Multiple Chemical Sensitivity syndrome (MCS) is one of the most controversial areas in modern medicine.
Along with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), these two diagnoses probably provoke more argument and disagreement than any others, first and foremost regarding whether they even exist or not.
The medical establishment currently classifies MCS as a "syndrome of unknown origin," much like the more widely publicized Gulf War syndrome and CFS.
The absence of a universally accepted definition of MCS, and the idiosyncratic nature of its symptoms, contribute to the overall sense of frustration, anger, and polarized viewpoints.
A very helpful introduction to what it means to be afflicted with MCS was published in the January 20 Washington Post, in a story by Jeff Turrentine entitled "Sensitivity Workshop."
After reading it, you might want to wander over to the website of the Healthy House Institute, run by John Bower, author of "The Healthy House," a 1989 book now in its fourth updated edition.
Along with his books and website, Bower consults on issues related to MCS and indoor air pollution, which he believes deleteriously affects many people who aren't even aware of the cause of their various miseries.
If you want to see a superb movie that depicts the destruction of a life by MCS, rent or buy "Safe," starring Julianne Moore.
Both the movie and Moore are riveting.
Article comments
1 - Pat
The Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) diagnosis is not as controversial as certain pro-pesticide/chemical
propagandists make it out to be.
Firstly, medical science has long since recognized the phenomenon of sensitivity to chemical-bearing agents when inhaled/contacted/ingested at low-to-moderate levels. Examples that prove this true include: aspirin, acetaminophen, red cedar, pine, FD&C Yellow #5, quinine solutions, ramin wood, penicillin, tanned leather, and even the smell of wine preserved with sulfur dioxide. (Simply research the medical journals and manuals of the 20th Century.)
Secondly, mainstream medical science already recognizes as valid the following diagnostic titles which are none other than forms of Chemical Sensitivity:
1] Occupational Asthma, 2] Reactive Airways Dysfunction, 3] Chemical Worker's Lung, 4] Sick Building Syndrome, 5] Irritant-induced Asthma, 6] Irritant-induced Contact Dermatitis, 7] Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, aka Irritant-induced Alveolitis, 8] Chemically-induced Hepatitis, 9] Salicylate Allergies, 10] Red Cedar Allergies, 11] Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and others. (Interestingly enough, the articles which scorn & mock the MCS diagnosis never mention that MCS includes 'medically determinable' asthma, indentifiable inflammation scenarios, easily observable 'profuse dry heaving' scenarios, as well as a number of additional 'medical findings' that prove MCS to be a physiological and not a psychiartic illness.)
The following mainstream, licensed & accredited entities recognize, by name, either the Multiple Chemical Sensitivity diagnosis or the Sick Building Syndrome diagnosis, or both:
1] Univ. of Pittsburgh, (home of the polio vaccine & the first liver transplant), 2] Johns Hopkins Medical Center, 3] Mt. Sinai Hospital, 4] Yale University, 5] Northeast Specialty Hospital,(affiliate of Harvard Med. School), 6] Cambridge Hospital,
(affiliate of Harvard Med. School, 7] The Univ. of Iowa, 8] Univ. of Medicine & Dentisty of New Jersey, 9] Univ. of Illinois at Chicago, 10] The Sovereign Nation of Germany who 'coded' MCS as "an allergic condition." And the list goes on. In matter fact, MCS is recognized as a physiological "medically determinable impairment" by the Social Security Administration. HUD recognizes it. And a number of licensed & board-certified physicians do also.
The anti-MCS lobby always cites one particular observation in order to convince the reader that MCS is erroneous. That observation is that MCS involves adverse reactions affecting multiple body systems, instead of merely one, and that it involves multiple symptoms, instead of a narrowly select few. Because of this multiplicity factor, the anti-MCS lobby claims that the MCS diagnosis should be declared malpractice. The hypocrisy of this consists in the fact that Salicylate Allergies affect multiple body systems also, and the symptoms attributed to that condition involve an extremely wide & quite varying range of multiple symptoms. And salicylates are chemicals. Moreover, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning also afflicts multiple body systems, and it has attached to it an extremely large number of symptoms. Thus, if you declare MCS erroneous, based upon its multiplicity factor, then you must declare that Carbon Monoxide Poisoning doesn't exist, either.
The AMA, AAAAI, and American Lung Association most certainly do recognize chemical sensitivity as it applies to the ASTHMA symptom. And they all advocate the treatment known as Avoidance; of staying only in places free of offending irritants/allergens.
See: The AMA document titled, Report 4 of the Council on Scientific Affairs (A-98) [use title as keywords in a search].
Also see: http://dbapps.ama-assn.org/aps/asthma/manage.htm
Furthermore see:
http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publications/publicedmat/tips/asthmatriggersandmgmt.stm
And then see:
www.lungusa.org/site/apps/content.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=34706&ct=67127
MCS is a very real and brutal illness. MCS sufferers are litrally more senstivite than smoke alarms. It is exactly like the dog whistle effect, only much more painful.
By the way, the official medical records of the famous Martial Arts master, Bruce Lee, state that he died from an allergic reaction to a simple analgesic called Equagesic. (NOT from an overdose, but from the allergic reaction of a legal dose.) That legal dose of over-the-counter medication resulted in allergic cerebral edema, according to the records, and thusly Bruce's unexpected death. Thus, Bruce Lee is on official record as having died from Chemical Sensitivity.
2 - DrPat
Lots of MCS symptoms are ultimately ascribed to immume deficiency disorders - not just AIDS, but also Lupus, hyper-immune response syndrome, and others.
My mom fights with life-threatening allergies all the time now due to her HIRS, and a best friend died of complications from a mosquito bite after a long battle with lupus.
3 - Beverly Martens
As a recent episode of allergy asthma affected my windpipe by causing spasms, I would like to tell about it.
I have a small hiatal hernia which is where the esophagus joins the stomach and sometimes allows stomach acid to regurgitate especially after meals.
One day while raking in the yard a burp of stomach acid came in contact with my windpipe and I could not breathe. I ended up in the emergency room with very high blood pressure and being out of my head for a short time.
As I tried to explain to the doctor in the ER room, I could tell that he thought I was just out of my head and he had no clue.
Smoke, dust, pollen and etc. cause allergic asthma attacks, and even some foods if they are spicy or have vinegar as in salads.
4 - Ron
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is only controversial because the toxics industries would like you to think its controversial.
5 - david
ssri's have really helped those who are open to it. The victim is played up in those afflicted. Try the ssri or turn into howard hughes...
Please have an open mind!
6 - Lynn Harvey
I have "fibromyalgia" which is the new name for chronic fatigue syndrome. CFS & fibromyalgia are really "thyroid hormone resistance," an unrecognized type of hypothyroidism in which the patient gets worse with T4 & recovers with T3. I also have "multiple chemical sensitivity," which is caused by the thyroid hormone resistance (The Metabolic Treatment of Fibromyalgia, John C. Lowe, p.665.
Dr. Lowe is a chiropractor who has reviewed 70 years of medical literature in his book. I am one of his patients. He collaborates with an internist (MD). See www.drlowe.com
CFS or fibromalgia or thyroid hormone reisistance can't be detected by blood tests. Blood tests appear normal or it is confused with primary hypothyroidism. The condition is fatal because it brings on either heart disease or metabolic syndrome. Patients die in their 40's 50's & early 60's. My general paractitioner just lost one such patient to a sudden onset heart arrhythmia. He was treating her with T4. She was 47 years old.
7 - Alice
I have hupothyroidism and hashimotos. I prefer armour thyroid over synthetic thyroid but I also experiencing multiple chemical sensitivities. Is Armour contributing to this as it has T4?