This section contains references to articles and abstracts on multiple chemical sensitivities.
Services
Public housing and MCS
Apply to the Victorian Government Office for Housing in the usual way by filling in an Application for Public Housing, and fill out a Special Accommodation Requirement form. You will need a letter from a doctor, preferably well respected in the field of allergy and multiple chemical sensitivity. The letter should include the problem chemicals etc, as far as possible.
An advocate is a big help as the person applying usually is not well enough to handle the required negotiations. There will be some degree of choice in sites available, but compromises need to be made in some areas, both with site and building materials. The housing body will appoint a suitably qualified architect to modify the home plan, and a building biologist may help with EMR issues.
Even when using the least toxic options in building materials, the person will have to test each item (after it is aired) to be sure they are OK with it. All workers have to be very clear that they can't make substitutions, or squirt things with RP40, etc. The first custom Ministry of Housing low toxin house was built about 15 years ago, so the knowledge is there if a person or their advocate can push hard enough to get it.
Building Wellness Building Biologists
Based in Melbourne. Assess your workplace for health hazards that are commonly associated with symptoms such as fatigue, headache, sleeping difficulties, inability to concentrate, eye/nose/throat irritation, asthma and skin irritation. Contact: 9725 9976, or visit http://www.buildingwellness.com.au.
Key Organisations
The Allergy and Environmental Sensitivity Support and Research Agency (AESSRA) provides information and support to people with multiple chemical sensitivities. Their member services include a quarterly magazine; information booklets; discounts on cellophane bags and 3M 9913 masks; phone support; and resource library.
MCS America have a regular, free newsletter that contains articles relevant to people with multiple chemical sensitivies. Copies of the newsletter are available on request from their website.
The website of the MCS Canadian Sources Support Group provides resources and support for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Environmental Illness (EI), or Chemical Injury (CI) in Canada. Information on treatment protocols is available on their website, here.
Resources
Publications
MCS: Guidelines for South Australian Hospitals, SA Health, Government of South Australia, May 2010.
How your home affects your health, by Robyn Griggs Lawrence, from Care2.com, April 24th 2010.
Guidelines for visting a person with MCS, from the Allergy, Sensitivity & Environmental Health Association QLD Inc.
Collette, S (2010) 'Make your bedroom more liveable when you have MCS', MCSA News, MCS America.
The 3rd edition of the textbook 'General and Applied Toxicology' will include an extensive chapter on the toxicological basis of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) authored by Professor Martin Pall, PhD.
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, NICNAS & OCSEH (2010) 'Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Identifying Key Research Needs, Final Report', Commonwealth of Australia, November 30. Click here for the Summary of Revisions document.
Researcher Anne Steinemann analysed fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients in three air fresheners and three laundry products, where she discovered over 100 undisclosed volitale organics compounds (VOCs). Access the article here. She also compiled a list of over 100 citations for peer-reviewed journal articles that support a physiological basis for multiple chemical sensitivity, here.
Dr. Grace Ziem's Environmental Control Plan for Chemically Sensitive Patients
Journal Articles
Lavergne, M R et al (2010) 'Functional impairment in chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity', Canadian Family Physician, vol. 56, pp. 57-65 [Full Article].
Pall, M (2009) 'Do sauna therapy and exercise act by raising the availability of tetrahydrobiopterin?', Medical Hypotheses. [Epub ahead of print]
Steinemann, A (2008) 'Fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients', Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 20 May [Full Article, Online].
Pall, M & Bedient, SA (2007) 'The NO/ONOO - cycle as the etiological mechanism of tinnitus', The International Tinnitus Journal, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 99-104. [Abstract]
News Articles
Collins, Susie (2011) 'Checklist for physicians seeing patients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity', Canary Report, September 5.
Collins, Susie (2011), 'New study shows scented laundry products emit hazardous chemicals through dryer vents', Canary Report, August 24.
Collins, Susie (2011) ‘How to decontaminate new clothing and fabrics’, Canary Report, March 24.
Muller, S (2011) 'Letter: German hospital creates rooms for people with MCS', Canary Report, March 3.
"Michelle" (2011) 'Study examined the benefit of coping with MCS', StylishClassic.Com Blog, January 4.
[Unknown] (2010) 'Houses that make you sick: Is your home making you sick?', The Age, November 20.
[Unknown] (2010) 'Low dose electromagnetic radiation shown to deplete nutrients in rats', MCS America, December.
Clementi, Angela (2010) 'First allergy proof houses to be built', swissinfo.ch, October 19.
Jacobs, HS (2010) 'Buyers with hypersensitivity disorder should raise their concerns early', Washington Post Online, September 18.
[Unknown] (2010) 'Hawaii Proclaimed July 2010 Toxic Injury Awareness and Education Month', MCS America, 24th July.
Heller, M (2010) 'Scents alive! Perfume allergy case settles for $100,000', On Point News, July 3rd.
Clark et al (2010) 'Measures taken by European Countries for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Danish Ministry Health Report on Enquiries of 11 European Governments', June.
Collins, S (2010) 'CFL bulbs are not a safe choice for people with MCS', Canary Report, February 9th.
Chemical Sensitivity Network (2009) An Italian law proposal for environmental illnesses and disability, Germany.
Shaw, K (2009) 'Air travel and chemical sensitivity', Canary Report.
Environmental Illness Resource (2009) 'Asthma and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Study finds significant overlap'.
Canadian Human Rights Commission (2007) 'Policy on Environmental Sensitivities'
Houlihan, J (2003) 'Canaries in the kitchen: Teflon toxicosis: Environmental Working Group finds heated Teflon pans can turn toxic faster than DuPont claims', online.
Websites
MCS News Australia, volunteer-run, social network site for people with MCS.
The ABC of MCS, contains news articles related to MCS.
Fragrance Free Living, by David Twyoniuk and Judy Sterling.
Online Videos and Media
Walton, Jasmine (2010) 'Adjusting to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity', The Canary Report, 31st December.
Natural News TV: The story of cosmetics with Annie Leonard, the ugly truth of "Toxics in, toxics out".
MCS again featured on popular TV show in Spain, The Canary Report, 15th May 2010.
Download a poster that was designed as a public service project for patients requiring in-hospital care at hospitals that are still lacking a proper fragrance-free policy for the staff.
MCS Experts
Prof. Martin Pall
Pall is Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Science at Washington State University.
Prof. Martin Pall has released a paper on the causes of multiple chemical sensitivity, his research shows chemicals acting as toxicants initiate cases of MCS. Click here for the full article, and here for the news release. Further information is available on Prof. Pall's website, here.
Martin L. Pall’s paper, 'How can we cure NO/ONOO− cycle diseases? Approaches to curing chronic fatigue syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, gulf war syndrome and possibly many others', is published in the February/March 2010 issue of The Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine. More details here.
To view an interview with Prof. Martin Pall, please click here.
Martin L. Pall, PhD, has uncovered an independent research group which has confirmed
three clinical markers in people with multiple chemical sensitivity.
News Articles by Martin Pall
Pall, M (2010) 'Scientific study: Clinical markers confirm MCS and validate environmental medicine approach', MCS America, [April].
Pall, M (2009) 'Genetic evidence and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity', Canary Report.
Journal Articles by Martin Pall
Pall, M (2009) 'Do sauna therapy and exercise act by raising the availability of tetrahydrobiopterin?', Medical Hypotheses. [Epub ahead of print]
Pall, M & Bedient, SA (2007) 'The NO/ONOO - cycle as the etiological mechanism of tinnitus', The International Tinnitus Journal, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 99-104. [Abstract]
Dr Lisa Nagy, USA
Information on how to take an Environmental Illness History is available in a leaflet you can discuss with your doctor, available to download here.
Vist Dr. Nagy's website here.
