MCSA NEWS – Online Edition

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) affects over 48 million men, women, and children of all races. Even though MCS is of widespread epidemic prevalence, public awareness of the toxicity of common environmental insults and ways to manage and accommodate MCS remains limited. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month, May 2009, bestows upon us a great opportunity to work towards increased public awareness of MCS.

Organizations around the world have put forth great effort to establish May of each year as either Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month or Toxic Injury Awareness Month. Many are working to improve awareness and appropriate healthcare around the world. Activities are organized around the month of May and continue throughout the year. MCS America plays a special role during this time and is committed to promoting awareness of toxic chemicals which may cause MCS and trigger reactions in those already injured by toxic chemicals.

This entire May issue of MCSA News is dedicated to planning for individuals and organizations in the U.S. to hold local events during Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month and beyond. Here you will find numerous ideas for promoting awareness, educating others, increasing recognition, and planning community events. There are many editable sample materials which may be downloaded and used locally.

Thousands of multiple chemical sensitivity awareness events are expected to take place across the United States this May. MCS America can help publicize your event on news feeds, blogs, newspapers, our newsletter, and other venues. Submit your event to admin@mcs-america.org. We value your feedback on the usefulness of the sample materials and welcome suggestions for future materials.

On behalf of MCS America, I would like to thank you for any and all efforts towards increased awareness in your locality. We look forward to assisting you in any way we can. Working together, we can help America to take control of toxic chemicals and eradicate multiple chemical sensitivity.

Sincerely,

Lourdes Salvador

MCS America

Download Our MCS Awareness Month Event Planning Kit

Return to Top

How to Promote MCS Awareness Month

May is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month. We hope you will join us to promote awareness and take control of toxic environmental chemicals to eradicate multiple chemical sensitivity.

A simple phone call or letter is all it takes to be involved. If you have the energy, you may even choose to plan an all-out event in your community.

Templates, instructions, and downloadable files can be found inside this newsletter.

Things to do include:

Ask your governor or mayor to issue an MCS Awareness Month proclamation.

Mail information packets and relevant continuing education opportunities to local hospitals and health clinics.

Hold an MCS awareness event at a local school, library, hospital, health clinic, or your state capitol.

Approach researchers and treating physicians as well as officials and celebrities who have MCS and ask them to speak at your event.

Arrange to display and distribute MCS educational materials at libraries, schools, medical establishments, and sporting events.

Hold an MCS awareness event on your local PBS station.

Request that local television and radio stations to issue public service announcements about MCS in their programming.

Ask health organizations to include articles in their newsletters on the role of toxic environmental triggers in the development and exacerbation of MCS.

Return to Top

2009 MCS Awareness Month Proclamations

Enlist a governor, mayor, or other official to issue a proclamation for the month of May to support awareness, events, and activities during Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month. Doing so involves contacting the official’s constituent affairs office and asking who to submit a proclamation request to, and then following up with that individual or department. Below is a sample proclamation and cover letter which may be used to request a proclamation from your. The following pages contain the actual proclamations issued for May 2009 from various mayors and governors as of the publication of this newsletter .

The sample proclamation request may be downloaded for editing and use at:

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

Please let us know when you’ve received your proclamation by sending a copy to:

admin@mcs-america.org.

We will post your proclamation and, if you have one, a link to your personal or organization website.

To view and download all past proclamations from 1998 - 2009, visit: http://tinyurl.com/d3hhe5

Return to Top

The Americans with Disabilities Act

Michael Walkup, Attorney at Law

Michael Walkup explains how the legal interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act actually creates the disabling events that keeps people with MCS out of the work place and force them onto public assistance.

“These are actually the reasons that people with MCS/EI are disabled.

It’s not that they can’t do the job,

its that people won’t cooperate,

and these exposures can’t be avoided outside of the home environment.”

I get a lot of emails from people who are still trying to work and are attempting to get their employers to provide them with some type of accommodation for their chemical sensitivities.

Basically, they are trying to force a reluctant employer to do something that the employer is not willing to do and want to know if they can use the Americans With Disabilities Act, or the Federal counterpart.

Until very recently, this has not been a fruitful approach.

When the ADA was first passed, a lot of people were hopeful, or apprehensive depending on their situation, that it would revolutionize the workplace.

If you just read the language of the Act, it would seem to require employers to do all sorts of things to accommodate people, and might have a substantial impact on how work injury claims are handled as well.

I remember being deluged with seminar offers in the early 90's about the ADA. Speakers went into dizzying detail about all of the provisions and their impact on employment law, workers compensation, and disability benefits. A lot of these were really thinly disguised marketing efforts by lawyers looking to get hired by employers. They put quite a scare into them.

Then the federal courts got a hold of the cases on appeal and basically shut down the entire Act by the restrictive way they interpreted it. I think they were trying to avoid having their already crowded dockets flooded by a wave of ADA cases.

But, the end result is that the law in its application was essentially gutted. The seminars mainly stopped as well. Employers no longer needed to worry and hire lawyers.

Under the ADA you have to file a complaint with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). They will try to informally resolve the matter and may schedule a conference or hold a hearing. The EEOC is also charged with handling all cases involving racial, gender, age, and other forms of discrimination prohibited by the Federal Civil Rights Act, and already had their hands full before the ADA came along.

As a practical matter, it is difficult to ask an employer to make an accommodation for someone with MCS/EI . An employer does not want to regulate the wearing of perfume by other employees, pull out the synthetic carpet, install windows that open, or change the chemicals the cleaning crew is using. Similarly, they may not feel comfortable with having an employee work solely from home. This, at least, seems to be the way the EEOC has viewed it up to now.

There have recently been some minor language changes in the ADA pertaining to the definition of disability, so we will have to wait and see what effect that has on MCS/EI cases. There is also a recent Canadian study where they suggest a number of accommodations that employers could make (although they mention in the same study that the American rules are much more restrictive).

In the meantime, although I can work with clients in any part of the country on ADA issues, I also tell them that they may wind up having to quit and apply for disability. These are actually the reasons that people with MCS/EI are disabled. It’s not that they can’t do the job, its that people won’t cooperate, and these exposures can’t be avoided outside of the home environment.

Return to Top

MCS Awareness in Schools

Plan an informative assembly for students, faculty, and parents. You will need to contact the school district administration and/or principal to organize an event. Things to do at the event include:

1. Create educational activities about toxic substances and MCS.

2. Plan an age appropriate contest for the children, such as an essay, drawing, photo, or poster contest.

3. Discuss MCS triggers and simple accommodations.

4. Discuss prevalence and risk management for those not yet affected by MCS.

5. Emphasize that MCS is real, the result of environmental toxicity.

6. Read enlightening, short, patient stories about life with MCS to children.

7. Invite local celebrities, musicians, artists, activists, researchers, and treating physicians to speak at the assembly.

8. Consider finding sponsors to donate prizes for games, contests, and activities.

9. Pass out educational materials, brochures, signs, and posters. Some may be found at: http://www.mcs-america.org/index_files/MCSBrochuresPostersSigns.htm.

Plan a gathering with refreshments for faculty. Things to do at the gathering include:

1. Introduce a suggested fragrance free policy.

2. Introduce a suggested green cleaning policy.

3. Discuss the handling of MCS reactions during school.

4. Plan awareness notices to be sent to parents and posted on bulletin boards.

5. Encourage faculty to discuss MCS in health and science classes.

6. Plan the inclusion of health topics, including MCS, in schools newsletters and bulletins.

7. Pass out educational materials, brochures, signs, and posters. Some may be found at: http://www.mcs-america.org/index_files/MCSBrochuresPostersSigns.htm.

Ten Ways to Manage MCS Reactions at School

Download Fact Sheet from: http://www.mcs-america.org/TenWaystoManageMCSReactionsatSchool.pdf

Switch over to an integrative pest management program which utilizes the least toxic pest control methods only when pests are spotted.

Provide adequate ventilation, an air filtration system, and clean air ducts monthly.

Use non-toxic, fragrance free, green cleaning products in place of traditional industrial cleaning agents when students and faculty are not in the building.

Check for moisture and remove mold and mildew.

Make the campus fragrance free and smoke free.

Offer healthier organic selections and special diet fulfillment in the cafeteria.

Allow students to take needed supplements and medications on schedule.

Minimize diesel exhaust from school buses and ensure that exhaust is not vented into the building or onto the playground.

Hold annual training seminars about caring for students with MCS for faculty, administrators, and the school nurse.

When building and remodeling, select the safest building materials with the least formaldehyde and other off-gassing agents. Place students with known MCS in older classrooms which have not been painted or remodeled in the last 3 years.

Ten Things Faculty Can Do During a Reaction

Download Fact Sheet from: http://www.mcs-america.org/TenThingsFacultyCanDo WhenaStudentHasanMCSReaction.pdf

1. Immediately remove the student from the source of exposure.

2. Help the student wash exposed skin and hair with their own safe soap.

3. Help the student change into spare clothing if clothing has become contaminated.

4. Contact the parents.

5. Give the student breathing room and lots of fresh air.

6. Reassure the student and ask them what they may need.

7. Investigate what happened and, later, take measures to avoid a recurrence.

8. Call an ambulance if breathing becomes raspy or tremors/seizures occur.

9. Be patient with the student during the period of cognitive impairment during and after an exposure.

10. Monitor the student’s ability to move about normally and take safety precautions during and after exposures when coordination and balance may be impaired.

Return to Top

MCS Awareness for Health Care Providers

An easy way to spread awareness among health care providers without leaving home is to print out and mail information packets. These packets are well-designed and include facts and figures about MCS as well as continuing education opportunities on fragrance sensitivity for nurses . The entire packet may be downloaded and edited for your use from http://mcs-america.org/MedMailer.doc and is reproduced here for your reading.

Return to Top

Real Life Examples

There are many real life examples of ordinary people doing extraordinary things for MCS Awareness, not only during May, but all year long. Many charities are also stepping forward in the cause.

Real Life Walk-a-Thon

Patient Alliance for Neuroendocrineimmune Disorders (P.A.N.D.O.R.A.) is a charitable organization for research and advocacy for people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), Gulf War illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), environmental illnesses (EI), and chronic Lyme disease.

P.A.N.D.O.R.A., founded by a woman with CFS, announced their “Walk In My Shoes” Walkathon to be held Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 7:30 AM at CB Smith Park, located at 900 N. Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028.

According to their webpage, “Participation supports research that can lead to scientific breakthroughs, physician training, scholarships for the chronically ill, quality of life outreach programs, and advocacy initiatives.”

For more information, to participate, or to donate, visit:

http://tinyurl.com/cc56qx

Check -in: 7:30 to 8:30 am
Walk begins: 9:00 am sharp

WebMD Updated MCS Description

Eric White, an individual, wrote a letter to WebMD regarding their outdated and negative description of MCS found on their website.

Eric’s letter led to his working with someone at WebMD to update and improve the MCS description.

The description now has a much more positive tone now and recognizes some of the physical findings in MCS.

Great work Eric!

Awareness Materials

Zona uses her creative artistic talents to create posters, door-knob hangers, and other fun materials for everyone to use to promote MCS Awareness. Some of her talents are pictured on this page.

To download and print her materials for use, see:

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

What are you doing

to promote

MCS Awareness Month?

Return to Top

MCS Awareness at the Library

Plan a display or event at your public library with the help of the head librarian. Ideas include:

Hold a children’s reading time dedicated to awareness of toxics, pollutants, and multiple chemical sensitivity. Create a short story to read to the children or share a real story of a child with lead poisoning, multiple chemical sensitivity, or another toxic injury.

Hold a family evening with stories, refreshments, and MCS related games. Consider finding sponsors to donate prizes for games, contests, and activities.

Create a multiple chemical sensitivity display in a visible location at the library. Provide multiple chemical sensitivity brochures, posters, and materials for library visitors to learn more. An example of a real MCS library display by Christiane Tourtet may be viewed to the left and at: http://www.nettally.com/prusty/Formww.htm

Distribute asthma materials to library visitors. Free materials are available to download from http://www.mcs-america.org/index_files/MCSBrochuresPostersSigns.htm

Publicize the event in the library newsletter, flyers, bulletin boards, web site, and through press releases and your local TV and radio broadcasting.

Invite people with MCS, doctors, researchers, and advocates to give scheduled talks.

Remember to thank the library staff for their assistance.

Return to Top

MCS Awareness at the State Capitol

If you have the suport of a government official, you may be able to plan MCS Awareness Month event at your state capitol building. Ideas include:

Contact your state legislators and ask them to sponsor the event.
Ask a state legislator to reserve space in the capitol building.
Involve other individuals and organizations in the event.
Recruit doctors, researchers, health oriented businesses, and non-profits as sponsors.
Be sure to obtain a governor proclamation for MCS Awareness Month.
The event may include a rally, speakers, a health fair, educational talks, and giveaways. Don’t forget to include activities for the kids.
Announce a press conference to announce your state official’s involvement and encourage people to come down to the capitol.
In advance of the event, send out press releases and publish the event in newspapers, newsletters, websites, and on local television and radio stations via public service announcements. The state may have a press department with specialists who can assist with this.
Set up a table for brochures and, if available, have someone man it to answer questions and hand out materials and free samples of fragrance free, non-toxic products.
Send us the pictures of your event at admin@mcs-america.org.

Return to Top

Issuing a Press Release

This template can be customized to highlight your multiple chemical sensitivity awareness event. Additional facts and figures can be obtained from MCS America at www.mcs-america.org.

This template may be downloaded for use and editing from:

www.mcs-america.org/pressreleasetemplate.doc

Return to Top

MCS Awareness Through Media Coverage

Newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, newsletters, bulletin boards, and school papers are just a few media sources which may be used to spread the word about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month. Good utilization of the media can grab the publics’ attention for your awareness events and activities.

Ten Tips to Maximize Media Coverage

1. Provide facts, including the dangers of toxic substances and prevalence of MCS. See the fact sheet on the next page of this newsletter for ideas.

2. Compile a list of possible national and local media sources. Your list should be accurate and include contacts that are likely to publish your material.

3. Contact reporters, editors, radio personalities, and writers to introduce yourself.

4. Small newspapers can reach many people too, especially if they are targeted towards your specific audience.

5. Call ahead and find out who would be assigned your project and how that individual prefers to receive your press.

6. Include a well-written cover letter that explains why they should cover multiple chemical sensitivity. Keep it professional, factual, and unemotional.

7. Have a packet of materials ready for your contact, including a press release, fact sheet, event schedule, brochures, proclamation, photo opportunities, short video clips, your contact information and website, and other relevant materials that cover the who, what, when, where, why, and how.

8. After your contact has had time to review the material, follow up with a brief phone call to ask if they have any questions and request coverage of multiple chemical sensitivity.

9. Respect your contacts busy schedule by keeping all communications short, brief, and to the point.

10. Remember to contact the media for any and all events, talks, meetings, rallies, seminars, and special occasions such as the signing of a proclamation by your state governor.

Return to Top

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Fact Sheet

This fact sheet may be downloaded from http://mcs-america.org/mcsfactsheet.pdf

Return to Top

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

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.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.

Return to Top

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

Eco-friendly labeling? It's a lot of 'greenwash'
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/619936

Study links swimming pool chlorine to asthma
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0417/1224244902389.html

Is water linked to illnesses?
http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_105222428.html

Who's afraid of the White House garden?
http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/04/whos-afraid-of-the-white-house-garden.html

Super-Strong Paint Kills Superbugs
http://www.webmd.com/news/20090416/super-strong-paint-kills-superbugs

Teen and young adult cancer rates rising
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090416.wcancer0416/BNStory/Front/home

Flood mold forces Albany man to go camping
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10197641&nav=menu37_3 b

Does modern life cause allergies?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7989873.stm

Vitamin deficiency asthma 'link'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8000821.stm

EPA Will Mandate Tests On Pesticide Chemicals Goal Is to Gauge Risk to Humans, Animals
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/15/AR2009041501960.html

Lyme disease motivates local woman to save others
http://www.isanticountynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5837&Itemid=1

Return to Top

Featured Research Studies

J Occup Environ Hyg. 2009 Apr;6(4):239-47.

Volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde as explaining factors for sensory irritation in office environments.

Salonen H, Pasanen AL, Lappalainen S, Riuttala H, Tuomi T, Pasanen P, Back B, Reijula K.

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. heidi.salonen@ttl.fi

This study's database comprised results of volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements from 176 office buildings. In 23 of the 176 buildings, formaldehyde measurements were also conducted. It was suspected that the buildings had indoor air problems, but a walk-through inspection did not reveal any clear, abnormal contaminant sources. The 50 most abundant VOCs and their concentrations in 520 air samples were analyzed. The irritation potency was estimated for 33 out of the 50 common VOCs and their mixtures, as well as for formaldehyde. This information was used to calculate the recommended indoor air levels (RILs) for the VOCs. The RILs were considerably higher than the measured mean indoor air concentrations in the buildings. However, the RIL for formaldehyde was exceeded in most of the 23 buildings studied. According to the evaluation of irritation potency, formaldehyde was a more likely cause of sensory irritation than the mixture of common nonreactive VOCs at the concentrations that occurred in the buildings without abnormal indoor sources. Furthermore, environmental symptoms of office workers were characterized in 20 office buildings (including the database of 176 office buildings) with the aid of an indoor air questionnaire. The most frequent symptoms related to the indoor environment were involved the upper respiratory tract. However, no relationship could be shown between the reported symptoms and the occurrence of VOC and formaldehyde concentrations in these buildings. Generally, the study results indicated that formaldehyde was the more likely agent causing sensory irritation than the mixture of the common nonreactive VOCs at the concentrations occurring in the buildings without abnormal indoor sources.

PMID: 19184725 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Med Hypotheses. 2009 Feb;72(2):135-9. Epub 2008 Nov 11.

A role for the body burden of aluminium in vaccine-associated macrophagic myofasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Exley C, Swarbrick L, Gherardi RK, Authier FJ.

Birchall Centre for Inorganic Chemistry and Materials Science, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK. c.exley@chem.keele.ac.uk

Macrophagic myofasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome are severely disabling conditions which may be caused by adverse reactions to aluminium-containing adjuvants in vaccines. While a little is known of disease aetiology both conditions are characterised by an aberrant immune response, have a number of prominent symptoms in common and are coincident in many individuals. Herein, we have described a case of vaccine-associated chronic fatigue syndrome and macrophagic myofasciitis in an individual demonstrating aluminium overload. This is the first report linking the latter with either of these two conditions and the possibility is considered that the coincident aluminium overload contributed significantly to the severity of these conditions in this individual. This case has highlighted potential dangers associated with aluminium-containing adjuvants and we have elucidated a possible mechanism whereby vaccination involving aluminium-containing adjuvants could trigger the cascade of immunological events which are associated with autoimmune conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome and macrophagic myofasciitis.

PMID: 19004564 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Environ Health Perspect. 2009 Mar;117(3):367-72. Epub 2008 Oct 16.

Methylmercury exposure and adverse cardiovascular effects in Faroese whaling men.

Choi AL, Weihe P, Budtz-Jørgensen E, Jørgensen PJ, Salonen JT, Tuomainen TP, Murata K, Nielsen HP, Petersen MS, Askham J, Grandjean P.

Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. achoi@hsph.harvard.edu

BACKGROUND: Methylmercury (MeHg), a worldwide contaminant found in fish and seafood, has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. OBJECTIVE: We examined 42 Faroese whaling men (30-70 years of age) to assess possible adverse effects within a wide range of MeHg exposures from consumption of pilot whale meat.

METHODS: We assessed exposure levels from mercury analysis of toenails and whole blood (obtained at the time of clinical examination), and a hair sample collected 7 years previously. Outcome measures included heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP). We carried out multiple regression and structural equation model (SEM) analyses to determine the confounder-adjusted effect of mercury exposure. Taking into account correlations among related measures, we categorized exposure and outcomes in groups to derive latent exposure and response variables in SEMs. We used multiple regression analysis to compare the predictive validity of individual exposure biomarkers and the latent exposure variable on individual and latent outcomes.

RESULTS: The toenail mercury concentrations varied widely and had a geometric mean of 2.0 microg/g; hair concentrations averaged about 3-fold higher. Mercury exposure was significantly associated with increased BP and IMT. This effect was reflected by SEMs, but mercury in toenails tended to be the best effect predictor.

CONCLUSIONS: The results support the notion that increased MeHg exposure promotes the development of cardiovascular disease.

PMID: 19337510 [PubMed - in process]

Disclaimer

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

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

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