MCSA NEWS
– Online Edition
July 2009, Volume
4, Issue 7
Entire PDF Edition: http://mcs-america.org/July2009.pdf (View, Download, and
Print)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Research
Metaphors Define Life Changes After Chemical Injury
The History
of Social Security Disability
Doctors
Asking for More Education
Risk
Factors for Sick Building Syndrome
Welcome to
MCS Time to Look at Your Bathroom in a Different Light
Building
Renovations Cause Inflammation
Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome Treatment Efficacy
Q&A
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Under the Americans with
Disabilities Act
Q&A
Are My Veggies Really Organic
Japan
Officially Recognizes MCS
Lives
Uncommon Call for Stories
Research
Metaphors Define Life Changes After Chemical Injury
Crystal Arnold and
Lynn Shaw of The University of Western Ontario, and Gerald Landry of the Canadian
Injured Workers’ Alliance, performed research to explore the transitions and life
experiences in everyday living of an injured worker suffering from multiple
chemical sensitivity
(MCS).
The researchers
used metaphors to facilitate the subject’s expression of deep thoughts and
feelings. This helped them to understand
the transition process from a worker to participating in daily life without
work.
The subject was
employed in the building trade prior to developing MCS as a result of 30 yeas
of exposure to solvents and neurotoxins associated with his work. The subject was forced to resign due to the
accumulation of chemical exposures which led to chronic fatigue, chronic lactic
acidosis, potassium sensitivity, short-term memory loss, cognitive problems,
and hypersensitivity to chemicals (MCS) that leads to headaches, joint
dislocation, “brain fog” (mind feeling “fuzzy”), redness in the face, nausea,
numbness in the face and tongue, and vertigo.
Prior to leaving
work, he attempted to negotiate certain jobs which had less potential for
continued exposure to chemicals. He said
there were inconsistencies at work in the management of chemical exposures and
safety measures to protect workers.
Consistent with
similar cases, financial ruin ensued. He
received disability insurance for 6 months and then had no income for the
following 3 ½ years during which he was unable to work. His telephone and electric services were
disconnected.
Asked to use a
metaphor to describe the transition from being a worker to being an injured
worker, he said:
“Being as Free as a Bird, to being a Confined
Caged Animal”
He viewed being a worker
as being free as a bird, something natural that he was born to do. After going on leave, he felt confined like a
caged animal with no choice. Part of this
confinement was financial, part due to the great difficulty it takes to avoid
chemical exposures in the world. This
was further compounded by the stigmatization of having a disability which is
invisible to the naked eye.
Asked to choose a metaphor for what he learned after becoming
chemically injured, he cited:
“Learning that Life
is Not a Bowl of Cherries”
This emphasizes the
great feat of regaining function in everyday life. These functions include how to shop and prepare
foods, managing flare-ups, planning ahead, obtaining assistance and
accommodations, and figuring out new ways to socialize.
When asked what it was like to try to live in everyday life since his
injury, the metaphor he chose was:
“Trying to Live in
a Glass Bubble”
This described the constant process of
negotiating accommodations for accessibility to places and seeking a “glass
bubble” where his symptoms are relieved.
Shopping in stores and accessing places such as public transportation is
nearly impossible without suffering chemical exposures, requiring him to gain a
heightened awareness of potential fume exposure risks. He cited soaps, laundry products, inks on
labels, perfumes worn by others, and newly painted places as problematic.
Even Christmas gifts had to be taken out
of his home and returned to the store to avoid neurotoxic reactions. Avoidance, he says, is the safety
strategy.
Eventually, injured workers move beyond
trying to function in everyday life to a new social role and become an activist
in the cause to educate others. The
metaphor he chose for this is:
“Going Through the Grinder”
According to the researchers, “At each interaction with health and safety
providers, he suffered due to stigma, was disbelieved, and was confronted by
providers that had less knowledge than he did about chemical injuries. The injured worker explained: The Respirologist
looked at me like I was talking Martian when I questioned him 3 times to be
referred to someone who dealt with [a] Chemical Solvent injury. He never
responded, was silent with no response. Three days later
[and] two evenings in a row I was in ER with Cardiac, respiratory symptoms.”
The sheer lack of knowledge and adequate
health care pushed him to become educated about his condition and to work to
educate others. For this he chose the
metaphor:
“Becoming his Brother’s Keeper”
The described his passion to advocate and
provide for others in the injured worker population. Many organizations are founded on this stage
of becoming our brother’s keeper.
MCS is a profound and debilitating
condition marked by severe life changes and stigma from others who don’t
understand it and sometimes don’t believe it.
In MCS, there is a
reduced ability to clear xenobiotics, which are foreign matter such as
chemicals and drugs. The same dose of a chemical may not produce
symptoms in a non-MCS person because their liver can break down the
substance rapidly. Whereas, a person with MCS cannot break it down
quickly, leading to systemic build-up and toxic effects.
Part of this reduced ability to break
substances down is due to cellular inflammation, malabsorption, and other
systemic changes caused by the chemical injury. Replacing nutrients specific
to liver function and antioxidants in higher doses is often recommended by
treating physicians familiar with the condition.
Detoxification through sauna therapy
and other means is generally also recommended.
The number one treatment is avoidance, which means making the home
chemical free and avoiding exposures outside the home. Exposures to all chemicals should be avoided,
even those for which one is not yet sensitized.
This is because people with MCS are easily sensitized to additional classes
of chemicals.
Taking protective
measures from chemical exposures, limiting the use of fragrances and
pesticides, and avoiding occupations in which chemical exposure is imminent are
the best defenses to protect against chemical injury and developing MCS.
To use another metaphor, developing MCS is
like:
“Getting Cooked in the Squat”
Reference
The
History of Social Security Disability
When Congress originally passed the Social
Security Act in the 1930's it did not provide any disability benefits, only
retirement income for people over 65. In
the 1960's it was amended to also allow for recovery of the same benefit amount
that would be realized on retirement, if a wage earner became unable to
continue to work prior to age 65 due to physical or mental impairments.
In the 1970's, provisions were added for
payment of fees for people representing a claimant in a successful disability
claim, to be limited to 25% of the total recovery in retroactive benefits. Attorneys were able to receive the fees
directly from the government out of the client’s retroactive benefit check,
subject to approval of a fee petition itemizing the time spent on the
claim.
In 1979 vocational rules were added to
eliminate the need to have vocational experts at every hearing. I will go into more on this later.
In the 1980's the rules for mental
impairments were changed which had the effect of making it a bit easier to win
cases in which mental impairments were present.
In the 1990's, recovery was eliminated for
persons whose disability was solely due to drug or alcohol addiction. Attorneys fees were
also modified to allow an automatic payment not to exceed 25% of retroactive
benefits provided that the attorney agreed to cap the fees at $4,000, which has
since been raised to $5,300. Later, a
“user fee” of $75 was attached to the direct payment option, to be deducted
from the attorney’s fee. .
More recently, non attorneys who have been
certified by the Social Security Administration to function as representatives
were allowed to be paid on the same basis as attorneys. Direct payment of fees was also now allowed
on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims.
Procedures Used to Evaluate Disability
In order to be determined to be “disabled”
under the Social Security Act for either “disability benefits (SSDI) or
Supplemental Security Income benefits (SSI), a five step Sequential Evaluation
procedure is employed.
Step One:
Work
The first step is to determine if the
claimant is performing what is called “Substantial Gainful Activity
(SGA)”. SGA is defined as work in
“competitive employment” at which the individual is earning a certain minimum
monthly amount in gross wages (before deductions). The current monthly amount is about
$900.
“Competitive employment” means employment
that exists in the general employment marketplace and excludes “sympathetic
employment” and employment in “vocational workshops.” This may have particular application to MCS
sufferers who require extensive special accommodations to work, or who are
allowed to work from home.
If the claimant is “working” under this
definition, he/she is not considered “disabled” and no benefits are
payable.
Step Two: Severe Medically Determinable
Impairment.
The second step is to determine if the claimant
has a “severe impairment” and also to determine it that impairment is
“medically determinable.” The “severe”
requirement was used at first to eliminate many claims but was later limited by
the courts to be an initial screening device to weed out frivolous claims.
Pretty much anything that substantially
limits your ability to work in a competitive job setting is considered to be “severe”, and that is not usually a stumbling block, although
I have seen some MCS cases denied at least initially on that basis.
The “medically determinable” requirement,
however, is a real problem for MCS cases. I will be writing an article devoted
to this topic for later. For now, just
keep it in mind as, if you are found not to have an impairment which is
“medically determinable”, the entire case ends at this stage and you receive nothing no matter how
severely you may be limited by your impairments.
Step Three: Listings of Impairments.
Social Security has promulgated a complex
set of rules which are known as the “Listings of Impairments” or “Listings” for
short. There are separate Listings for
adults and children. These were written
by medical doctors and are broken down into various body systems such as
musculoskeletal, respiratory, endocrine, mental ,
etc.
There is no listing for MCS, and therefore
this section does not directly apply to those cases. However, the mental
impairment Listings are often used in MCS cases so if you are willing to go
that route, this is an option.
If you are found to meet all of the
criteria of a “Listing”, you are automatically found to be ‘disabled’ and the
case ends. You win.
Step Four: Past Relevant Work
Assuming you survive the first two steps,
and did not win automatically at Step Three, the next step is to look at what is
called your “Past Relevant Work (PRW).
PRW means any job that you have done in the past fifteen years, which
was “competitive employment.” It excludes
jobs which were performed for four months or less and ended due to the
impairment. These are classified as
“unsuccessful work attempts” and do not count against you.
The thing to bear in
mind here is that if you had a job in the more distant past but still within
fifteen years of the date of your application for benefits which was less
rigorous than the job you were doing just before you finally left work, it
could be found that you could return to that job even if you can’t do your more
recent work. This is usually not a big issue in MCS cases but can be critical
in FMS and/CFS claims or if your symptoms from the MCS include things like
fatigue and/or restrictions on lifting, walking, standing, etc.
One unresolved issue in MCS cases is work
from home. So far, work from home not considered to be “competitive employment”. However, as time goes on and work from home
becomes more frequent, that could change, which could dramatically affect MCS
cases in particular.
Step Five: Vocational
Up to now, the claimant, (which is you)
had the burden of proof to get past the first four steps. If the case is still alive at that point, the
burden of proof shifts to the Social Security Administration (SSA) to prove
that there are jobs that you could still do.
(To be continued next month.)
Doctors
Asking for More Education
Over 60% of general practitioners surveyed
in
More than half of these physicians
recognize that these patients are in a chronic condition which requires medical
intervention. Yet, they feel that they
are rarely able to meet healthcare expectations for this population and the
majority refer the patient to other specialists.
Unable to efficiently break down foreign
matter, such as chemicals and drugs, people with MCS suffer from symptoms of
toxicity upon exposure to chemical materials such as perfume, scented products,
cleaning agents, air “fresheners”, solvents, pesticides, and petroleum products.
MCS is a frustrating and often
misunderstood illness that steels away life.
One’s place in the world as they knew it is replaced by isolation and
symptoms ranging from headaches to balance problems and seizures. The
neurological effects of chemical exosure are most profoundly disabling in a
world where chemicals are pervasive in every environment.
“Chemo fog” is a term most are familiar
with. It describes the slow and muddy
brain function which is the result of toxic chemotherapy drugs. MCS has a similar term, “brain fog”, which
occurs as a result of chemical exposure.
People with MCS are unable to break down
and clear foreign matter like healthy counterparts. Even a tiny amount of a chemical, such as
breathing the chemicals in a scented hand lotion worn by another person in the
same room, will cause a toxic reaction.
This has been linked both to genetic variation and to physical damage
done by single large doses of specific chemicals or chronic low-dose exosure.
The majority of general practitioners cite
the cause of MCS as multi-factorial and biological, recommending partial or
complete avoidance of chemical exposures.
Because general practitioners are not well
schooled on management of this group of patients, they feel they have little to
offer. Nearly 85% have requested more
knowledge, such as clinical guidelines, diagnostic tools, and more research
into the pathophysiology of MCS.
Reference
Skovbjerg S, Duus
Johansen J, Rasmussen A, Thorsen H, Elberling J. General
practitioners' experiences with provision of healthcare to patients with
self-reported multiple chemical sensitivity. Scand J Prim Health Care.
2009 May 18:1-5.
Risk Factors For
Sick Building
Researchers have discovered certain risk
factors associated with the development of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).
Nakayama and colleagues at the
Department of Social and Environmental Medicine,
All of these exposures are
toxic to the human body and produce negative, and sometimes permanently
disabling, health effects.
According to the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), sick building syndrome occurs when building occupants
experience acute health and comfort effects linked to time spent in a
building. The EPA cites the cause of
sick building syndrome as toxic exposure due to inadequate ventilation and both
chemical and biological contaminants.
Homes and offices often contain
toxic materials such as flame retardants, furniture treatments, cleaning
products, pesticides, building materials, and molds.
If at all possible, windows
should be opened regularly. However, in
our increasing zeal to reduce energy usage, we have unknowingly created
hermetically sealed, toxic traps.
It is typical for symptoms to
be relieved soon after leaving a sick building.
This may cause delayed diagnosis, particularly in offices where symptoms
may initially be cast off as burn out or work overload by weary workers. Feeling better over the weekend may be
likened to a dislike for work, when in reality toxic exposures from the
building are slowly poisoning the oupants.
The EPA cites three indicators of SBS:
- Building occupants complain of symptoms associated with
acute discomfort, e.g., headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry
cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in
concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors.
- The
cause of the symptoms is not linked to a known medical condition.
- Most of the complainants report relief soon after leaving
the building.
Nakayama and colleagues suggest
that improvement of SBS symptoms might be obtained through modification. Lifestyle and building modifications may
include:
- Discontinue the use of chemical air fresheners,
pesticides, cleaners, and solvents in favor of green and natural
alternatives.
- Open windows regularly.
- Increase ventilation rates and use the
“open” vent setting on the HVAC.
- Install an air purification system on
the central HVAC.
- Place additional portable air
purifiers in problem areas.
- Regularly check for and remediate
leaks, mold, and mildew.
- Take frequent fresh air breaks.
- Choose low-VOC and no-VOC paints and
building materials.
- Evacuate occupants during building
renovations.
- Do not return to a building that
causes symptoms.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Get lots of rest.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Ensure adequate exercise.
Reference
Nakayama K, Morimoto K. Risk factor
for lifestyle and way of living for symptoms of sick building syndrome:
epidemiological survey in
Welcome
to MCS Time to Look at Your Bathroom in
a Different Light
Intro
For many people who have had MCS for some
time, they have slowly made their living space their sanctuary. For those who
are newly diagnosed, things are going to be different, and need to be for you
to stay as well as possible. That means looking at your home in a different
light. This series of articles will walk through the kinds of elements that I
look for in a healthy house and where the potential problems lie within a home.
We will focus on the sneaky things that you may have missed in your own process
as well.
Bathroom
The bathroom is a very important part of
the house as it has many potential hazards with water, chemicals, water vapor
in the air, and ventilation. It is also one of the rooms that everyone visits,
so if it’s not healthy, it will impact everyone in the household.
Water, Water, Everywhere
It’s no coincidence that the average
bathroom has the underwater theme with fishes and watery creatures everywhere,
because it is the wettest room in the house what with baths, showers, washing,
and toilets, it’s the room that takes the biggest beating from moisture and
water, and has the best chance for failure.
The Tub
The tub and often time’s shower are together as one unit. If you have two
separate fixtures, the same information applies to both. The tub flexes in
place, even though it’s made of steel. The surrounding wall can be made up of
plastic, panel board or tiles. These wall elements don’t really move much, so
this is why at the joint between the tub and the wall, there needs to be some
sort of flexible barrier system to stop the water from gaining access to the
dark recesses behind the walls. This barrier is called caulking.
Inspecting the caulking should be carried out on a regular basis. If you
can get a fingernail behind the caulking, that means
that water can get behind as well, which means that you could have a water issue
behind your walls. If your caulking is looking loosey
goosey then change it out. I recommend zero VOC caulking of which there are
more and more brands becoming available at green and regular building supply
stores.
If you can’t find any locally or on the internet and are desperate consider
using aquarium caulking, available at any pet store. It should be lower VOC
than normal, since it doesn’t kill the fish.
But still, use it as a last resort.
Always test the caulking outside on a piece of cardboard or such first to
see how you react. Follow the steps outlined in the “Beginning Work in Your
House” articles on how to prepare the area. Removal of the old caulking can be
done with specific tools or plastic scrapers. The old caulking must be removed prior
to installing new caulking. When installing new caulking along the tub/wall
line, fill the tub right full of water as this helps lower the tub so that the
caulking has the widest gap to work with. Get into the tub to caulk as well if
you can to maximize that flex. (This might take some persuasive talking to your
contractor however!) Now your tub will be able to handle you and the weight of
the water for a much longer time, and flex within it’s
normal range of movement. Don’t forget when caulking to look around the taps
and spout as well, as these are openings into the walls, and any holes, are
points of potential failure.
The walls need inspecting too, and if they
are plastic may need to be caulked, especially if they are the multi-piece
units, which MUST be inspected regularly as they are notorious for failure. The more pieces, the more problems. For those with tiles,
the grout must be inspected periodically for cracks, loose tiles, and other
signs of failure. If you have any of these, have the grout redone around the
loose areas.
So what is the best way to inspect? It’s
actually at the end of each shower or bath. You should wipe down the walls
after each shower regardless of the type of wall system you have. A $2 squeegee
will take most of the water off the walls, and prevent that build up of molds
and yucky stuff on your nice grout work and reduce the likelihood of
failure. So, it’s a no brainer.
All that mold on the grout work arises from when
you turn the shower off. There is no longer any momentum for the water on the
walls to run down, so it goes slowly. It goes slow enough that it stops when it
hits the caulking and doesn’t have the momentum to keep going into the tub. It
sits there with some soap scum and skin cells and it’s a little party zone for
mold and that’s what takes hold. By wiping down the walls, you are removing the
water that can help create that habitat, and controlling mold in the bathtub
safely and chemically free.
Shower Filters
Approximately 70% of your chlorine exposure happens in the shower. That’s a
lot of chlorine, especially when you are actually absorbing it through your
pores rather than drinking it like we do with tap water. The hot water through
the aerator in your showerhead volatilizes the chlorine and makes it aerosolize
so that your skin absorbs it directly. Add to this the poly vinyl chloride
shower curtain breaking down in hot humid situations and you have a massive
exposure.
If you are on city water, you can filter it with a shower filter. They
range in price from $25-50, the ones I’ve seen easily install in a few minutes.
Unscrew your showerhead, screw on the filter, screw on the showerhead and you
are done. Change the filter every few months, just like your furnace filter, or
water filter in the kitchen and you are good to go. You may very well notice
the difference in your skin and hair right away.
Shower Curtains
As mentioned, plastic shower curtains are toxic and impacting you. I
recommend switching out to a cloth, cotton, hemp, or other natural fabric shower
curtain alone, and skip the plastic. Regular fabric works fine as a shower
curtain. You simply have to remember to pull it out of the tub to dry after the
bulk of the water has dried off. This way the lower part touching the tub will
dry and you won’t have it getting musty and yucky. You can throw it in the
washing machine periodically as well. A more lasting solution is to switch to a
glass door set up so that you can just wipe it clean like the walls.
Moisture Control
Bathroom fans are critical to move moist
air out of a house. If moisture builds
up, especially in the warm weather, it creates a potential for mold growth
within the space and beyond. If there is laundry in the bathroom or it is
connected directly to a bedroom, it will create a higher potential for mold
growth, as the dust and debris of clothes provide the food source and home for
mold, with the elevated moisture content in the air being absorbed by the
clothing.
Bathroom fans are ideally hardwired into
the switch so that they are operating at all times, and cannot be turned off.
It is important to get a quiet fan so that the noise is tolerable. Fans are
rated in sones for noise,
and the quieter the fan, the better.
You can also find fans that have external motors,
which can be installed in the attic, to reduce noise in the bathroom. Bathroom
fans should be able to hold a piece of paper with the draw, according to Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation. This means the fan has the capability of
removing the moisture in an average sized small bathroom. The fan housing
should also be airtight to the drywall, meaning the metal box should be sealed
to the drywall with tape, or spray foam or such,
otherwise it could be drawing air from the attic into the bathroom, reducing
the efficiency of the unit and impacting air quality.
Many people will just open a window and
consider that to be enough of a moisture control. That might work if the window
is facing the opposite direction of the prevailing winds, meaning, it’s actually
drawing out. My bathroom window faces west, towards our prevailing winds, so it
just pulls air in, not out, and doesn’t offer me much of a moisture exhaust.
Ensure your “natural solution” actually is a solution, and if so, maximize it
by putting a fan in the window blowing out.
Carpets
Carpets should not be installed in
bathrooms, under any situation. The days of grandma’s shag green carpet, toilet
seat cover, and such are long gone. These soft goods take up water, dust, skin
and hair and create perfect biological breeding grounds for just about
everything. Little rugs to stand on when you step out of the shower are fine,
as they can go in the washing machine periodically. Keep the floors to solid
surface such as tile, linoleum (made from linseed oil, versus the petroleum
based poly vinyl chloride), cork, or other natural based chemical free
flooring. These flooring types make it easier to clean, reduce concerns with
water spilling and create naturally beautiful spaces.
Plants
Plants are a great addition to any
bathroom. Typically there is enough moisture in the air for many water-loving
plants to thrive. They also have the ability to improve air quality in a home
as long as they are not over watered thereby creating a mold situation.
Personal Care Products
Although this is mostly a building column, personal care products have a
massive impact on environmental health and this is typically where you store
all of them. Most personal care products are unregulated, and have unproven
(from a safety perspective) chemical ingredients. Don’t put anything on your
body unless you are willing to eat it.
You are absorbing it one way or the other. If you can’t pronounce or
find the ingredients, it’s probably bad for you. Stick only to natural based
and ideally organic products for your safety and well being.
Water Efficiency
Water efficiency is a major issue, since
many people with environmental sensitivities can be financially impacted. If
you are paying for water, you should consider reducing your costs. This can
involve more water efficient toilets for example such as dual flush, or very low flush toilets such as 4.8L or 1.3gal
toilets. Your showerhead, a virtual oasis some days can also be reduced to even
1.5gal/min and still deliver outstanding pressure and feel. Keeping the sink
tap off while brushing your teeth, and getting a more
efficient aerator on it will reduce your operating costs as well as do
something good for the environment. Many municipalities have rebates for
toilets and such. Look into it and save
some money.
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,
705-652-5159
Building
Renovations Cause Inflammation
Most people look upon renovating, cleaning,
and scenting our living space as a positive.
However, scientists say that these simple activities are increasingly
linked to poor indoor air quality and health impairment.
Herberth and colleagues at the Helmholtz
Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig in
Renovation activities studied included
painting, flooring, and new furniture.
Most of us are aware of the toxic
substances in paint, which may include fungicides, mildewicides,
toxic chemicals, cancer causing agents, and even fragrances.
The more versed in green living are likely
familiar with flooring concerns, which extend from glues used to tack the
flooring down to petroleum based plastics and formaldehyde used in the
manufacturing process.
New furniture, however, may not seem to be
a concern until one investigates and discovers that it is frequently loaded
with formaldehyde, mildewicides, flame retardants,
and other chemical treatments. Even
so-called organic furniture must be treated with flame retardants by law. Chemically untreated furniture, particularly
beds, requires a prescription from a medical doctor.
Cytokine blood concentrations showed
increased levels of IL-8 and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) in children's blood. These increased levels were related to new
flooring and carpeting and mark inflammatory reactions.
Inflammatory reactions may lead to upper
airway disease, asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems. Serious inflammatory reactions involving the
brain could be life threatening.
The best way to prevent inflammatory
reactions is to limit renovation act ivies, choose safer building materials,
and ensure adequate ventilation. Keeping
vents and windows open may not be the most economical way to keep the power
bill down, however it dramatically increases air flow. Whole house and room air filters may also be
useful.
Reference
Herberth G, Gubelt R, Röder S, Krämer U, Schins RP, Diez U, Borte M, Heinrich J, Wichmann HE,
Herbarth O, Lehmann I; for
the LISAplus study group. Increase of
inflammatory markers after indoor renovation activities: The LISA birth cohort
study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2009 May 31.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment
Efficacy
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is an
illness primarily characterized by profound, debilitating fatigue which has been
ongoing for at least 6 months and is not relieved by rest. Other symptoms
include:
Cognitive difficulties, impaired memory, and poor
concentration.
- Postexertional malaise (exhaustion and increased symptoms) lasting more than 24
hours following physical or mental exercise.
- Unrefreshing sleep.
- Joint pain
(without redness or swelling).
- Persistent muscle
pain.
- Headaches of a new
type or severity.
- Tender cervical or
axillary lymph nodes.
- Sore throat.
More than 4 million Americans suffer from
CFS and over 2.5% of the population aged 18-59 years meet the diagnostic
criteria.
The pathogenesis
of CFS is uncertain and is likely multi-factorial. Conditions that have
been proposed to trigger the development of CFS include viral infection, immune
disorders, hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction, and toxic
exposure.
Bjorkum, Wang, and
One such
treatment, graded exercise therapy, is based on the mistaken assumption that
fatigue is the result of lack of exercise.
Yet, many people diagnosed with chronic fatigue lived active lifestyles
or were former athletes who were in top shape when they became fatigued. Graded exercise therapy was not only
ineffective, but 80% report that it caused deterioration
of their condition.
Based on the
mistaken assumption that the fatigue is mental fatigue, another common
treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, was shown to be ineffective. Cognitive behavioral
therapy is a psychological treatment where the patient learns to identify
dysfunctional thoughts and attitudes and then to challenge then. It is often used to treat illnesses for which
doctors have not yet discovered the cause. While it was useful by roughly half of
CFS patients to
improve outlook and overall coping with the limitations of illness, it did not
improve the fatigue and symptoms of CFS.
Instead, rest
helped 97% and pacing, a method of managing energy output so that output does
not exceed available energy, was top rated by 96%. Until a cause and cure can be found, patients
are therefore best off limiting energy expenditures and getting plenty of
rest.
Reference
Bjørkum T, Wang CE,
Q&A Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
Q:
Can my multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) be
reasonably accommodated under the Americans with Disabilities Act (
A: Yes, MCS may be reasonably accommodated. The challenge is
that employers generally don't want to accommodate disabilities. It's not
the ease of simple and reasonable accommodations that is the issue. It's the fact that employers just refuse to
provide them and view people with MCS (and other disabilities) as a lawsuit
risk and try to push them out of the company or school in favor of someone else
who "won't be such a hassle".
It's discrimination and most faced with
needing accommodations for work are really faced with a choice. Do I try to work without accommodations and
harm my health? Do I try to work without
Accommodations and get fired for not being productive as a result of
exposures? Or, do I ask for
accommodations and know I'll be intentional stressed and hassled to encourage
me to quit, if I'm not fired directly?
Unfortunately, despite recent changes, the
A simple letter from a doctor
stating the nature of the condition and accommodations needed should suffice
under the law. But in the experience of many who have shared their
stories, they are told they need a second medical opinion and then they can be
accommodated.
So, time and money waste while
a second opinion is obtained and they say "that's not good enough, now we
need a copy of your lab tests that PROVE you have the condition."
More time and money passes and
the doctor explains how MCS is diagnosed and shows copies of various abnormal
results or hospitalizations due to exposures and then they ask for a specific list
of each and every product which causes a reaction and exactly what the symptoms
are for each one. They want the products, not the chemical class in
general. In other words, the list would be thousands of products
long.
Then, while time is wasted getting
all that, they want a third opinion.
These are all stalling tactics
designed to avoid giving needed accommodations.
In the meantime, months, if not years, have passed. It would be less time consuming and costly for
employers and schools if accommodations were just simply made. If it's a
school, the person either long left the school or graduated without ever
getting accommodated.
A person with MCS is literally tortured during
this time with one burden after the next after the next while trying to
maintain satisfactory work or school performance.
In some cases, administrators
say outright, "MCS doesn't exist, you're just
mentally ill so we don't have to provide accommodations". Then the
battle turns to proving MCS exists.
Irregardless, a mental illness may be reasonably accommodated as a
disability too.
The bottom line is that
administrator simply won't provide the accommodations even though they are easy
and simple things.
This is not limited to MCS. Some employers and schools are so hard nosed
against anyone with a disability that they do everything they can to avoid
giving them what they perceive as "special treatment".
While the “special treatment”
would enable a person with a disability to engage in work or school,
administrators may misinterpret accommodations as somehow providing an unfair
advantage.
Accommodations are made based
on functional limitations, not just a diagnosed condition. In the end, it can be a long and arduous
journey and may not be fruitful.
Generally, accommodations
should be implemented immediately. A
letter or other documentation from a physician may be requested. If it’s not accepted and “proof” or second
opinions are requested, chances are it’s better to go somewhere else unless you
are prepared to be a trail blazer and buckle down for a long battle and hire an
attorney. If, on the other hand, you
don’t have energy for that and are just trying to earn a living, it may be better
to get out early before the stress builds up and adds to your physical
limitations.
Once you have an open and
receptive ear, accommodations can be simple.
Some accommodations may include:
- Sitting near a
window which opens.
- A private office.
- Taking exams in a
private room.
- Disconnecting florescent lights above
your desk.
- Allowing an air filter to be
brought in.
- Requesting staff and visitors
avoid the use of fragranced products.
- Being allowed frequent breaks.
- Being allowed to work from home
some days or all the time.
- Attending meetings via
speakerphone from another room.
- Being reassigned to a position
with less exposure.
For more information about
accommodations for MCS, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, visit the Jobs
Accommodation Network (JAN) at:
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/atoz.htm
Q&A Are My Veggies Really Organic
Q:
What can I do to ensure the fruits and vegetables I’m feeding my family
are really organic?
A: Gardening is the best way to know
where our produce comes from. At home, several large pots or planters can
be used for simple pot gardening. A metal shelving unit may be used
indoors in front of a sunny window and filled with beautiful herbs and
greens.
Many crops can be grown with
minimal root space or depth required. Lettuce and herbs grow well in
pots, as do onions, beets, carrots (if pot is a foot or so deep), and greens,
etc.
Vine crops like squashes and
eggplants and potatoes are the things that would not do as well in
pots.
The best thing about a potted
garden is minimal weeds, minimal pests, and no crawling around on hands and
knees to plant, weed, and harvest.
If yard space is available,
raised beds are a great option. A raised bed can be built to a comfortable height and then most
anything could be grown there.
If you have a large fence, look
into upside down gardening. In this type
of gardening, pots are hung along the wall or on a rod and the plants are grown
out of the bottom of the pot. This is
another way to minimize weeding and save your back and knees from hard
labor.
Even if there is no room at home or other
factors prevent working in the yard, many communities have organic community
gardens where one can pay a nominal fee for a plot to grow organic
produce.
Not only is this a great way to meet
others, these gardens are usually in beautiful, low toxic areas.
Sometimes people share a plot, so even if the labor of maintaining it is not
possible, a call to the local community garden may yield someone who is willing
to share their plot for contributions of seeds, organic fertilizers, and other
supplies.
Regardless of where you live
and your local climate, some gardening is possible either indoors or
outdoors. But, be careful! It may quickly become a passionate pastime!
Japan
Japanese officials at the
This marks the official recognition of the
condition by the Japanese government and improves insurance coverage for
treatment.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) is a
chronic condition with reproducible symptoms in response to low levels of
chemical exposure. These symptoms occur
when the individual is exposed to multiple unrelated chemicals and improve or
resolve when the trigger chemicals are removed.
Multiple organ systems are affected by these exposures.
Products that MCS patients react to
include any quantity of exposures to pesticides, secondhand smoke, alcohol, fresh
paint, scented products and perfumes, candles, fragrances, food preservatives,
flavor enhancers, aerosols, tap water, cosmetics, personal care products, new
carpets, petroleum products, formaldehyde, outdoor pollutants, newspaper ink,
cleaning compounds, printing and office products, and other synthetically
derived chemicals.
A percentage also react to natural products that are highly
concentrated such as natural orange cleaners due to high volatile organic
compound and pesticide concentration. Symptoms can range from minor
annoyances to life-threatening reactions.
Sick house syndrome was previously recognized as a result of indoor air
pollution; however, the government had delayed the recognition of chemical
sensitivity syndrome.
The prevalence of MCS, based on sample populations is 16% of the
population. Gulf War veterans experience
a higher rate at 33%.
People with MCS are less able to clear
toxicants from their body, resulting in a toxic build up akin to chronic
poisoning.
The listing of MCS for medical claims has met with approval from both
patients and the physicians who treat them.
Flu
Shot Linked to Cancer
Getting a flu shot almost doubles the
chance of getting cancer according to Lankes and
colleagues.
In a new study at the Feinberg School of
Medicine of
Receipt of a flu shot increases the risk
of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 53%, follicular lymphoma by 98% percent, and diffuse
large B cell lymphoma by 88%.
It is unclear whether receiving regular
annual flu shots under the CDC’s recommended schedule further compounds the
risk of cancer over a single dose influenza jab.
Last month, other research was released
showing that children who get the flu vaccine are three times more likely to be
hospitalized for the flu. Children with
asthma are even more likely to be hospitalized when they are vaccinated.
Careful consideration must be
given to weight the benefits and disadvantages of the flu shot. All medication have
the potential for adverse side effects.
With the H1N1 swine flu shot
coming soon, it pays to remember that the vaccine will have little or no
short-term testing and absolutely no long-term testing. Several hundred people were paralyzed from
the vaccinations given during the 1976 swine flu outbreak.
Is the flu more dangerous than
the side effects of the vaccine? Does
cancer run in the family? What’s
safer? You be the judge.
To ‘shot’ or not to ‘shot’,
that is the question.
References
American Thoracic Society (2009, May 20).
Children Who Get Flu Vaccine Have Three Times Risk Of Hospitalization For Flu,
Study Suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
Lankes HA, Fought AJ, Evens AM, Weisenburger
DD,
Lives
Uncommon A Call for
Stories
Vanessa Gaudette is writing a book called "Lives
Uncommon". The book will examine
the social impact of environmental illness through the stories of people with EI. Vanessa chose the title to emphasize the
unique circumstances that people with EI face and the creativity needed
overcome them.
Her mission is to have this book create understanding of the urgent need
for proper care and housing for those with EI. It is meant to pull people
out of their complacency, both those with and without EI, to deal with this
issue.
She’s provided the
following guidelines for those interested in submitting stories for possible
publication.
Contribution Guidelines
Stories must be limited to no more than 10 pages, single
sided, single spaced, either Arial 12pt font or handwritten.
Stories are limited to 10 per state. Total 500.
City and state required.
Names and photos are optional.
Email stories attached in a Word 2007 document to
Or mail them to:
V. Gaudette
Stories will not be
taken on the phone; however, questions can be answered at 406-461-1111
Content to Include in
Stories
- How
were you injured or when did you become aware that you were ill.
- How
long have you been ill.
- What
type of EI do you have? (electromagnetic field
sensitivity, chemical sensitivity, etc.)
- How
did you handle the news when you were diagnosed?
- Had
you ever heard of this illness before you were diagnosed?
- How
did you begin to cope and use strategies to modify your life?
- How
did the illness impact or change your life?
- What
has been your experience with treatment in the medical establishment?
- If
you were on a talk show, what would you want to tell the world in 5
minutes or less?
- Looking
back, what advice or resource do you wish you had when you were
first diagnosed?
- Finally,
complete the confidential questionnaire below to help Vanessa determine
the housing status of people with EI.
Resources and Support
MCS
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
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
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mcs-hawaii
Open to the general public residing in
MCS
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MCS-Nebraska
Open to the general public residing in
or subscribe at:
MCS
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mcs-michigan
Open to the general public residing in
Support Forums Outside the
MCS
4Mom
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4MOM/
According to
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
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
MCS
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
Planet
Thrive
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
(
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WSMCSN
WSMCSN
is a decentralized network of groups and individuals in
Additional
Forum Listing Webpage
http://ww.mcs-america.org/forums
Physician & Dentist Referral Lists
Physician Referral 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.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html
The National Association of Clean Air
Agencies 4 Cleaner Air
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
Toxmap Hazardous Waste
Site Locations
http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/main/index.jsp
http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm
Antenna Search (
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
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
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,
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
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
Agent, Working Solutions
http://www.workingsol.com/home.htm
Blogger, PayPerPost.com
http://payperpost.com/blogger_signup.html
http://www.accoladesupport.com/
Caller Employee, Customer Loyalty Concepts
http://www.customloyal.com/Employment.aspx
Chef Instructor, Chefs Line
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
Expert,
JustAnswer Corp
Freelancer, Team Double-Click
http://www.teamdoubleclick.com/freelance.html
Guide, About .com
Guide, ChaCha
Home Agent, Convergys
http://www.convergysworkathome.com/
Telemarketing, Intrep Sales
Partners
Online Juror, eJury.com
Online Juror,
OnlineVerdict.com
Online Juror, Trial
Practice Inc.
Third Party Verifier, BSG Payments LLC
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.
Writer, MyEssays.com
http://www.myessays.com/sell.php
National
Telecommuting Institute, Inc.
Environmentally Safer
Housing
Allergy And Environmental Health
Association Of
http://www.aeha-quebec.ca/bb_housingproject.htm
Barrhaven Non-Profit Housing Inc.
Environmental Sensitivity Units
Steepleview Crossing,
(613) 823-6230 Fax: (613)
825-7724
http://ehaontario.ca/barrhaven-housing.htm
Canada-wide
Housing Connection
1-613-278-0463
http://ehaontario.ca/interview.htm
Ecology House,
(415) 456-4453
Escalante House
Phone/Fax: (435) 826-4778
toripat@color-country.net
Green Homes for
Safe Haven Community Housing
http://www.geocities.com/safehavencommunity/#ntact
The Pandora Initiative (
Quail Haven - MCS Housing
Just North of Tuscon, AZ
Call Diane Ensign for details:
May through January call: (406) 586-3658 (
January through May call: (520) 825-7276 (
http://madelinx.tripod.com/
Seagoville Ecology Housing
(972) 287-2059 Fax: (972)
287-7682
http://www.ehcd.com/resources/ecologyhousing.html
The
954-428-5438
http://www.thenaturalplace.com/default.htm
Safer Building &
Regulations
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
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
The Effect of Housing on Individuals with
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
Building for Health Materials Center
http://www.buildingforhealth.com/
Environmental Home Center
http://tinyurl.com/5ssv8a
Heal Your
The Healthy Housing
Coalition: Basic Needs for Rental
Housing for Chemically Sensitive Persons
http://www.herc.org/hhc/Basicrentalneeds.html
Healthy Housing Practical Tips
IEQ Indoor
Environmental Quality
http://ieq.nibs.org/ieq_project.pdf
International Institute for Building
Biology and Ecology
http://www.buildingbiology.net/
LEED®
http://www.cagbc.org/leed/systems/index.htm
The Medical Perspective on Environmental
Sensitivities: Building codes, regulations
and guidelines
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
Safer Construction Tips for the
Environmentally Sensitive
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
http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/2008NHHC.cfm
Builders and Building
Material Suppliers
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
Other Housing Resources
Extreme Home Makeover
http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index?pn=apply
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
Community News
Subscribe to News
& Media Articles
To receive free daily news and research feeds about MCS & the environment
as they happen,
send an e-mail to:
mcsafeeds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Earth 2100: Is this the Final Century of Our Civilization?"
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Earth2100
Health notes: Bid to beat the electric blues
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1193453/Health-notes-Bid-beat-electric-blues.html
New diesel trucks and buses cut soot and smog more than 90%
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/cleaner-trucks-and-buses
Reading labels can help us avoid toxic ingredients in cosmetics, advocate says
http://www.tampabay.com/features/fashion/article1011333.ece#
Athletes, spectators faced unprecedented air pollution at 2008 Olympic Games
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-06/osu-asf061909.php
Pesticides Linked to Blood Disorder
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/HealthScout/090619/6061906AU.html
Strong perfume spurs Hazmat response
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breaking/Strong-perfume-spurs-Hazmat-response-48630357.html
Film warns we will pay high cost for cheap food: Health consequences are
hidden, director says
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/652503
Phthalates may soften, weaken bones.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/phthalates-plasticize-human-bones/
Documentary tells how
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/06/02/hudson-chemical.html
Analysis Finds Elevated Risk From
Soot Particles in the Air
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/science/earth/03soot.html?ref=us
Featured Research
Studies
Int Arch Occup
Environ Health. 2009 Mar;82(4):509-17. Epub 2008 Aug 28.
Phenotypes of individuals
affected by airborne chemicals in the general population.
Berg ND, Linneberg
A, Dirksen A, Elberling J.
The Danish
Research Centre for Chemical Sensitivities, Gentofte
Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Ledreborg Allé 40, Gentofte, Denmark.
nidrbe01@geh.regionh.dk
OBJECTIVE: To characterise the chemical exposures and symptoms affecting
individuals with subsequent adjustments of social life or occupational
conditions, and further characterise these severely
affected individuals.
METHODS: All
individuals (n = 1,134) who reported symptoms from airborne chemical exposures
in a population-based questionnaire study of 6,000 individuals were included
and dichotomised according to severity. Logistic
regression models were used to characterise the group
of severely affected individuals.
RESULTS:
Severely affected individuals reported more symptoms and exposures related to symptoms
than less severely affected individuals, and the number of symptoms was more
predictive for severity than the number of exposures. Most predictive for the
severity of reported symptoms were CNS-symptoms other than headache (OR = 3.2,
P < 0.001) and exposure to freshly printed papers or magazines (OR = 2.0, P
= 0.001).
CONCLUSION:
CNS-symptoms except from headache were a main characteristic of individuals
severely affected by common chemical exposures in a general population-based
sample.
PMID: 18751996 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE]
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009 May 13. [Epub
ahead of print]
Pituitary response to metyrapone in Gulf War veterans: Relationship to deployment,
PTSD and unexplained health symptoms.
Golier JA, Schmeidler
J, Yehuda R.
Departments of Psychiatry,
James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States; Mount Sinai School
of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
OBJECTIVE: Gulf War deployment
has been associated with a distinct neuroendocrine
profile characterized by low 24h basal ACTH levels and enhanced cortisol and
ACTH suppression to low-dose dexamethasone. The metyrapone stimulation test was performed to further
characterize hypothalamic-pituitary activity in Gulf War veterans (GWV) and its
relationship to unexplained medical symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD).
METHOD: Eleven GWV without
PTSD, 18 GWV with PTSD and 15 healthy subjects not exposed to the Gulf War theater (non-exposed) underwent the metyrapone
stimulation test, which inhibits cortisol synthesis, impairs cortisol-mediated
negative feedback inhibition and in turn increases levels of ACTH and
11-deoxycortisol, a cortisol precursor. These hormones were measured at
baseline (7:00 a.m.) and at intervals (from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) following
the administration of metyrapone 750mg orally at 7:05
a.m. and at 10:05 a.m.
RESULTS: There were group
differences in the ACTH response despite similar cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol
responses to metyrapone. GWV without PTSD had a
significantly attenuated ACTH response compared to non-exposed subjects; GWV
with PTSD had a significantly higher ACTH response than GWV without PTSD but
did not differ from non-exposed subjects. Among GWV, unexplained medical health
symptoms (e.g., neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiac, and pulmonary symptoms)
and PTSD symptoms were significantly positively associated with the ACTH
response to metyrapone.
CONCLUSION: Gulf War deployment
is associated with a substantially lower ACTH response to metyrapone.
In contrast, unexplained health symptoms and PTSD in Gulf War veterans are
associated with relatively greater hypothalamic-pituitary activity which may
reflect increased CRF activity and is evident only in consideration of
deployment effects. This pattern of differences suggests either that Gulf War
deployment and its associated exposures results in enduring changes in
pituitary function or that reduced hypothalamic-pituitary activity protects against
the development of PTSD and other deployment-related health problems.
PMID: 19446401 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Morbidity Experience in Populations Residentially Exposed to 50 Hz Magnetic
Fields
http://www.ijoeh.com/index.php/ijoeh/article/view/1011
Lucia Fazzo, Valeria Tancioni, Alessandro Polichetti, Ivano Iavarone, Nicola Vanacore, Paolo Papini, Sara Farchi, Caterina Bruno, Roberto Pasetto, Piero Borgia, Pietro Comba
Abstract
A morbidity study of the
population of a district of Rome built in part under a 60 kV electric distribution
line, included 345 subjects resident in the study area
in any period between 1954 and 2003, excluding those deceased before 1998.
Residential magnetic field
levels were estimated based on current load, line characteristics, and distance
of the dwellings from the power line, and the study area was divided into
sub-areas with differing magnetic field levels. Standardized morbidity ratios
were computed from hospital discharge records dated 1998–2003.
Non statistically significant increases were
observed for all and primary cancers; primary cancers were significantly
increased among subjects with >30 years’ residence and latency.
A significant increase for all,
primary, and secondary cancers, and a two-fold increase for ischaemic
diseases, was observed in subjects in the sub-area with the highest exposure.
No increase was seen in neoplastic haematological diseases.
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.
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