More chemicals are used in our everyday lives than we realise; paints and varnishes, household products (particularly cleaning products and air fresheners), furniture, skin care products, even the clothes we wear and the bedding we sleep in are usually coated in chemicals. Breathing in chemicals of this sort is not good for anyone but for some it makes them noticeably ill. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (M.C.S.) is a poorly recognised condition. More and more people are suffering from it, and many of them do not know what it is.

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What causes M.C.S?
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is a disorder triggered by exposure to chemicals in the environment. Symptoms may result from a single large exposure to one or more toxic chemicals or repeated exposures to low doses, for instance from long term exposure to a variety of chemicals now common to everyday life, both at home and at work.
A variety of other conditions make it more likely to occur: these include Candida overgrowth, nutrient deficiency, a poor functioning endocrine system and a general inability for adequate detoxification.

People with M.C.S. have symptoms from chemical exposures at concentrations far below the level tolerated by most people. Sensitisation to these chemicals often leads
to the sufferer becoming more susceptible
to the other chemicals that surround them. For instance, they may suddenly notice that they feel ill in the office where they are surrounded by volatile chemicals coming off the chipboard desks or the photocopier, or they may notice that they can no longer tolerate their favourite perfume.

Whatever form it takes M.C.S. can drastically affect peoples lives.

What are the symptoms?
Each person with M.C.S. has a unique set of problems and may exhibit different patterns of symptoms when exposed to different chemicals. Symptoms can be caused by exposure to air, food, water or skin contact and often occur in more than one organ system. “It can produce any symptom, in any sensitised person, at any time, but the brain is the most common target organ involved.”

Symptoms include the following:

headaches
’flu-like symptoms
visual disturbances
ear, nose and throat problems
persistent skin rashes and sores
inflammation
cardio-vascular irregularities
fatigue and depression
mental confusion and brain fog
dizziness
increased sensitivity to odours
short and long term memory loss
asthma or other respiratory problems
chronic exhaustion
muscle weakness and joint pains
numbness and tingling
food allergies
bloating and other digestive problems
genito-urinary problems
yeast infections and Candida
auto-immune disorders, persistent infections
irritability and behavioural problems
learning disabilities in children

In other words, almost any symptom you care to imagine.

Who suffers from M.C.S.?
There are thousands of people who suffer from a variety of symptoms. Some may be quite unaware that they are caused by Chemical Sensitivity. Many people will say they get a headache from using oil based paint but just accept it not realizing that the substances that are causing that headache are present in other products they live with each day.

What to do to reduce chemical exposure

On a practical level, removal of as many synthetic materials from the home and work place as possible is essential. This includes removing plastics, vinyls, foam and chipboard. Stop using toxic or scented cleaning chemicals and polishes, synthetic soaps, detergents and, in particular, fabric conditioners. Be aware that some sensitive people can react to hard plastics such as computers and TVs, especially when they are new. If you are particularly sensitive to pine resin you may also need to get rid of pine or wood which contains a lot of resin. Other avoidance measures could include:

using a water filter to remove chlorine and other contaminants
using unperfumed detergents, natural soaps and shampoos
using untreated or organic cotton or wool bedding
removing gas appliances and using electricity instead
avoiding any processed foods and drugs containing artificial flavourings, colourings and preservatives

References: Environmental Medicine in Clinical Practice, Drs Honor Anthony, Sybil Birtwistle, Keith Eaton, Jonathan Maberly, ; Goodbye Allergies, Judge Tom Blane; Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in the Workplace, Tracy Frisch; Chemical Victims, Dr Richard Mackarness; An Alternative Approach to Allergies, Theron G Randolph, and Ralph W Moss; Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental diseases and pollutants, Sherry A Rogers; Good Health Guide, A Keats; Your Home, Your Health and Well-Being, David Rousseau, W J Rea, M.D. and Jean Enwright; Article adapted from material in Detoxification and Healing by Dr Sidney Baker, Keats. WDDTY. Feb 1999.

Disclaimer: Information included on this page is intended for information purposes only and is not to be used as a substitute for consultation with a medical practitioner.

If you are new to Chemical Sensitivity you may find our Information on Chemical Sensitivity helpful.

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