, free of fragrances, pesticides, disinfectants, carpets, cleaning products, recent renovations, fresh paint, and other chemicals. Staff should be alerted that they have an MCS patient and a warning sign should be placed on the door.

People with MCS may not have a doctor’s letter on hand. In such cases, hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities must rely on what the person with MCS knows about his/her own condition or have a family member, spouse, partner, friend, or health care surrogate let medical personnel know what foods, water, soaps, cleaning products, clothes, bed sheets, oxygen tanks, masks are "tolerable" (that is with mild reactions) and what gives severe to extremely severe reactions to the point of being life-threatening.

There are several stages of MCS: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and acute. The stage that the person is at will determine what they will be able to "tolerate". Each individual is different. What may be tolerable at a given stage for one person may be totally intolerable for another. The more advanced the stage of MCS, the more severe and numerous the reactions may be, not only to chemicals, but even to what is generally regarded as non-toxic and natural. Some people with MCS may be able to go through surgery with appropriate tolerable anaesthesia, medications, and special precautions, while others may not.

People with MCS at extremely advanced stages are usually unable to take medications. They are so hypersensitive that even dermal contact with another person who is taking medications can incite severe reactions.

At this stage, a person with MCS usually has severe dietary restrictions as well. A person may be able to tolerate very few foods, and may not be able to tolerate tap water, vitamins, herbs, homeopathic treatment, ointments, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and a host of other chemicals.

Extreme caution must be taken to determine which substances are safe to use or administer and which are not. Individual tolerances can vary greatly, so it is especially important to ask questions, listen carefully, and provide the safest environment possible to ensure the best care and avoid compounding any problems.

Staff should be fully trained in regard to accommodating MCS and carefully listen to requests for accommodations from visitors with MCS. Depending on the stage of illness/disability, visitor accommodations may vary. In order for a person with MCS to be able to visit or stay overnight near a loved one, a non-MCS patient should be put in the clean air room. If blankets and pillows are needed by a visitor, they should be sterile and free of disinfectants, fragrances, and fabric softeners. Tolerable food and water should be made available if requested.

It is beneficial for hospitals to consult with the heads of MCS associations and medical practices for guidance while developing their policies. Usually, people who belong to these associations and practices are very knowledgeable about the types of accommodations required.

For more information on how to accommodate people disabled by MCS, the U.S. Access Board, an independent Federal Agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities, has adopted a fragrance-free environment and has published an extensive report on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). When applied, the recommendations not only make it possible for people disabled by MCS to have access to accommodations in public places, but also benefits the health of everyone.

http://tinyurl.com/5vrfw4
http://ieq.nibs.org

Of particular interest on the IEQ site are the documents on barriers and issues related to MCS; fragrances, pesticides, cleaning products, disinfectants, renovation, remodelling, furniture, smoke, and combustion.

http://ieq.nibs.org/om/bi_fragrances.php
http://ieq.nibs.org/om/bi_pesticides.php
http://ieq.nibs.org/om/bi_disinfectants.php
http://ieq.nibs.org/om/bi_renovation.php
http://ieq.nibs.org/om/bi_combustion.php

Each hospital, clinic, and medical facility must have an effective policy and knowledgeable staff in order to safely accommodate people disabled by MCS. There are hospitals in the US and abroad that have such policies. The policy which appears to be one of the best is the policy of Southwest Community Health System Policy, Southwest General Health Center (SWGHC), Middleburg Heights, OH, which went into effect in July 2002. This policy can be used as a model for other hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities for accommodating people disabled by MCS under the ADA. Keep in mind that the best thing to do is to communicate openly with the patient to determine what their needs are.
http://ieq.nibs.org/rooms/app_b.php
http://ieq.nibs.org/rooms/app_c.php

"Health Care Without Harm” has a very informative site that should be reviewed by CEOs, presidents, and staff of hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities.

http://tinyurl.com/6c6qhf

Another item of interest is "Cleaning Chemical Use in Hospitals, Fact Sheet" at: http://tinyurl.com/5tvfs6

An old, but excellent report "Pest Management in New York State Hospitals: Risk reduction and Health Promotion" by Attorney General of New York state, December 1995, is found at: http://tinyurl.com/6grwlc

Lastly, there are potentially serious legal consequences of not abiding by “The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990", including civil penalties which may run as high as $55,000 for a first violation and $110,000 for a subsequent violation. Now is the time more than ever for hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities to provide accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for people disabled by the devastating, chemical and environmentally triggered illness/disability of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).

References

Health Care Without Harm. The Campaign for Environmentally Responsible Health Care. Retrieved July 7, 2008 Web site: http://www.noharm.org/

National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), (2006). IEQ Indoor Environmental Quality,). Retrieved July 7, 2008 Web site: http://ieq.nibs.org/

Southwest General Health Center (SWGHC), (July 2002). POLICY 742: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS). Retrieved July 7, 2008 Web site: http://www.ohionetwork.org/MCS/policies.html

Tourtet, C (December 17, 1999). MCS Homepage. Retrieved July 7, 2008, Web site: http://tinyurl.com/6dvr6n

University of New Mexico, (2009). Center for Development and Disability. . Retrieved July 7, 2008, Web site: http://cdd.unm.edu/

United States Access Board, (2008). Retrieved July 18, 2008, from United States Access Board Web site: http://www.access-board.gov/

Reprinted and Adapted From the Original Article with Permission

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Scientific Study

Scientists Find Disturbed ATP Metabolism in Fibromyalgia

People with fibromyalgia suffer great pain and fatigue that is not relieved by sleep. Weight lifters have long known that regenerating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) during and after a workout gives them more energy and stamina for a harder workout.

“Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms include widespread pain, fatigue and sleep disturbances, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), headaches and facial pain and heightened sensitivity to odors, noises, bright lights and touch. Risk factors for fibromyalgia include female gender, sleep disorders, family history, and rheumatic disease.

Possible causes of fibromyalgia, according to scientists, include sleep disturbances, spinal injury, infection, abnormalities of the autonomic (sympathetic) nervous system, and changes in muscle metabolism.

Researchers at the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Italy took an interest in the muscle metabolism chances and recently discovered significantly lower ATP levels in fibromyalgia patients. This may, in part, explain the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

In addition, fibromyalgia patients have higher calcium and magnesium levels, suggesting disturbances of ATP metabolism and calcium-magnesium flow.

Creatine, a body building supplement, is said to increase regeneration of ATP and has been recommended by some practitioners as part of a supplement program for fibromyalgia. Patients should always check with their physician before beginning or changing any treatment program.

Referencea

Bazzichi L, Giannaccini G, Betti L, Fabbrini L, Schmid L, Palego L, Giacomelli C, Rossi A, Giusti L, De Feo F, Giuliano T, Mascia G, Bombardieri S, Lucacchini A. ATP, calcium and magnesium levels in platelets of patients with primary fibromyalgia. Clin Biochem. 2008 Jul 2.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, (2008, July). Fibromyalgia. Retrieved July 23, 2008, Web site:

http://tinyurl.com/33r5ca

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Sal’s Place

Disability

Is it a Free Ride?

Janet Murray published an interview with Sue Collins, a woman disabled by Sjorgen's syndrome and fibromyalgia (FM), on July 8, 2008.

http://tinyurl.com/593qeh

At first glance, her glaring reference to blaming her illness on being stressed raises the hairs on the back of the readers’ neck. Collins shares, “Looking back, I should have seen it coming. I had a stressful job working in the planning department of my local council. I was constantly running around. I woke up one morning unable to get out of bed.”

The truth is that everyone runs the rat race and is stressed. We are all constantly behind and running around. The key is that everyone does not develop fibromyalgia as a result. People tire and they recuperate after they rest. Fibromyalgia is different as rest provided no recuperation. Something else causes fibromyalgia. Researchers have identified both viral infections and toxic chemical injury as possible factors.

Stress is not to blame, but that’s not to say that stress cannot worsen an already existing medical condition. Once a person becomes ill, stress often occurs as a result of financial worries, being unsure of what the future holds, and lack of support from friends and family who may not understand the gravity of an illness they cannot visible see outward signs of.

Collin’s experience is a good example of how community (peers, friends, family, church, etc.) often abandon victims of invisible illnesses and how such abandonment and disbelief serves only to worsen the illness through denial of assistance, accommodations, and needed emotional support.

It is unfortunate that many otherwise well-meaning people will advice family and friends to avoid "enabling" someone with an invisible illness, a misnomer of disbelief that the disabled person is really ill. The concept of waiting for someone to “hit rock bottom” in the hopes they will “wake up” and stop “seeking attention” only serves to hurt and punish an innocent victim of illness. The reality is that the suffering worsens the illness and rock bottom is deadly; it’s hardly a wake up call.

Murray’s interview goes beyond the stigma of Collin’s invisible illnesses. Murray also describes what happened when Collin’s was believed, accommodated, and treated respectfully. Collin’s blossomed and was able to return to school and eventually work part-time.

When Collin’s went to the new college, she said “The college has been supportive about my condition and I received a disability allowance to help with books and equipment”. In summary, she was given love, support, and companionship. And now she's much better and back to work as a result of her disability being taken seriously. She was given the help she needed to address her condition and work around it by doing what she could despite her disability instead of trying to pretend it does not exist.

This is a rare occurrence with a wonderful outcome! People with invisible disabilities need other around them for emotional support that truly believe, accommodate, and allow them to address and cope with their condition while still living life to full capacity and building confidence in the abilities they do have, even if it means limiting work to two days a week instead of full time.

The stress from invisible disabilities comes in the form of stigma, oppression, and marginalization, along with the need to fight for regularly denied accommodations and regular belittlement and insinuation from others that the individual is malingering or it’s “all in the head”. Fighting for accommodations alone can be a full time job. This stress is the difference between a disabled person being able to go to school and then working two days a week as Collins did or not working at all.

Our time to believe others and accept them as they are is entirely free. After enrolling in the new college, Collins says, “My health isn't brilliant. I still wake every day not knowing how I will feel. It's difficult to plan anything, but my confidence is growing. At last, I feel like I belong.”

The human psyche is fascinating. While well-meaning, we often use the wrong techniques that “blame the victim”. Comments like “why doesn’t she just get a job” or “she just wants a free ride” are frequent and only serve to exacerbate the situation. Belief, accommodation, and acceptance of limitations does the opposite. They return people, including Collin’s, to the workforce.

Love and belief are powerful beyond measure!

Reference

Murray, J (2008, July 8). Back to school: A painful experience saw Sue Collins change the course of her life. The Guardian, from

http://tinyurl.com/5lqxsq

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Patient Support and Resources

MCS America Forums

MCSA Public

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mcsa-public/

Open to the general public to discuss MCS in general as well as support, ideas, information, announcements, and/or to share personal activism. This is in contrast to the MCS America Members group were discussion of collaborative activist efforts and internal MCS America efforts will remain. No application is required.

MCS America Members Activist/Support

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mcs-america-members-support

This group also fulfills the function of discuss support, ideas, information, announcements, and/or share personal activism like the MCSA-Pubic group, only with a closed membership that requires a membership application. This group also has the added benefit of being a place where individuals and other organizations and activists can engage in collaborative efforts with MCS America and being recipient to all the news feeds (see MCSA Feeds below). Members of this group are considered associate members of MCS America. Members do not operate MCS America in any way, but rather collaborate with the organization and are privy to some internal operations, activities, and events.

MCSA Feeds

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mcsafeeds

The purpose of this public access group is to receive daily distribution of news and research studies on multiple chemical sensitivity, chemical injury, environmental concerns, and other related environmental illnesses and disorders. Anyone can join without an application. Only the moderator posts to this group. This is not a discussion group. This group distributes about 15 articles on average each day.

MCS Salvage and Share

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MCSA-safer-salvage-and-share

A public access group similar to Freecycle, except it's a free recycling program for safer reusable's geared towards individuals with MCS, CFS, FM, and other related disabilities correlated with the environment. The purpose of this program is to find, give, and recycle needed "safe" or "safer" items. All items are exchanged for free. Shipping cost are arranged between donor and recipient. Anyone can join without an application.

MCS Hawaii

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mcs-hawaii

Open to the general public residing in Hawaii to discuss support, ideas, information, announcements, and/or share personal activism. No application is required. This group is currently recipient to all the news feeds (see MCSA Feeds above). This list is operated in part by a state subsidiary volunteer who resides in the state.

MCS Nebraska

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MCS-Nebraska

Open to the general public residing in Nebraska to discuss support, ideas, information, announcements, and/or share personal activism. No application is required. This list is operated in part by a state subsidiary volunteer who resides in the state.

or subscribe at:

MCS Michigan

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mcs-michigan

Open to the general public residing in Michigan to discuss support, ideas, information, announcements, and/or share personal activism. No application is required. This list is operated in part by a state subsidiary volunteer who resides in the state.

Support Forums Outside the MCS America Network

4Mom

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4MOM/

According to Mt. Sinai Medical School, there are many illness' caused by toxic substances such as pesticides. They are studying the role other toxins play on the new childhood diseases triggered by environmental factors. They call this the new epidemic. Mothers of Many is for all parents with children who are ill and are affected by toxic chemicals such as Attention Deficit Disorder, Asthma, Cancer, Autism, Tourettes Syndrome, Multiple Chemicals Sensitivities (MCS), Parkinson's, and any other condition affected.

Bay Area MCS

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/bayareamcslist/

Classified ads and notices for people with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) in the San Francisco Bay Area.

CFS CFIDS ME

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CFS_CFIDS_ME/

This Group is to promote friendly discussion about places where people have gone and feel more or less recovered from CFS/ME/CFIDS.

Chemical Disability Australasian NETwork

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CDANET/

A Discussion/Chat/Mutual help list run by and for the chemically disabled.

CMCS-EI Christian MCS, CFS, FM, and EI Group

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CMCS-EI/

We are a Christian group who have invisible illnesses like MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) or Environmental Illnesses like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ( CFS ), Fibromyalgia ( FM ), GWS, Lupus, Anxiety, etc.

Creative Canaries Community

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CreativeCanariesCommunity

This group is an online meeting place for creative artists with Chemical Sensitivities. We offer connections between - and information for - artists whose (artistic) life is affected by Chemical Sensitivities and the consequences they have.

Detox

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mcs-america-members-support

"Detox" is a group to serve chemically injured, environmentally ill, multiple chemical sensitivity, and related illness such as chronic fatigue, candidiasis, hypoglycemia, lupus, and others.

Disinissues

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Disinissues/

The purpose of Disinissues is to share experience and advice about the processes of obtaining and maintaining Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and long-term disability insurance. The group is targeted mainly towards those with invisible disabilities, such as CFIDS and other conditions not on Social Security's Listing of Impairments.

EMF Refugee

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/emfrefugee/

This ML has been created with the intent of bringing refugees together in countries around the world to form their own EMF-free communities in natural environments where they can heal and create healing environments for the Earth and others.

Environmental Illness 001

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/environmental_illness001/

This group is dedicated to curing / resolving all issues related to Environmental Illness, including but not limited to: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Multiple Food Allergy, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Candida, Epstein Barr Virus, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Heavy Metal Poisoning, Porphyria, endocrine system dysregulation, etc.

Gasslist-L (Glutaraldehyde, Aldehyde, and Solvent Sensitivity)

http://www.ncchem.com/snftaas/gasslist.htm

This list has been established to serve persons interested in Glutaraldehyde, Aldehyde, and Solvent Sensitivity, especially darkroom personnel, radiographers, and diagnostic medical sonographers. The purpose of the list is to promote internet-wide exchange of research and information.

Green Canary

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenCanary

This list is dedicated to a life free from toxic chemicals, and the health problems that they can cause. Here we can come together and share the information and experiences that have taught each of us a piece of the knowledge necessary to survive and thrive, eliminating unnecessary toxic chemicals from our lives, and replacing them with the elements of health and the alternatives offered by the natural world around us.

Immune

http://immuneweb.org/lists/immune.html

This is the list for support and information about multiple chemical sensitivities, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, lupus, multiple sclerosis, porphyria, allergies, asthma, and other immune-related ailments.

Immune Parenting

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/immune-parenting/

This list is for both men and women who have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, autoimmune disorders, or other immune system medical issues--or their partners--who are parents, pregnant, trying to conceive, or who are thinking about parenthood.

Live Chat at the Health and Environment Resource Center (HERC)

http://www.herc.org/chat

This chatroom is not associated with any group. It is unmoderated and no password is required. Chat Times: Saturday - 7 pm ET, 6 pm CT, 5 pm Mtn, 4 pm Pac; Monday - 9 pm ET, 8 pm CT, 7 pm Mtn, 6 pm Pac; Wednesday - 8 pm ET, 7 pm CT, 6 pm Mtn, 5 pm Pac.

MCS Canada

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MCS-Canada/

This group was formed to assist patients and concerned parties from all nationalities learn to cope with environmental injury, including disorders such as MCS,ME, CFS, FM, Lyme, Lupus, GWS, PPS, as well as related and associated illnesses.

MCS Canadian Sources

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MCS-CanadianSources

MCS Canadian Sources is a support, information and resource exchange for those living and coping with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Environmental Illness (EI), or Chemical Injury (CI).

MCS Photography

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MCSphotography/

MCS Photography is a group for those with multiple chemical sensitivity who capture and share the world and their life through photography.

MCS Recycle

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MCSRecycle/

The objective of this group is to be able to share with each other items that are chemical free and have been used in a non-toxic environment. This group is planet-wide.

MCS Safe Shelter USA

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mcssafeshelterusa/

Short-term and long-term housing for people with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity). Check our database for listings by state. (Please use the two-digit code.) Find rentals, hotels, and housing to purchase.

MCS Toxic Injuries

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MCS-Toxic-Injuries/

MCS-Toxic-Injuries is a self-moderated, secular, apolitical newsgroup for toxically-injured environmentally sensitive people to support one another and exchange coping methods, treatments and experiences.

MCS Village

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MCSVillage/

The purpose of this group is to discuss the feasibility of building a village(s)or community in which MCS/EI patients can live safely, and to provide a forum in which the legal, medical, geographic, architectural, social and funding issues relating to building such a community(ies) or village(s) may be discussed and resolved.

MCS Writers Group

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mcswritersgroup/

A place for writers who have chemical sensitivities (or chemical injury) to share their stories and articles, work on and develop public writing skills, exchange editing skills and perspective, and develop ideas in order to bring awareness and education to the published world about what it is like to live with MCS/ES/CI/EI.

Midwest Oasis MCS E-mail Support

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MO-MCS/

Midwest Oasis MCS E-mail Support is the e-mail arm of the Midwest Oasis MCS Support Group. Although people from all geographical areas are welcome to join, a partial focus of this list will be discussion of regional issues affecting MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) in Missouri and other Midwestern states.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (Chemical Sensitivity, Porphyrin & CO)

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MultipleChemicalSensitivity/

Discussion group where people afflicted with Chemical Sensitivity, Chronic Carbon Monoxide Poisoning &/or Disorders of Porphyrin Metabolism can talk about their illness, inquire with others on avoidance, methods of cleaning & products one can use for necessary hygiene.

Old Dominion MCS-FMS_CFIDS Support Group · A Virginia Fibro MCS CFIDS Group

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OldDominionMCS-FMS_CFIDSsupportgroup/

Too many people in Va. have Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, CFIDS, Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), ES, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. The group owner wanted to create an informative, supportive group for Virginians, and others.

Planet Thrive

http://www.planetthrive.com/

A dynamic online community for those activity seeking answers and support for a variety of health concerns. A place where people around the world help each other get well and stay well.

Sick Buildings

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/sickbuildings/

Toxic molds are running rampant in our homes, offices and schools. Exposure to mycotoxins has been linked to the death of infants, as well as immune-compromised adults. Despite increasing reports of mold-induced illness and health problems associated with mold exposure, our public health agencies offer little, if any support or funding for research into this growing problem.

Sprayno

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sprayno/

This is a list to exchange information regarding environmental issues in the northern suburbs and NY metro area focusing especially on encouraging activism in this area and educating the public about toxic effects of pesticide/herbicide usage.

Tenth Paradigm Society

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TenthParadigmSociety/

The Tenth Paradigm Society mailing list is for the dissemination and discussion of information concerning the NO/ONOO- cycle mechanism, a new paradigm of human disease, proposed by Martin L. Pall, Ph.D. Dr. Pall adopted the term "Multisystem Illness" to describe those diseases that fall under the tenth paradigm. They include: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/CFIDS/M.E.), Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Fibromyalgia (FM/FMS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Gulf War Syndrome (GWS).

The Sanctuary

http://www.mcs-international.org/phpBB3/

MCS-International.Org's Holistic Support Forums For sufferers of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and all other forms of Chemical Injury and Environmental Illness.

WSMCSN (Washington State MCS Network)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WSMCSN

WSMCSN is a decentralized network of groups and individuals in Washington State who share information about the issues of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

Additional Forum Listing Webpage

http://ww.mcs-america.org/forums

Physician & Dentist Referral Lists

Physican Refferal List by State

http://mcs-america.org/doctorlist.pdf

Proper medical care is most crucial to recovery for individuals with MCS. Some of the physicians on this list specialize in MCS, others in FM and CFS. It is recommended that patients and doctors consult with one another prior to beginning any treatment to ensure understanding of the patient’s needs and compatibility of patient and physician.

Dentist Referral List by State

http://mcs-america.org/dentistlist.pdf

Dental care is often challenging for individuals with MCS. Dental materials may cause reactions and should be tested for biocompatibility prior to use. A holistic dentist Is generally more familiar with the needs of individuals with MCS. Some of the dentists on this list are specifically familiar with MCS, others are not. It is recommended that patients and dentists consult with one another prior to beginning any treatment to ensure understanding of the patient’s needs and compatibility of patient and dentist.

Air Quality Reports

Air Now Air Quality Reports

http://www.airnow.gov/

EPA State and Regional Indoor Environments Contact Information

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html

The National Association of Clean Air Agencies 4 Cleaner Air

http://www.4cleanair.org/

American Lung Association: State of the Air

http://lungaction.org/reports/stateoftheair2007.htm

Current Local & National Allergy Levels

http://pollen.com/Pollen.com.asp

Scorecard: Pollution Index by Area

http://www.scorecard.org/

Toxmap Hazardous Waste Site Locations

http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/main/index.jsp

USA Smoke/Fire Pollution Map

http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm

Antenna Search (USA)

http://mcs-america.org/index_files/www.AntennaSearch.com

EPA Safe Drinking Water Information by State

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/

EPA Radon Zone Map

http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html

Brochures

Air Fresheners & Plug-Ins

http://mcs-america.org/airfresh.pdf

Chemical in Air Fresheners Reduces Lung Function

http://mcs-america.org/lung.pdf

Consequences of Childhood Chemical Injury Poster By Margaret S. O’Nan

http://mcs-america.org/onan.pdf

Electrosensitivity Brochure by Kato Yasuko

http://mcs-america.org/KatoYasukoElectrosensitivityBrochure.doc

Fabric Softener

http://mcs-america.org/fabricsoftener.pdf

Fragrances

http://mcs-america.org/fragrances.pdf

Grandma’s Cupboard: General Cleaning Solutions

http://www.mcs-america.org/general.pdf

Grandma’s Cupboard: Kitchen Cleaning

http://www.mcs-america.org/kitchen.pdf

Grandma’s Cupboard: Personal Care

http://www.mcs-america.org/personal.pdf

Grandma’s Cupboard: Laundry

http://www.mcs-america.org/laundry.pdf

Household Mold brochure from Quebec government

http://publications.msss.gouv.qc.ca/acrobat/f/documentation/2002/02-214-01A.pdf

ILRU: Understanding & Accommodating People with MCS in Everyday Living

http://mcs-america.org/ilru.pdf

Indoor Air Chemistry

http://mcs-america.org/indoorair.pdf

Interior Design and MCS

http://mcs-america.org/interior.pdf

Jill Mellum: Breathe Easier, Hold the Fragrances Brochure

http://mcs-america.org/fragrancefacts.pdf

MCS Task Force of New Mexico Brochure

http://mcs-america.org/newmexico.pdf

MCS Public Accommodations

http://www.nettally.com/prusty/PUBLIC%20ACCOMMODATIONS.pdf

MCS Statistics

http://www.mcs-america.org/MCSStatistics.pdf

No Scents Makes Sense Brochure

http://www.nb.lung.ca/pdf/NoScentsMakeSense.pdf

Theory on the Cause of MCS: Peroxynitrite and Nitric Oxide

http://www.mcs-america.org/cause.pdf

Understanding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

http://www.mcs-america.org/understanding.pdf

Use of Baking Soda as a Fungicide

http://mcs-america.org/fungicide.pdf

Vaccine Poster - Are We Poisoning Our Children?

http://www.generationrescue.org/pdf/080212.pdf

Visiting a Person with MCS

http://mcs-america.org/visiting.pdf

What you should know before visiting a person who has NRLA and/or MCS

http://mcs-america.org/VisitingNRLA-MCS.pdf

Signs

Acute Toxic Effects of Fragrances Business Card

http://mcs-america.org/acutetoxiceffectsoffragrancescard.pdf

Chemical Awareness Ribbon

http://mcs-america.org/ribbon.gif

Electrosensitivity Sign - Please Turn Off Your Cell Phone

http://mcs-america.org/KatoYasukoElectrosensitivtySignTurnOffYourCellPhone.pdf

Facemask on Tweety

http://mcs-america.org/tweety.jpg

Fragrance Free Sign: Brooks University

http://www.brocku.ca/oehs/graphics/Fragrance_Free_Sign.pdf

No Scents Makes Sense Sign

http://mcs-america.org/scentssign.pdf

No Latex Sign by Jane Sagmoe

http://mcs-america.org/nolatex.JPG

You Could Be Next Sign

http://mcs-america.org/nextsign.pdf

Want to Put Your Friends and Family in Jail?

http://mcs-america.org/jail.pdf

Wood Smoke Trespass Flyer 8 1/2 x 11

http://mcs-america.org/woodsmokeflyer.pdf

Activist Materials

Fragrances on Mail and/or Catalogs

http://mcs-america.org/FragrancedMailCatalogBillsLetterforActivists.doc

Air Freshener Use

http://www.mcs-america.org/customairfreshenerletter.doc

Use of Fragrance, Cologne, and Perfume

http://mcs-america.org/UseofFragranceLetterforActivists.doc

Fabric Softener Emissions
http://www.mcs-america.org/LetterAboutFabricSoftener.doc

Letter to State Representatives to Ban Woodsmoke

http://mcs-america.org/woodsmoke.doc

Letter to Doctors and Medical Boards Supporting MCS as a biological Illness (fully cited and scientifically supported)

Website: http://mcs-america.org/MCSPositionStatement.htm

PDF: http://mcs-america.org/MCSPositionStatement.pdf

*This work is copyrighted. Permission granted for personal use in activism provided that original copyright and authorship are maintained. For permission to reprint, mail admin@mcs-america.org.

Request for Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

http://www.mcs-america.org/RequestforAccomodation.doc

Public Service Announcements

Public Service Announcement #1
Air fresheners have been pulled off thousands of shelves nation-wide!
http://www.mcs-america.org/AirFreshenerPSA1.pdf

Public Service Announcement #2
When you use fragranced products, did you know you are wearing toxic chemicals!?
http://www.mcs-america.org/WhenYouUseFragrancedProductsPSA2.pdf

Public Service Announcement #3
Secondhand Fragrances are Like Secondhand Smoke!
http://www.mcs-america.org/SecondHandFragrancesPSA3.pdf

Public Service Announcement #4
Scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners pollute indoor and outdoor air!
http://www.mcs-america.org/ScentedLaundryDetergentsPSA4.pdf

Public Service Announcement #4 (SPANISH)
Scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners pollute indoor and outdoor air!
http://mcs-america.org/mcsamerica/ScentedLaundryDetergentsPSA4Spanish.pdf

Public Service Announcement #5
Wood Smoke... The Other Secondhand Smoke!
http://www.mcs-america.org/WoodSmokePSA5BurningIssues.pdf

Public Service Announcement #6
Fragrances undermine public health!
http://www.mcs-america.org/FragrancesPSA6.pdf

Public Service Announcement #7

Fragranced Laundry Products Pollute Our Air
http://mcs-america.org/PSA7FragrancedLaundry.pdf

Clothing & Novelties for Activism

MCS America Store for the Environment

http://www.mcs-america.org/MCSstore..htm

Zona’s T-Shirts and Stuff Zone

http://members.shaw.ca/zonaszone/shop/tshirts.html

Disclaimer

This date is for informational purposes and is not intended to replace the examination, diagnosis and treatment of a licensed physician and no such claims are inferred. MCS America will not be responsible for misuse of this information or the misuse of any information provided by it’s member organizations. Articles, citations, links and information are not necessarily the opinion of MCS America and printing does not constitute MCS America’s endorsement.

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MCS Community News

Mold-Infested Home Will Get $150,000 Makeover
http://www.cbs8.com/features/special_assignment/story.php?id=131875

State, federal officials halt spraying for apple moth
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/19/BAC211C73N.DTL&tsp=1

The CDC issues a public health alert on lead in artificial turf
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2008/06/lead-in-turf.html

Chemical Fallout: A Journal Sentinel Watchdog Report
http://www.jsonline.com/index/index.aspx?id=305

KBR accused of chemical exposure
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5847385.html

After the Flood: Preventing and Removing Mold
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/20574819.html

Competition Bureau sees red over false green claims
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/story.html?id=04b6eaa7-6b04-4a27-ba01-3f6ae3911717

State files $6.5M lawsuit over school's mold contamination
http://www.nj.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-10/1213850282223400.xml&coll=1

Mold A Growing Concern
http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/20554714.html

Toxic Toy Legislation
http://www.mauiweekly.com/Malama%20Aina/story7029.aspx

Lab disinfectant harms mouse fertility
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080618/full/453964a.

Parents sue over baby bottles
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=763763

Some Hormones With Your Perfumed Air?
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/air-fresheners-47061704

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Featured MCS Research Studies

Benefits of Reducing Prenatal Exposure to Coal Burning Pollutants to Children's Neurodevelopment in China

Frederica Perera et al.

Environ Health Perspect doi:10.1289/ehp.11480

available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 14 July 2008]

Abstract

Background. Coal burning provides seventy percent of the energy for China’s industry and power but releases large quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other pollutants. PAHs are reproductive and developmental toxicants, mutagens and carcinogens.

Objective. We evaluated the benefit to neurobehavioral development from the closure of a coal fired power plant that was the major local source of ambient PAHs.

Methods. The research was conducted in Tongliang, Chongqing, China, where a coal-fired powerplant operated seasonally prior to shutdown in May 2004. Two identical prospective cohort studies enrolled nonsmoking women and their newborns in 2002 (pre-shutdown) and 2005 (postshutdown). Prenatal PAH exposure was measured by PAH-DNA adducts (benzo[a]pyrene-DNA) in umbilical cord blood. Child development was assessed by the Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS) at age two. Prenatal exposure to other neurotoxicants and potential confounders (including lead, mercury, and environmental tobacco smoke) was measured. We
compared the cohorts regarding the association between PAH-DNA adduct levels and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Results. Significant associations previously seen in 2002 between elevated adducts and decreased motor area developmental quotient (DQ)(p = 0.043) and average DQ (p = 0.047) were not observed in the 2005 cohort (p=0.546 and p=0.146). However, the direction of the relationship did not change.

Conclusion. The findings indicate that neurobehavioral development in Tongliang children was benefited by elimination of PAH exposure from the coal-burning plant, consistent with the significant reduction in PAH-DNA adducts in cord blood of children in the 2005 cohort. The results have implications for children’s environmental health in China and elsewhere.

Volume 119, Issue 1, Supplement, Page S22 (January 2007)

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: an Unusual Case of Vocal Disorder

Rationale: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a phenomenon observed in patients who reported sensitivities involving any and every organ system, following exposure to environmental agents including pesticides, solvents, and others. A 39-year-old white man was accidentally exposed to an extremely high concentration of petroleum aromatic hydrocarbons (AH) vapors at his job. Since that time he developed voice disorder attacks every time he smelt gasoline or other HC vapors. These episodes delayed about one hour, and occurred at the work environment, at home or at the gas station. He had no previous history of allergy or vocal cord dysfunction. Investigational procedures for gastro-esophageal reflux and a video-laryngoscopy did not show abnormalities.

Methods: Double blind challenge tests were performed with 5 different chemical compounds supplied by the employer. He was exposed to inhalation for one minute and the results were evaluated for the occurrence of voice disorder and accompanied by video-laryngoscopy.

Results: Voice disorder associated with vocal cord edema was observed immediately after provocation with samples 1, 2 and 4. They were composed by a mixture of nafta derivates (ND) and at least 15% of AH. Samples 3 and 5 did not produce voice disorder or anatomic modifications on the vocal cords. They were composed by NH4OH plus Na2S, and ND plus 10% of AH, respectively.

Conclusion: These results showed evidences that AH could be involved in the observed events. The voice disorders were well correlated with video-laryngoscopy findings. AH could be listed as a potential agent involved in MCS.

Allergic Center Diseases, Salvador - Bahia, BRAZIL

PII: S0091-6749(06)02498-5

doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2006.11.101

Rev Prat. 2008 Apr 30;58(8):838-43.

[Interest of toxicological analysis for poisonings]

[Article in French]

Mégarbane B, Baud FJ.

bruno.megarbane@lrb.aphp.fr

The clinical approach of the poisoned patients is mainly based on the analysis of the circumstances of intoxication and the search for toxidromes. Toxicological analysis aims to detect the toxicants or measure their concentrations, in order to confirm the hypothesis of poisoning, to evaluate its severity and to help the follow-up regarding the treatment efficiency. Emergent toxicological analysis appears only useful if the method is specific and the results rapidly obtained. Therefore, systematic screening using immunochesmistry-based tests is not recommended in the situation of emergency. Measurement of blood concentrations of the toxicants is only indicated if it may influence the patient management. However, in the perspective of research, the study of toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic relationships, i.e. the relationships between the toxicant effects and its blood concentrations, may be helpful to understand the inter-individual variability of the response to a toxicant.

PMID: 18630820 [PubMed - in process]

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Disclaimer

This newsletter is for informational purposes and is not intended to replace the examination, diagnosis and treatment of a licensed physician and no such claims are inferred. Articles are not necessarily the opinion of MCS America and printing of others’ opinions does not constitute endorsement. MCS America, Lourdes Salvador, Board Members, and associate members of MCS America will not be responsible for misuse of this information.

We welcome appropriate submissions for articles, letters-to-the-editor, poetry, artwork, jokes, cartoons, photos, and whatever else is physically printable. Submissions may be sent to publisher@mcs-america.org . We attempt to publish monthly.

To subscribe to this free newsletter, send an email to: subscriptions@mcs-america.org

MCSA NEWS – Online Edition

August 2008, Volume 3, Issue 8

Compact Fluorescent Lamps What You Need to Know About Low Energy Lighting

Compact Fluorescent Lamps

What You Need to Know About Low Energy Lighting -Dr. Andrew Goldsworthy

Fragrances

Carcinogenic Culprits

Scientific Study

Teaching Medical Students About Unexplained Illnesses

Scientific Study

Science Lacking Integrity

Scientific Review

Children in Danger

Scientific Review

Money-Spinning Fungi

Scientific Study

When Violence is not a Behavioral Problem

Scientific Study Fragranced Products Proven Toxic by Scientist

Hospital Accessibility Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

Scientific Study

Scientists Find Disturbed ATP Metabolism in Fibromyalgia

Sal’s Place

Disability

Is it a Free Ride?

Patient Support and Resources

MCS-International.Org's Holistic Support Forums For sufferers of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and all other forms of Chemical Injury and Environmental Illness.

Physican Refferal List by State

Dentist Referral List by State

Chemical in Air Fresheners Reduces Lung Function

Consequences of Childhood Chemical Injury Poster By Margaret S. O’Nan

Electrosensitivity Brochure by Kato Yasuko

Fabric Softener

http://mcs-america.org/fabricsoftener.pdf

Fragrances

Grandma’s Cupboard: General Cleaning Solutions

Grandma’s Cupboard: Kitchen Cleaning

Grandma’s Cupboard: Personal Care

http://www.mcs-america.org/personal.pdf

Grandma’s Cupboard: Laundry

Household Mold brochure from Quebec government

ILRU: Understanding & Accommodating People with MCS in Everyday Living

Indoor Air Chemistry

Interior Design and MCS

Jill Mellum: Breathe Easier, Hold the Fragrances Brochure

MCS Task Force of New Mexico Brochure

MCS Public Accommodations

MCS Statistics

No Scents Makes Sense Brochure

Theory on the Cause of MCS: Peroxynitrite and Nitric Oxide

Understanding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Use of Baking Soda as a Fungicide

Vaccine Poster - Are We Poisoning Our Children?

Visiting a Person with MCS

What you should know before visiting a person who has NRLA and/or MCS

MCS Community News

Featured MCS Research Studies

What You Need to Know About Low Energy Lighting
-Dr. Andrew Goldsworthy

Scientific Study
Fragranced Products Proven Toxic by Scientist