MCSA NEWS – Online Edition

According to the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses, one in four of the 697,000 U.S. veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War suffer from Gulf War illness, a condition caused by exposure to toxic chemicals in pesticides and a pharmaceutical drug.

The U.S. Congress mandated the appointment of a public advisory panel for Gulf War Illness in 1998, and the panel was appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 2002. Their assignment was largely to determine the cause of Gulf War illness, which differs from the trauma and stress related syndromes suffered by soldiers in other wars.

Veterans of the war experience persistent health problems mostly affecting the brain and nervous system. These health problems include chronic headaches, cognitive difficulties, widespread pain, unexplained fatigue, chronic diarrhea, skin rashes, respiratory problems, and symptoms similar to chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other environmental illnesses. Symptoms vary among individuals, though a consistent illness profile has been identified.

“The extensive body of scientific research now available consistently indicates that Gulf War illness is real, that it is the result of neurotoxic exposures during Gulf War deployment, and that few veterans have recovered or substantially improved with time,” according to the committee.

The panel found strong evidence that Gulf War illness is consistently and causally associated with pyridostigmine bromide (PB) pills and pesticide use during deployment. PB pills were given to soldiers to protect them from effects of nerve agents. Other exposure factors which may be linked in combination include low-level exposure to nerve agents, close proximity to oil well fires, and the receipt of multiple vaccinations.

Veterans of the Gulf War not only suffer Gulf War illness, but also experience high rates of brain cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

The panel summarized with a plea for a renewed federal research commitment to improving the health of Gulf War veterans and preventing similar problems in the future.

The Committee’s website is:

www.va.gov/RAC-GWVI.

The full panel report may be downloaded from:

http://tinyurl.com/678rxr.

Reference

Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses. Gulf War Illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans: Scientific Findings and Recommendations. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2008.

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Disability Accommodations

Disability accommodations can be very challenging to obtain. There is often great resistance from others to making reasonable accommodations. Regardless, it’s the law.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. JAN provides many wonderful educational documents about various disabilities and accommodations, including specific material on disabilities such as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), fibromyalgia (FM), fragrance sensitivity, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), among others.

JAN’s documents are not copyrighted. Since they are government publications, they may be freely reproduced and distributed to employers, schools, and others when requesting accommodations.

Accommodations ideas for MCS from JAN include:

Provide an office or workspace that has working windows.
Make certain the ventilation system is not distributing pollutants and use HEPA filters and air purification systems.
Maintain a work environment which is free of pollutants such as fragrances, toxic cleaning agents, pesticides, exhaust fumes, and tobacco smoke.
Provide adequate exhaust systems to remove fumes from copiers and similar office machines.
Provide pre-notification of events such as remodeling, painting, pesticide applications, floor waxing, and carpet shampooing; and allow for alternative work arrangements for those people who may be sensitive to the chemical agents used in the above activities.
Use non-toxic building materials, furnishings, and supplies.
If possible, have cleaning, maintenance, and remodeling activities performed when the building is not occupied to reduce employee exposure to these activities.
Discontinue the use of toxic pesticides and opt for an alternative pest management policy.
Discontinue the use of synthetic lawn care products.

MCS America has added a new page to it’s website to assist victims of MCS, FM, CFS, and fragrance sensitivity with materials and ideas for obtaining needed accommodations in the workplace, as wells as schools, churches, and other public areas. The new webpage summarizes both general data on the Americans with Disabilities Act and specific information for MCS, FM, CFS, and fragrance sensitivity. For more information, visit: http:/tinyurl.com/6delz3

Free Downloadable Brochures and Literature on Disability Accommodations

General Information on the Americans with Disabilities Act

ADA and Rehabilitation Act Compliance and Other Disability Related Laws
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/other.htm

ADA and Rehabilitation Act Compliance and Other Disability Related Laws
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/other.htm

Fact Sheet Series - Ideas for Writing an Accommodation Request Letter
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/accommodationrequestletter.pdf

Employees' Practical Guide to Negotiating and Requesting Reasonable Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/EeGuide/EeGuide.pdf

Enforcement Guidance - Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html

Enforcement Guidance - Disability-Related Inquiries And Medical Examinations Of Employees Under The Americans With Disabilities Act (Ada)
http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/guidance-inquiries.html

ADA and Rehabilitation Act Compliance and Other Disability Related Laws
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/other.htm

Pre-employment Dos and Don’ts
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/preofferfact.doc

EEOC Guidance: Pre-employment Disability-Related Questions and Medical Examinations
http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/preemp.html

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

JAN - Accommodation and Compliance Series - Employees with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Environmental Illness
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/MCS.pdf

JAN - Accommodation and Compliance Series - Employees with Fragrance Sensitivity

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/Fragrance.pdf

Service Animals and Allergies in the Workplace

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/corner/vol02iss01.htm

Searchable Online Accommodation Resource: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/soar/mcs.html

Fact Sheet - Job Accommodations for People with Respiratory Impairment
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/employmentrespfact.doc

(CANADA) Canadian Human Rights Commission Policy on Environmental Sensitivities
http://tinyurl.com/ysfets

(CANADA) The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities
http://tinyurl.com/2s3rez

(CANADA) Accommodation for Environmental Sensitivities: Legal Perspective
http://tinyurl.com/2ytv2y

(CANADA) Accommodating Employees with Environmental Sensitivities - A Guide for the Workplace (2003)

http://tinyurl.com/6xrvbx

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

JAN - Accommodation and Compliance Series - Employees with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/CFS.pdf

Searchable Online Accommodation Resource: CFS

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/soar/cfs.html

Fact Sheet - Job Accommodations for People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/employmentcfsfact.doc

Fibromyalgia

JAN - Accommodation and Compliance Series - Employees with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/Fibro.pdf

Fact Sheet - Fibromyalgia

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/employmentfibrofact.doc

For more information, visit: http:/tinyurl.com/6delz3

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Fibromyalgia Diagnosis and Treatment - Part 2

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Selecting Safe Building Materials

The installation of safe and healthy building materials is the single most important element within the home of a person with MCS. Finding the right building materials that can be tolerated in situ in conjunction with the other elements of a building and be nice to look at and durable can be overwhelming to the average person, let alone someone who can physically be exhausted by the process. There are, however, tips to consider prior to taking on such a process to help ensure it goes smoothly.

Start Small. Undertaking a large renovation in the hopes of resolving all the issues that may be impacting you can be a risky undertaking. Getting everything right and perfect can be nearly impossible. It’s best to start small with a room or part of a room so that if something does go wrong, you are not living in your car because the house is too toxic for you. Small successes also empower you to move forward with more small projects and in that manner you can stay well. This improvement of the home will hopefully manifest as an improvement of health and make the larger projects more manageable.

Understand Goals. Set a goal of what you want to accomplish within the renovation and keep it realistic. Consider starting a job that would take a week at most to carry out from start to finish. Make sure you have a day or two buffer in case things go wrong with the job or with your health. Planning for bad things and having good things happen is helpful; planning for good things and having bad things happens can be devastating. This schedule is something you talk about with your contractor to ensure your needs are met and the process does not tax you. So, take the small steps with a small building project, like changing a window or painting a room, and work towards a successful large renovation as you go.

Finding Safe Materials. The materials are the make or break component and the time spent on material selection is a priority. Choosing the materials for your safe house is a task that falls upon you initially. This of course depends on your ability to carry out research on the internet, use your network of other people with MCS, and call local professionals for information. For some, this is not possible and you must consider hiring a healthy building consultant.

There are Building Biologists in almost every state now able to help with safe and healthy material selection. Some green building consultants may also be able to find safe materials for you, although their specialty may lie in commercial building materials. Green building stores are popping up quickly, and are a tremendous help. Finally, even some regular building supply stores are beginning to carry healthier materials, although the store experience may not be so healthy for you.

Learning What’s In The Product. Almost all products have chemicals in some shape or form. Understanding what is in those products and how they may affect you is paramount. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) are the first place to start. This lists all the known active chemicals in the product and their health impact. You can also search online for more information about those chemicals at various chemical identifier websites. Remember that manufacturers do not have to list “proprietary ingredients” and often hide the very nasty chemicals in there. Call the distributor, or manufacturer. Their phone number HAS to be listed on the top of the MSDS, and ask for more information. Green product manufacturers are typically more helpful in answering questions. If any manufacturer gives you the run around, consider looking elsewhere.

Remember that just because there is a chemical in it, doesn’t mean you may react. Formaldehyde can be a trigger for many, but it is also naturally occurring in wood, so it may be listed, but have negligible effect for many people. Added formaldehyde, however, is a different beast and typically impacts most people.

Testing The Material. This is the make or break part of the process. Get a piece of the material, either from a sales rep, the manufacturer, a healthy building consultant, or your builder. With some materials, you may know as soon as it is in the same room with you whether or not you can tolerate it. Many products take a bit more time. There are various ways to test suitability.

Sleeping with the material near you is a common way to test reactivity. People who do this can base reactions on quality of sleep, reactions during the night and overall feeling with the product.

Jar testing is the process of putting the product in a glass jar with metal lid and let it sit in the sun for a while to warm up, then opening the lid and sniffing. This cooking usually produces a more intense odor and can often answer the question quite quickly. Remember not to take a huge sniff right away in case you have a reaction, as it could make you quite unwell.

Some people, depending on their MCS, need to touch it, feel it, rub it, keep it near their eyes, or try other personal processes that would help manifest reactions in their typical manners, like watery eyes, or skin rashes for example. By attempting to manifest their typical reaction, they can very quickly determine their sensitivity. I express caution with such a potentially aggressive testing process. An over reaction to the product could be possible, so exercise thoughtfulness during testing.

Some naturopaths may be able to use electrodermal testing with building materials as well. This works with the body’s reactions through metabolic deviations and can be monitored through the testing equipment. This allows a larger quantity of materials to possibly be tested.

You may find that out of the available options, you will have to pick the least bad. If this is the case, remember the reactions, the feelings associated with the reactions and their intensity. This will help gage how to deal with the installation safely.

Never Alone. Picking products one by one is the starting point, however the renovation rarely involves just one product, but multiple products, so testing more than one together can be helpful, but can begin to turn into a very time consuming process. Two or more products in a jar for example is one option. Remember that this is where things start to get confusing, even with the best of MCS people. Compound reactions are difficult to pinpoint as it could be 75% one product and 25% another or any combination imaginable. Having the safest, most tolerable products passing the first test, it is hopeful that this testing, where possible should result in a relatively minor (at best) reaction. Again, monitor the reaction and the severity. This extra step will give you a better sense of how the renovation may go. It’s the closest thing to the actual undertaking, so it can be very helpful.

Drying and Off Gassing. Products dry and off gas, some quicker than others. Remember this when testing, and judging reactions. Caulking for example, even the safest out there, may have odors when wet that you could have minor reactions to. Once dry they can be quite inert and safe for you to be around. The same goes for some products that will off gas minor amounts in the beginning days or weeks (paint is one example) and once dry be quite safe. Be sure to test these materials in both stages so that you know whether the final product in it’s final state is ok.

Safely carrying out the renovation and how to deal with off gassing and drying will be discussed in the next article.

Stephen Collette is a Building Biology Environmental Consultant and LEED accredited professional, who owns Your Healthy House, and is living with his family in Lakefield, Ontario. www.yourhealthyhouse.ca 705-652-5159 stephen@yourhealthyhouse.ca

Stephen Collette is a Certified Building Biology Environmental Consultant (BBEC). This lengthy certification analyses the built environment and how it impacts people’s health. Stephen was a natural builder for 5 years specializing in straw bale construction. Stephen has an engineering background and training which enables him to understand the various processes occurring within the home and how they can interact. Applying these skills and knowledge to the standard home and small office enables Your Healthy House to find the reasons for poor indoor air quality and to create solutions to help create your healthy house.

Stephen Collette is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Accredited Professional (LEED AP), which allows Stephen to use the Canada Green Building Council’s guidelines and method to ensure a quantitative approach to building green.

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Wood Smoke and Black Carbon Soot A Major Contributor To Global Warming

In the frenzied search for solutions to the global warming crisis, climatologists, policy makers, and other concerned environmentalists have overlooked one of the leading causes of rising temperatures around the globe—soot---the black residue that coats fireplaces and darkens vehicle exhaust. Black carbon soot may in fact be the second largest contributor to global warming next to the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

According to Stanford environmental engineering Professor Mark Z. Jacobson, “Soot, or black carbon, may be responsible for 15 to 30 percent of global warming, yet it is not even considered in any of the discussions about controlling climate change.” (“New Study Reveals A Major Cause Of Global Warming -- Ordinary Soot”, ScienceDaily, Feb. 9, 2001). Jacobson also observed that human beings produce most of the soot particles that pollute the atmosphere. He maintains that soot consists primarily of elemental carbon and that 90 percent of it comes from the consumption of fossil fuels (particularly coal, diesel fuel, jet fuel, natural gas, and kerosene) and the burning of wood and other biomass. Jacobson also claims that a worldwide reduction in soot emissions and controlling biomass burning could quell the alarming pace of global warming and also reduce our reliance on soot-producing fuels.

Besides its impact on global warming, soot is bad for our health. The World Health Organization reports that approximately 2.7 million people die each year from air pollution and that reduction of wood and other biomass burning would mitigate global warming and would also save lives and improve people’s health.

Other studies have dispelled the myth that burning wood and other biomass is “green or carbon neutral” and that the fine particulates emitted during the combustion process actually hasten climate change. (“Science” and “Global Warming” www.burningissues.org).

The warming effect of black carbon soot is far greater than previously estimated. Atmospheric scientist V. Ramanathan of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and University of Iowa chemical engineer Greg Carmichael found that “black carbon soot, from burning wood and other biomass, cooking with solid fuels and diesel exhaust has a warming effect in the atmosphere three to four times greater than prevailing estimates.” (Nature Geoscience 1 221-227 March 24, 2008). They calculated that soot and other forms of black carbon particulates may represent as much as 60 percent of the current global warming effect of carbon dioxide and their findings correlated with similar studies from Stanford, Caltech, and NASA.

A simplified explanation for the warming effect is that wood smoke’s fine particulates thin clouds. And as total airborne particulates increase, cloud cover decreases, allowing more sunlight to reach the earth. According to Ramanathan, approximately 35 percent of black carbon in the global atmosphere comes from China and India. Yet per capita emissions of black carbon soot from the United States and some European countries are still comparable to those from Asia. "Ramanathan's research also found that the warming effects of black carbon smog appear to be accelerating the melt of Himalayan glaciers, leading to early drying of a major source of drinking water for billions of people throughout Asia."

The International Global Panel on Climate Change (IGPCC) agreed that black carbon soot is a major contributor to global warming. The 2007 Nobel-winning IGPCC panel of approximately two thousand scientists concluded that black carbon soot has a dire atmospheric warming effect. This was significant because soot had previously been unaddressed as a major contributor to global warming. The amplification of black carbon’s warming effect previously had not been taken into account when mixed with other aerosols, creating additional secondary fine particulates.

Studies of fine particulates from wood smoke in various communities.

An EPA study cites that, “In some neighborhoods, on some days, 90% of the particle pollution is from residential wood burning.” (Jane Koenig and Timothy Larson, A Summary of Emissions Characterization and Non-Cancer Respiratory Effects of Wood Smoke, USEPA DOC #453/R-93-036,1-919-541-0888).

A study in two San Jose, California locations showed that wood smoke pollution was 4.4 times that of gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles. (San Jose Speciation Trends Network. A Comparison of Source Apportionments of Fine Particulate Matter at Two San Jose, CA Locations.)

The next step

Because the urgency of reducing black carbon emissions cannot be overstated, reducing soot from wood smoke would offer nearly instant benefits in improving atmospheric conditions in the United States. It would also offer immediate societal and health benefits. This would facilitate political and regulatory momentum towards mitigation of black carbon emissions.

It is urgent to advance public awareness of wood smoke’s crucial role in global warming with education and policy changes.

For those interested in more scientific and educational data about wood smoke, see www.burningissues.org. The Burning Issues site was founded in 1988 as a special particulate pollution project of the Bay Area Loma Prieta / Silicon Valley Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Julie Mellum

Midwest Director, Clean Air Revival

www.burningissues.org

President, Take Back the Air, Minneapolis mellum.julie@gmail.com

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Fibromyalgia and Cerebral Blood Flow to the Brain

Cerebral blood flow is altered in patients with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a disease process characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, non-restorative sleep, fatigue, headache, morning stiffness, poor memory, difficulty concentrating, paresthesias (numbness and tingling) and overall impaired functioning in both social and occupational settings.

The severity of the pain is typically more constant than other forms of pain and may come and go rapidly, move around to various parts of the body, and worsen with touch. For example, some fibromyalgia patients find their own clothing against their skin painful, particularly if it is tight clothing.

Nuclear medicine utilizes SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography) technology to perform brain scans. This records brain functioning by measuring perfusion (blood flow). In patients with fibromyalgia, the greater alterations of blood flow have been linked to increased symptoms.

Patients with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) also have altered cerebral blood flow. A lower baseline flow of blood to the brain is common. When these patients are exposed to perfumes and petrochemicals, they develop further decreases in blood flow to the brain.

MCS is an acquired and progressive neurological disease induced by exposure to chemical and fragrance products.

MCS is often misinterpreted as or compared to asthma and allergies, which generally cause only temporary inconvenience and can be treated and reversed with antihistamines. In most cases, neither asthma nor allergies impacts the ability to live a relatively normal life.

However, people with MCS suffer progressive and cumulative harm, cognitive impairment, brain changes, and end organ damage with exposure to even small amounts of the seemingly innocuous chemical and fragrance substances in the air.

Those with chronic symptoms show long-term reduced blood flow to the brain and reduced ability of the brain to take up a tracer substance. This indicates a neurotoxic metabolic abnormality consistent with toxic environmental exposures to pesticides and other chemicals.

References

Callender, TJ, et al. Three-dimensional brain and metabolic imaging in patients with toxic encephalopathy. Environmental Res. 1993;60: 295-319.

Callender, TJ, et al. Evaluation of chronic neurological sequelae after acute pesticide exposure using SPECT brain scans. Journal Toxicology & Environmental Health. 1995;41:275-284.

Guedj E, Cammilleri S, Niboyet J, Dupont P, Vidal E, Dropinski JP, Mundler O. Clinical Correlate of Brain SPECT Perfusion Abnormalities in Fibromyalgia. J Nucl Med. 2008 Oct 16. [Epub ahead of print]

Heuser, G, et al. Neurospect findings in patients exposed to neurotoxic chemicals. Toxicology & Industrial Health. 1994;10:561-571.

Heuser G, Mena I. Neurospect in neurotoxic chemical exposure demonstration of long-term functional abnormalities. Toxicol Ind Health. 1998;Nov-Dec;14(6):813-27.

Matthews, B.L. Defining Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Jefferson, NC: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub; 1998.

Ross GH, Rea WJ, Johnson AR, Hickey DC, and Simon TR: Neurotoxicity in single photon emission computed tomography brain scans of patients reporting chemical sensitivities. Toxicol Ind Health 1999;15(3-4):415-420.

Simon TR, Hickey DC, Fincher CE, Johnson AR, Ross GH and Rea WJ: Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography of the brain in patients with chemical sensitivities. Toxicol Ind Health 1994;10:573-577.

Spinasanta, S. Nuclear Imaging: SPECT Scans and PET Scans. Spine Universe; 2005

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New MCS Hospital Protocol

Mabel, an acute care manager, recently worked hard to establish a protocol for the care of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) hospital patients in the Alberta, Canada area.

MCS is an acquired and progressive neurological disease induced by exposure to chemical and fragrance products.

Hospital cleaning products, sanitizers, and floor wax are common incitants. Staff, patient, and visitor fragrances, lotions, and scented laundry products are another challenge.

Hospitals should be medically safe and accessible for patients and staff; however, this has been evasive in the past.

Science has now shown that chemicals have synergistic toxic effects and fragrance chemicals contain unregulated, carcinogenic ingredients.

Mabel’s protocol is now in use in the hospital setting in the David Thompson Health Region and outlines safety measures to use with MCS patients. It specifies what products and materials may or may not be usable and includes:

1. Sources to purchase recommended materials.

2. Clinical signs to watch for in the patient that would indicate exposure.

3. Establishes the type of remedial action to take when an exposure occurs.

This is a wonderful document capable of ensuring a safer hospital stay and better treatment by staff. No hospital should be without one. Not only does this document protect those with MCS, it protects all staff and patients from preventable chemical injuries.

Mabel stands at the forefront of much needed change. This document may be used by others as a basis to develop similar hospital regulations in other areas.

It is crucial that all hospitals and health care facilities are not only familiar with MCS, but also are prepared to receive MCS patients and make the needed accommodations.

Mabel’s protocol may be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/5mtzc5.

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Dr. William Rea Pleads for Help

One of the most frequent requests by those newly afflicted with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), chemical injury (CI), and/or environmental illness (EI) is for a referral to a doctor who will either make a proper diagnosis or treat already diagnosed MCS, CI, and EI. These doctors are frequently difficult to find, yet the right one can be a goldmine to improvement and recovery.

These treating physicians are hard to find for a reason. The insurance industry works hard to avoid paying claims for treatment on the basis of these treatments being “experimental” or “unproven’, If a medical coverage claim is submitted or a doctor announces too publicly that he treats these illnesses, he may be reported to a medical board by an insurance company for so-called “unethical” conduct and may be cited and threatened with the loss of his license to practice.

This is exactly what happened to Dr. William Rea of the Environmental Health Center in Dallas, Texas. The patient was happy. The insurance company went beyond refusal to pay and filed an anonymous complaint with the Texas Medical Board (TMB). An unfortunate side effect of these unfounded and ruthless attacks is that other treating doctors become more difficult to find, both because they hide the fact they treat these illnesses or they stop treating them entirely out of fear for their own livelihood.

Dr. Rea is now fighting to retain his license in a hearing with the TMB for this bogus complaint. An official letter from the Environmental Health Center Dallas is asking members of the public to support Rea by contributing to his legal defense fund. The letter may be viewed on the next page and/or downloaded at:

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

Any questions regarding the letter or legal defense fund should be directed to the contact on the letter.

In this situation, whether Dr. Rea and his treatments would be beneficial to each of us as individuals is not important. What is important is that many have found help through him and that the "choice" to see him, or any other doctor for that matter, is not taken away.

We should all have a choice in treatment methodology and who provides our health care that is free from biased interests!

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Obama Environmental Promise

On October 20, 2008, before his election, Presidential-Elect Obama wrote a letter to John Gage, president of the of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO regarding the importance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in an Obama Administration.

Obama declared several key points and made a few promises.

First, he says, “The mission of the EPA is to protect the environment of the nation.” In the past, this has not happened in many cases and has been painstakingly slow in others.

Second, Obama recognized, “This is due to the failed leadership of the past eight years,” and went on to explain, “Inadequate funding for the EPA has resulted in the ineffective allocation of resources.”

Obama then committed to pursuing greater funding for the EPA so that its responsibilities are carried out. He said, “Clean water, land and air, and ensuring the health and safety of our citizens, especially children, will be high priorities in an Obama Administration.”

Most importantly, Obama recognized that environmental science, research, and education have been damaged by politics and ideology. He states, “I strongly oppose attempts by the Bush Administration to thwart publication of EPA researchers' scientific findings, as well as the attempt to eliminate the agency's library system”

“In an Obama Administration,” said Obama, “the principle of scientific integrity will be an absolute, and I will never sanction any attempt to subvert the work of scientists.”

Indeed, the Obama Administration is fast coming upon us. Americans have every right to expect that the EPA will be given the leadership and funding promised. Further, Americans are entitled to absolute scientific integrity free from undue industry influences.

To view President-elect Obama’s letter to John Gage, see: http://tinyurl.com/5e4ha9

To learn more about how you can share your views with Obama, see the MCS America News, December edition article, “Obama to hear your vision”, on page 26.

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Scientists Say Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is Not Sleepiness

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Obama to Hear Your Vision

President-Elect Obama is hard at work getting our country back on track and he’s counting on public input. He needs to hear about MCS and environmental issues, especially with the recent announcement that Gulf War illness is real and likely caused by the chemicals found in drugs and pesticides.

Your vision can be shared with the Obama administration at:

http://www.change.gov/yourvision

Below is a sample letter that MCS America has written. It is not copyrighted. Feel free to use any or all of it. Or, write your own letter. The sample letter may be downloaded at: http://mcs-america.org/obama.doc

Dear President-Elect Obama,

As you acknowledge the failed leadership of the past eight years, which you confirm has impacted the EPA, and begin to work toward your campaign promise to hold the principle of scientific integrity as an absolute, I would like to bring your awareness to Americans already injured, a concern that requires immediate attention.

Sensitivity to environmental pollution and chemicals has been researched by scientists for 60 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recognized chemical sensitivity as one symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), but diagnostic tests and effective medical treatments have yet to be discovered. For afflicted Americans, proper diagnosis through confirmatory diagnostic testing would mean better care, treatment, and outcome, all of which would improve many lives and prevent additional disability.

Here are a few documented and published facts about multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS):

Several studies published between 1993 and 2005 suggest that at least 45 million men, women, and children in the US report various chemical sensitivities.

Seventy percent of these people have not been diagnosed properly by a health care provider.

Brain scans show reduced blood flow to the brain of MCS subjects when under chemical exposure.
Numerous physical abnormalities have been identified in MCS subjects, including brain inflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, cardiac and airway disease, auto-immune disorders, and many others.
Mast cell activation and disorders of porphyrin metabolism have been linked to MCS.
Genetic differences relating to detoxification processes are present more often in those with MCS than those without.
Studies have shown that avoiding inciting chemicals and proper environmental control is the most efficacious treatment known to date. Ninety-five percent of patients report improvement upon practicing avoidance and 94% report improvement upon moving to a chemical free living space.

*Citations are available at: http://mcs-america.org/MCSPositionStatement.htm

MCS is already formally recognized by the governments of Germany, Canada, and Denmark. Last year, more than one half of state governors proclaimed the month of May as MCS and/or Toxic Injury Awareness Month. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Health Observance Calendar lists May as MCS Awareness Month. But this is not enough for American’s who have already suffered injury as a result of poorly regulated chemicals and lack of scientific integrity.

Funding is needed for programs that educate both health care professionals and the general public about MCS.

A committee is also needed to help coordinate health agency research, promote the exchange of information, hold federal agencies accountable, ensure workplace accommodations, and give advocates a voice in policy decisions.

More research of integrity is needed as it offers the greatest prospect of returning people with MCS to healthy, productive lives.

I hope I can count on your help in this important matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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Resources and Support

MCS America Forums

MCSA Public

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

Open to the general public open to discuss MCS, support, ideas, information, announcements, news and activism. 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.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Toxic Injury

http://groups.google.com/group/mcs-ti

This is a small non-Yahoo based group open to the general public to discuss MCS, support, ideas, information, announcements, news and activism.

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.

eSens - Electrical Sensitivity

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/eSens/
Do you feel ill when you're near computers, cell phones, fluorescent lights, or wireless internet? If so, you may have "electrical sensitivity".

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 Survivors

http://communityzero.com/mcsurvivors

For those who experience environmental illness or multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), here is a place to gather, exchange ideas, links to helpful websites, even have live chats. Enjoy!

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.

Toxics Discussion

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ToxicsDiscussion/
If you're keen on a toxics-safe future for the planet, then this is the discussion group for you. Toxics are defined here as naturally occurring or man-made chemicals (elements/compounds/mixtures) that have a toxic effect.

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

Virtual & Work-at-Home Jobs

Agent, Staffing at Home

http://www.staffingathome.com/

Agent, West at Home

http://www.westathome.com/

Agent, Working Solutions

http://www.workingsol.com/home.htm

Blogger, PayPerPost.com

http://payperpost.com/blogger_signup.html

Call Center Representative, Accolade Support

http://www.accoladesupport.com/

Call Center Representative, Overflow USA

http://www.overflowusa.com/

Call Center Representative, Overflow USA

http://www.overflowusa.com/

Caller Employee, Customer Loyalty Concepts

http://www.customloyal.com/Employment.aspx

Chef Instructor, Chefs Line

http://www.chefsline.com/

Customer Care, VIP Desk

http://www.vipdesk.com/info/default.asp

Customer Service, Alpine Access

http://www.alpineaccess.com/external/index.html

Editor, EditFast.com

http://www.editfast.com/

Expert, JustAnswer Corp

http://www.justanswer.com/

Freelancer, Team Double-Click

http://www.teamdoubleclick.com/freelance.html

Guide, About .com

http://beaguide.about.com/

Guide, ChaCha

http://www.chacha.com/

Home Agent, Convergys

http://www.convergysworkathome.com/

Independent Call Center Agent, LiveOps

http://tinyurl.com/5xfv7n

Telemarketing, Intrep Sales Partners

http://www.intrep.com/

Online Juror, eJury.com

http://www.ejury.com/

Online Juror, OnlineVerdict.com

http://onlineverdict.com/

Online Juror, Trial Practice Inc.

http://trialpractice.com/

Third Party Verifier, BSG Payments LLC

http://tinyurl.com/4vcldx

Virtual Assistant, Virtual Office Temps

http://virtualassistantjobs.com/

Virtual Services, Arise Virtual Solutions

http://www.arise.com/Content/default.asp

Writer, Associated Content

http://www.associatedcontent.com/

Writer, CyberEdit Inc.

http://www.cyberedit.com/

Writer, MyEssays.com

http://www.myessays.com/sell.php

National Telecommuting Institute, Inc.

http://www.nticentral.org/

Environmentally Safer Housing

Allergy And Environmental Health Association Of Quebec (AEHAQ) Environmentally Adapted, Social Housing Project For People Suffering From Environmental Sensitivities

http://www.aeha-quebec.ca/bb_housingproject.htm

Barrhaven Non-Profit Housing Inc.

Environmental Sensitivity Units
Steepleview Crossing,
3001 Jockvale Road, Nepean, Ontario, K2J 4E4
(613) 823-6230 Fax: (613) 825-7724

http://ehaontario.ca/barrhaven-housing.htm

http://www.bnphi.org/es.htm

Canada-wide Housing Connection

1-613-278-0463

http://ehaontario.ca/interview.htm

Ecology House, San Rafael, California (built in 1994)

375 Catalina Blvd

San Rafael, CA 94901

(415) 456-4453

http://www.tikvah.com/cc/eh

eh@ecologyhouse.net

Escalante House
P.O. Box 652
Escalante UT 84726
Phone/Fax: (435) 826-4778
toripat@color-country.net

Green Homes for Sale

http://greenhomesforsale.com/

Safe Haven Community Housing
P.O. Box 25281
Portland, Oregon 97298

judiths@teleport.com

http://www.geocities.com/safehavencommunity/#ntact

The Pandora Initiative (Canada)

http://tier10.com/

Quail Haven - MCS Housing
Just North of Tuscon, AZ
Call Diane Ensign for details:
May through January call: (406) 586-3658 (Montana).
January through May call: (520) 825-7276 (Tucson).
http://madelinx.tripod.com/

Seagoville Ecology Housing
15126 Beckett Road

Seagoville, Texas 75159
(972) 287-2059 Fax: (972) 287-7682

http://www.ehcd.com/resources/ecologyhousing.html

The Natural Place Environmental Residence and Hotel

1962 NE 5th St.
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
954-428-5438

http://www.thenaturalplace.com/default.htm

Safer Building & Regulations

Alliance for Healthy Homes

http://www.afhh.org/

American Lung Association: Resources & Referrals for and from the Master Home Environmentalist program.
http://tinyurl.com/5vvk9e

Architectural House Plans Healthy Homes Construction Guidelines

Information: http://tinyurl.com/6dteuz

Booklet: http://www.architecturalhouseplans.com/products/

Assessment of the Indoor Air Quality of a Suite for an Environmentally Hypersensitive Occupant

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

Considerations For Safer Construction And Renovation By Preston Sturgis
http://www.environmentalhealth.ca/w9394safer.html

Dr. Grace Ziem’s Environmental Control Plan for MCS Patients

http://www.mcsrr.org/resources/articles/S3.html

The Eco Building Guild

http://www.ecobuilding.org/

The Effect of Housing on Individuals with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

http://tinyurl.com/6gor7u

Building for Health Materials Center
http://www.buildingforhealth.com/

Environmental Home Center
http://tinyurl.com/5ssv8a

Heal Your Home Center

http://tinyurl.com/6dteuz

The Healthy Housing Coalition: Basic Needs for Rental Housing for Chemically Sensitive Persons

http://www.herc.org/hhc/Basicrentalneeds.html

Healthy Housing Practical Tips

http://tinyurl.com/5bfgzd

IEQ Indoor Environmental Quality

http://ieq.nibs.org/ieq_project.pdf

International Institute for Building Biology and Ecology

http://www.buildingbiology.net/

LEED® Canada Green Building Rating System

http://www.cagbc.org/leed/systems/index.htm

The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities: Building codes, regulations and guidelines

http://tinyurl.com/6ztmqh

Moving House - Things To Look For If You Suffer From MCS

http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/article.cfm?id=147

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS): The Controversy and Relation to Interior Design

http://www.idec.org/publication/JIDarticleMCS.pdf

Optimum Environments for Optimum Health &Creativity: Designing and Building a Healthy Home or Office, William J. Rea, M.D.

http://www.ehcd.com/books/home_building_designing.html

Recommended Architectural Features for Multi-Family Housing to Better Accommodate Chemical and Electrical Sensitivities, Susan Molloy, M.A,

http://www.ctaz.com/~bhima/recommcshous.htm

Research House for the Environmentally Hypersensitive

http://tinyurl.com/5prrv3

Safer Construction Tips for the Environmentally Sensitive

http://tinyurl.com/5tgx7l

Understanding & Accommodating People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in Independent Living, Chapter 4, The Housing Challenge in MCS

http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/bookshelf/MCS.html#chapter4

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development National Healthy Homes Conference

http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/2008NHHC.cfm

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Healthy Housing Reference Manual

http://tinyurl.com/5apna5

Builders and Building Material Suppliers

Green Building Store

http://www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk/naturalpaints.php

Healthy Buildings, Inc (Air Quality Testing)

http://www.healthybuilding.com/html/about_us.html

Resources for the Chemically Injured: Building Materials

http://www.lassentech.com/eibuld.html

Tad Taylor’s Healthy Homes, LLC

http://www.healthy-homes.com/

Other Housing Resources

Extreme Home Makeover

http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index?pn=apply

Ontario Human Rights Code: Policy and Guidelines on Disability and the Duty to Accommodate Non-Evident Disabilities

http://tinyurl.com/6ejep8

Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Persons with Disabilities (Canada).

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/prfinas/prfinas_003.cfm

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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Researchers attempt to solve the mystery of autism
http://www.insidebayarea.com/health/ci_11051689

Hairspray is linked to common genital birth defect, says study
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-11/icl-hil112108.php

Fact or Fiction?: Cell Phones Can Cause Brain Cancer
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=fact-or-fiction-cell-phones-can-cause-brain-cancer

Making Scents of Fragrances
http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=9392487&nav=menu157_2

Where there's wildfire smoke, there's toxicity
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-11/uosc-wtw111908.php

Improved IQ On IAQ
http://www.todaysfacilitymanager.com/tfm_08_11_fmissue.php

There are studies. And then there are studies.
http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/11/there-are-studies-and-then-the.htm

Traffic pollution makes asthma symptoms worse in children: study
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/11/13/traffic-pollution.html

Hazardous Chemical Incidents in Schools --- United States, 2002--2007
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5744a1.htm?s_cid=mm5744a1_x

Researchers raise alarm after chemical leak found in common plastic
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081107.CHEMICAL07/TPStory/Environment

MEPs back toxic pesticide ban despite industry pressure
http://euobserver.com/19/27056

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Featured Research Studies

J Sleep Res. 2008 Oct 7. [Epub ahead of print]

Are patients with chronic fatigue syndrome just 'tired' or also 'sleepy'?

Neu D, Hoffmann G, Moutrier R, Verbanck P, Linkowski P, LE Bon O.

University Hospital Brugmann, Sleep Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B), Brussels, Belgium.

It is presently unclear whether chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients exhibit daytime sleepiness in addition to fatigue. Both, fatigue, such as that seen in CFS patients, and excessive daytime sleepiness, such as in sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS), remain poorly understood. Both daytime conditions are generally related to unrefreshing sleep and show affective symptoms.

This study's objective was to contribute to the understanding of the relationship between fatigue and sleepiness in CFS patients not co-morbid for primary sleep or psychiatric disorders.

We compared 16 untreated CFS patients (mean age 32.8, all females) with 13 untreated SAHS (mean age 47.7, all females) patients and 12 healthy controls (mean age 32.2, all females). Objective sleepiness was measured using multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT). Subjective sleepiness and fatigue were assessed with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Fatigue Severity Scale, respectively. Mean Sleep Latency (SL) on the MSLT was significantly shorter in SAHS patients than in CFS patients and CFS patients showed significantly shorter mean SL than matched controls but within normal range. Subjective sleepiness was greatest in SAHS patients and subjective fatigue was highest in CFS patients. Affective symptoms showed highest intensities in CFS patients.

While higher than the control group on all measures, compared to SAHS, the CFS group had higher subjective fatigue and lower subjective and objective sleepiness. Despite possible overlap in symptoms and signs of both daytime conditions, our data indirectly support the clinical distinction between fatigue and sleepiness.

PMID: 19021860 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Med Hypotheses. 2008 Nov 12. [Epub ahead of print]

Clinical trials validate the severity of persistent Lyme disease symptoms.

Cameron DJ.

First Medical Associates, 175 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549, United States.

BACKGROUND: Persistent Lyme Disease Symptoms (PLDS) have included fatigue, headaches, poor concentration and memory, lightheadedness, joint pain, and mood disturbances. Evidence-based guidelines committees disagree over the severity of PLDS. The 2004 International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) concluded that PLDS are severe. The 2006 Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) guidelines committee concluded that PLDS are nothing more than the "aches and pains of daily living" and an ad hoc International Lyme group concluded that PLDS are "symptoms common in persons who have never had Lyme disease."

HYPOTHESIS: Clinical trials validate the severity of persistent Lyme disease symptoms.

EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS: There are 22 standardized instruments used to measure the severity of PLDS among the four published National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs).

VALIDATING THE HYPOTHESIS: All four NIH sponsored RCTs validate the severity of PLDS. PLDS are as severe as symptoms seen in other serious chronic illnesses, and result in a quality of life lower than for the general population as determined by 22 standardized measures of QOL, including fatigue, pain, role function, psychopathology, and cognition. None of the four RCTs support the IDSA hypothesis that PLDS are nothing more than "the aches and pains of daily living" nor the ad hoc International Lyme group conclusion that PLDS are "symptoms common in persons who have never had Lyme disease."

IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOTHESIS: If the QOL of life for these patients is as poor as for patients with other serious chronic diseases, their symptoms need to be addressed by their doctors. Studies differ as to the precise cause of PLDS, the most effective treatments, and whether a cure is possible. But the fact that there is disagreement is not a license for physicians to ignore or turn away patients complaining of PLDS, or to dismiss their symptoms as purely psychosomatic. For physicians, the goal or purpose of treating PLDS should be the same as their purpose in treating other chronic illnesses that result in a poor QOL: vigorous pursuit of a cure, and where a cure proves impossible, amelioration of patients' symptoms and suffering. Even if this hypothesis fails to be apply to more than a fraction of the total Lyme disease population, this still represents a significant number of patients, and these findings could address a neglected aspect of caring for patients with Lyme disease.

PMID: 19013025 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Biol Res Nurs. 2008 Nov 17. [Epub ahead of print]

Hemodynamic Response to Postural Shift in Women with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.

McFetridge-Durdle J, Routledge F, Sampalli T, Fox R, Livingston H, Adams B.

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic condition prevalent in women; the symptoms are reproducible with repeated low-level chemical exposure. Evidence gathered through clinical observations suggests that women with MCS may be at risk for autonomic nervous system dysfunction as evidenced by abnormal heart rate and pulse pressure responses to exercise.

The primary objective of this study was to describe the hemodynamic response to postural shift in 17 women with MCS.

Using impedance cardiography, hemodynamic measures were taken while sitting and immediately upon standing. The hemodynamic response to standing was increased heart rate (p < .0001), decreased stroke volume (p = .002), decreased left ventricular ejection time (p < .0001), increased diastolic blood pressure (p = .01), and increased systemic vascular resistance (p =.002).

Although this pattern of hemodynamic response was normal, the magnitude of the changes was considerably less than those observed previously in healthy participants. These findings warrant further investigation.

PMID: 19017670 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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