From: MCS America News, Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2008.
http://www.mcs-america.org/february2008.pdf
Several studies published from 1993-2005 suggest that at least 45 million men, women, and children in the US report various symptoms of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).1-8 Seventy percent of these people have not been diagnosed properly by a health care provider.1-8 More severe cases often lead to permanent and total disability.
Several studies published from 1993-2005 suggest that at least 45 million men, women, and children in the US report various symptoms of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).1-8 Seventy percent of these people have not been diagnosed properly by a health care provider.1-8 More severe cases often lead to permanent and total disability.
The recurring question is “Why is MCS not yet acknowledged by many medical professionals in the community?” It’s not disregarded because it’s not a real illness, or researchers lack scientific data. It’s not ignored for lack of the epidemic rate of affliction that currently exceeds the rate of autism. It’s not misunderstood for lack of treatment modalities. Rather, multiple chemical sensitivity is intentionally cast aside for industry profits.
Largely to protect their own financial interests and liability, a well-funded pharmaceutical and chemical industry campaign of disinformation was designed to cast manufactured doubt over the existence of MCS. This campaign is crucial to the continued sales and use of chemicals and implies that chemicals are safe and MCS is merely psychological, having nothing to do with chemical exposure. Select doctors have been paid handsome sums by industry to issue industry supported statements, conduct studies to industry specifications, and issue opinions on MCS that lead others, including doctors, lawmakers, and community members, to believe that the biased findings were truthful. We've seen this over and over again in studies that claim child abuse, stress, anxiety, or depression causes MCS. Yet when thinking critically, one can easily see the intended deception.
If confronted with damage their chemicals have caused, industry typically feels threatened, denies the problem, blames the victim, and accepts no responsibility. They turn their backs on those they’ve harmed. Unconscionably, they continue to allow their products to injure people, resulting in chronic and often disabling illnesses, including multiple chemical sensitivity. Admitting MCS is real is damaging to their profits and they want MCS to disappear at the expense of the individuals and families of those they’ve harmed.
This deceptive campaign has convinced many government officials and medical providers that MCS is not real and has led to statements such as this one from Tee Guidotti, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.O.E.M., President, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. "Occupational and Environmental Medicine does a great, unrecognized service to medicine as a first line of defense against questionable practice. Our role is frequently to explain patiently, to review the evidence, to say no, and sometimes to take abuse. We are a frequent target of activists who disagree with evidence-based medicine on issues such as multiple chemical sensitivity, dental amalgam disease, and toxic mold.”10 And while Dr. Guidotti claims that activists disagree with evidence-based medicine, he fails to address evidence-based, peer-reviewed studies that have shown various abnormalities in MCS patients, including cardiac abnormalities, reactive upper airway disease, vasculitis, thrombophlebitis, impaired Phase 1 and Phase II detoxification clearance, glutathione depletion, tinnitus, thyroid and adrenal abnormalities, gastrointestinal disturbances, T-cell activation/impaired NK cell function/auto-immune disorders, vitamin and mineral deficiencies1, nuerocognitive decline, rhinitis, sinusitis, respiratory inflammation, abnormal methacholine challenge, somatosensory abnormality, peripheral neuropathy, sleep disturbance, impaired balance, reduced blood flow to the brain, and elevated levels of xenobiotics among others.11-40
The supposed controversy over MCS is to be solely credited to industry, who feeds an illegitimate view of MCS. Tactics have been employed to discredit sufferers, doctors, and scientists who pursue MCS. These tactics include labeling evidence-based, peer-reviewed science that shows MCS is real as junk science, labeling doctors who treat MCS as quacks, labeling treatment protocols as quackery, and laboratory tests that show abnormalities in MCS patients as unreliable. Worse, loved ones who try to help sufferers are told they are enabling the person’s “belief” that they are sick.
Industry has also infiltrated MCS support groups, agencies, and organizations in an attempt to create controversy and disagreement among sufferers, their family, and their medical providers. With the MCS community busy fighting among themselves, industry is safe from efforts to reveal the truth. Despite the fact that the community is aware of this, the conflict continues because industry plants assume roles of community members and continue manufacture perceived controversy and trick the community into taking sides.
A recent revelation showed that only studies that supported a dangerous depression drugs safety and efficacy were published. The studies that showed the harmful effects of the drug were not submitted for publication by the pharmaceutical company. This supports the power industry has in suppressing the truth. Doctors are misled because they only see the published studies and rely on them to make decisions when treating patients. Everyone is then led to believe that what these doctors know is the honest truth, rather than the desire of the chemical industry. As misinformation grows rapidly, patients may be harmed, and lives may be ruined, all in the name of industry profits. MCS testimony has even been blocked from admission in lawsuits, likely a result of industry gifts to judges.
Financial ties to industry lead to industry support. This is not limited to the chemical industry. The pharmaceutical industry and chemical industry are hopelessly intertwined, many companies producing both chemicals and drugs. Because the pharmaceutical companies largely control all the peer-reviewed journals that publish evidence-based scientific data, legitimate studies supporting the existence of MCS are denied publication. Many researchers cannot get their legitimate studies published and the information never reaches doctors and medical providers. Studies that can’t be published cannot gain funding. If there is no funding, few independent studies are possible. Medical conferences are often funded by pharmaceutical companies as well, leading to more tight industry control over conference content.
In the interim, people with MCS suffer greatly. They are denied work accommodations, school accommodations, appropriate health care, proper housing, and disability benefits. The doubt that industry casts on MCS carries through to friends, family, and social support services, forcing sufferers to endure hurtful comments, denial of accommodations, disrespect, and in some cases harassment.
Without care and understanding, sufferers who could otherwise go to school, work, and lead normal lives are denied their livelihood, friends, family, and hobbies. Instead they become an unwilling social burden on society.
References
1. Bell, IR, Schwartz, GE, Peterson, JM and Amend, D. Self-reported illness from chemical odors in young adults without clinical syndromes or occupational exposures. Arch Environ Health. 1993 48:6-13.
2. Bell, IR, Schwartz, GE, Peterson, JM, Amend, D and Stini, WA. Possible time-dependent sensitization to xenobiotics: self-reported illness from chemical odors, foods, and opiate drugs in an older adult population. Arch Environ Health. 1993 48: 315-27.
3. Meggs WJ, Dunn KA, Bloch RM, Goodman PE, & Davidoff AL. Prevalence and nature of allergy and chemical sensitivity in a general population. Arch Environ Health. 1996 Jul-Aug;51(4):275-82.
4. Voorhees, RE. Memo from Deputy State Epidemiologist Voorhees to Joe Thompson, Special Counsel, Office of the Governor. New Mexico Department of Health. 1998.
5. Bell, IR, Warg-Damiani, L, Baldwin, CM, Walsh, ME and Schwartz, GE. Self-reported chemical sensitivity and wartime chemical exposures in Gulf War veterans with and without decreased global health ratings. Mil Med. 1998 163:725.
6. Kreutzer R, Neutra RR, & Lashuay N. Prevalence of people reporting sensitivities to chemicals in a population-based survey. Am J Epidemiol. 1999 Jul 1;150(1):1-12.
7. Caress SM, & Steinemann AC. A national population study of the prevalence of multiple chemical sensitivity. Arch Environ Health. 2004 Jun;59(6):300-5.
8. Caress SM, & Steinemann AC. National prevalence of asthma and chemical hypersensitivity: an examination of potential overlap. J Occup Environ Med. 2005 May;47(5):518-22
9. Multiple chemical sensitivity: a 1999 consensus. Arch Environ Health. 1999 May-Jun;54(3):147-9.
10. Tee L. Guidotti, TL. Viewpoint: The Invisible Specialty: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. AAMC Reporter: April 2007.
11. Elofsson, S, et. a. Exposure to organic solvents. Scandinavian Journal of Work & Environmental Health. 1980;6:239-273.
12. Seppalainen, AM, et al. Neurophysiological effects of long-term exposure to a mixture of organic solvents. Scandinavian Journal of Work & Environmental Health. 1978;4:304-314.
13. Jonkman, EJ, et al. Electroencephalographic studies in workers exposed to solvents or pesticides. Electro Clinical Neurophysiology. 1992;82:439-444.
14. Bokina, AI, et al. Investigation of the mechanism of action of atmospheric pollutants on the central nervous system and comparative evaluation of methods of study. Environmental Health Perspectives. 1976;13:37-42.
15. Ziem, G. and McTamney, J. Profile of patients with chemical injury and sensitivity. Environ Health Perspect 1997;105:417-436.
16. Bell I.R. Baldwin, C.M. and Schwartz, G.E. Illness from low levels of environmental chemicals: relevance to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Am J Med. 1998;105:74S-82S.
17. Baldwin, CM and Bell, IR. Increased cardiopulmonary disease risk in a community-based sample with chemical odor intolerance: implications for women's health and health- care utilization. Arch Environ Health 1998;53:347-353.
18. Rea, W.J. Environmentally triggered small vessel vasculitis. Ann.Allergy 1977;38:245-251.
19. Rea, W.J. Environmentally triggered thrombophlebitis. Ann.Allergy 1976;37:101-109.
20. McFadden, S.A. Phenotypic variation in xenobiotic metabolism and adverse environmental response: focus on sulfur-dependent detoxification pathways. Toxicology 1996;111:43-65.
21. Cary, R., Clarke, S. and Delic, J. Effects of combined exposure to noise and toxic substances--critical review of the literature. Ann Occup Hyg 1997;41:455-465.
22. Levin, A.S. and Byers, V.S. Environmental illness: a disorder of immune regulation. Occup.Med. 1987;2:669-681.
23. Jaakkola MS, Yang L, Ieromnimon A, Jaakkola JJ. Office work exposures [corrected] and respiratory and sick building syndrome symptoms. Occup Environ Med. 2007 Mar;64(3):178-84.
24. Heuser G., Wodjani A. and Heuser S. Diagnostic markers in chemical sensitivity. In Multiple Chemical Sensitivities: Addendum to Biologic Markers in Immunotoxicology, 1992l;117-138. Washington DC: National Academy Press
25. McGovern, J.J., Jr., Lazaroni, J.A., Hicks, M.F., Adler, J.C. and Cleary, P. Food and chemical sensitivity. Clinical and immunologic correlates. Arch Otolaryngol. 1983;109:292-297.
26. Galland, L. 1987. Biochemical abnormalities in patients with multiple chemical sensitivities. Occup.Med. 1987;2:713-720.
27. Gibson, PR, Cheavens, J, & Warren, ML Chemical injury chemical sensitivity and life disruption. James Madison University.
28. Bell, I.R., Wyatt, J.K., Bootzin, R.R. and Schwartz, G.E. Slowed reaction time performance on a divided attention task in elderly with environmental chemical odor intolerance. Int.J Neurosci. 1995;84:127-134.
29. Meggs W.J., Cleveland C.H., Jr. Rhinolaryngoscopic examination of patients with the multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome. Arch.Environ.Health 1993;48:14-18.
30. Hummel, T., Roscher, S., Jaumann, M.P. and Kobal, G. Intranasal chemoreception in patients with multiple chemical sensitivities: a double-blind investigation. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 1996;24:Pt2:S79-86
31. Bell, I.R., Bootzin, R.R., Ritenbaugh, C., Wyatt, J.K., DeGiovanni, G., Kulinovich, T., Anthony, J.L., Kuo, T.F., Rider, S.P., Peterson, J.M., Schwartz, G.E. and Johnson, K.A. A polysomnographic study of sleep disturbance in community elderly with self-reported environmental chemical odor intolerance. Biol Psychiatry 1996;40:123-133.
32. Lieberman, A. D. and M. R. Craven. Reactive Intestinal Dysfunction Syndrome (RIDS) caused by chemical exposures. Arch Environ Health 1998;53(5): 354-8.
33. Spinasanta, S. Nuclear Imaging: SPECT Scans and PET Scans. Spine Universe; 2005
34. Matthews, B.L. Defining Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Jefferson, NC: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub; 1998.
35. Heuser G, Mena I. Neurospect in neurotoxic chemical exposure demonstration of long-term functional abnormalities. Toxicol Ind Health. 1998;Nov-Dec;14(6):813-27.
36. Callender, TJ, et al. Three-dimensional brain and metabolic imaging in patients with toxic encephalopathy. Environmental Res. 1993;60: 295-319.
37. Callender, TJ, et al. Evaluation of chronic neurological sequelae after acute pesticide exposure using SPECT brain scans. Journal Toxicology & Environmental Health. 1995;41:275-284.
38. Heuser, G, et al. Neurospect findings in patients exposed to neurotoxic chemicals. Toxicology & Industrial Health. 1994;10:561-571.
39. Ross GH, Rea WJ, Johnson AR, Hickey DC, and Simon TR: Neurotoxicity in single photon emission computed tomography brain scans of patients reporting chemical sensitivities. Toxicol Ind Health 1999;15(3-4):415-420.
40. Simon TR, Hickey DC, Fincher CE, Johnson AR, Ross GH and Rea WJ: Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography of the brain in patients with chemical sensitivities. Toxicol Ind Health 1994;10:573-577.
2. Bell, IR, Schwartz, GE, Peterson, JM, Amend, D and Stini, WA. Possible time-dependent sensitization to xenobiotics: self-reported illness from chemical odors, foods, and opiate drugs in an older adult population. Arch Environ Health. 1993 48: 315-27.
3. Meggs WJ, Dunn KA, Bloch RM, Goodman PE, & Davidoff AL. Prevalence and nature of allergy and chemical sensitivity in a general population. Arch Environ Health. 1996 Jul-Aug;51(4):275-82.
4. Voorhees, RE. Memo from Deputy State Epidemiologist Voorhees to Joe Thompson, Special Counsel, Office of the Governor. New Mexico Department of Health. 1998.
5. Bell, IR, Warg-Damiani, L, Baldwin, CM, Walsh, ME and Schwartz, GE. Self-reported chemical sensitivity and wartime chemical exposures in Gulf War veterans with and without decreased global health ratings. Mil Med. 1998 163:725.
6. Kreutzer R, Neutra RR, & Lashuay N. Prevalence of people reporting sensitivities to chemicals in a population-based survey. Am J Epidemiol. 1999 Jul 1;150(1):1-12.
7. Caress SM, & Steinemann AC. A national population study of the prevalence of multiple chemical sensitivity. Arch Environ Health. 2004 Jun;59(6):300-5.
8. Caress SM, & Steinemann AC. National prevalence of asthma and chemical hypersensitivity: an examination of potential overlap. J Occup Environ Med. 2005 May;47(5):518-22
9. Multiple chemical sensitivity: a 1999 consensus. Arch Environ Health. 1999 May-Jun;54(3):147-9.
10. Tee L. Guidotti, TL. Viewpoint: The Invisible Specialty: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. AAMC Reporter: April 2007.
11. Elofsson, S, et. a. Exposure to organic solvents. Scandinavian Journal of Work & Environmental Health. 1980;6:239-273.
12. Seppalainen, AM, et al. Neurophysiological effects of long-term exposure to a mixture of organic solvents. Scandinavian Journal of Work & Environmental Health. 1978;4:304-314.
13. Jonkman, EJ, et al. Electroencephalographic studies in workers exposed to solvents or pesticides. Electro Clinical Neurophysiology. 1992;82:439-444.
14. Bokina, AI, et al. Investigation of the mechanism of action of atmospheric pollutants on the central nervous system and comparative evaluation of methods of study. Environmental Health Perspectives. 1976;13:37-42.
15. Ziem, G. and McTamney, J. Profile of patients with chemical injury and sensitivity. Environ Health Perspect 1997;105:417-436.
16. Bell I.R. Baldwin, C.M. and Schwartz, G.E. Illness from low levels of environmental chemicals: relevance to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Am J Med. 1998;105:74S-82S.
17. Baldwin, CM and Bell, IR. Increased cardiopulmonary disease risk in a community-based sample with chemical odor intolerance: implications for women's health and health- care utilization. Arch Environ Health 1998;53:347-353.
18. Rea, W.J. Environmentally triggered small vessel vasculitis. Ann.Allergy 1977;38:245-251.
19. Rea, W.J. Environmentally triggered thrombophlebitis. Ann.Allergy 1976;37:101-109.
20. McFadden, S.A. Phenotypic variation in xenobiotic metabolism and adverse environmental response: focus on sulfur-dependent detoxification pathways. Toxicology 1996;111:43-65.
21. Cary, R., Clarke, S. and Delic, J. Effects of combined exposure to noise and toxic substances--critical review of the literature. Ann Occup Hyg 1997;41:455-465.
22. Levin, A.S. and Byers, V.S. Environmental illness: a disorder of immune regulation. Occup.Med. 1987;2:669-681.
23. Jaakkola MS, Yang L, Ieromnimon A, Jaakkola JJ. Office work exposures [corrected] and respiratory and sick building syndrome symptoms. Occup Environ Med. 2007 Mar;64(3):178-84.
24. Heuser G., Wodjani A. and Heuser S. Diagnostic markers in chemical sensitivity. In Multiple Chemical Sensitivities: Addendum to Biologic Markers in Immunotoxicology, 1992l;117-138. Washington DC: National Academy Press
25. McGovern, J.J., Jr., Lazaroni, J.A., Hicks, M.F., Adler, J.C. and Cleary, P. Food and chemical sensitivity. Clinical and immunologic correlates. Arch Otolaryngol. 1983;109:292-297.
26. Galland, L. 1987. Biochemical abnormalities in patients with multiple chemical sensitivities. Occup.Med. 1987;2:713-720.
27. Gibson, PR, Cheavens, J, & Warren, ML Chemical injury chemical sensitivity and life disruption. James Madison University.
28. Bell, I.R., Wyatt, J.K., Bootzin, R.R. and Schwartz, G.E. Slowed reaction time performance on a divided attention task in elderly with environmental chemical odor intolerance. Int.J Neurosci. 1995;84:127-134.
29. Meggs W.J., Cleveland C.H., Jr. Rhinolaryngoscopic examination of patients with the multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome. Arch.Environ.Health 1993;48:14-18.
30. Hummel, T., Roscher, S., Jaumann, M.P. and Kobal, G. Intranasal chemoreception in patients with multiple chemical sensitivities: a double-blind investigation. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 1996;24:Pt2:S79-86
31. Bell, I.R., Bootzin, R.R., Ritenbaugh, C., Wyatt, J.K., DeGiovanni, G., Kulinovich, T., Anthony, J.L., Kuo, T.F., Rider, S.P., Peterson, J.M., Schwartz, G.E. and Johnson, K.A. A polysomnographic study of sleep disturbance in community elderly with self-reported environmental chemical odor intolerance. Biol Psychiatry 1996;40:123-133.
32. Lieberman, A. D. and M. R. Craven. Reactive Intestinal Dysfunction Syndrome (RIDS) caused by chemical exposures. Arch Environ Health 1998;53(5): 354-8.
33. Spinasanta, S. Nuclear Imaging: SPECT Scans and PET Scans. Spine Universe; 2005
34. Matthews, B.L. Defining Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Jefferson, NC: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub; 1998.
35. Heuser G, Mena I. Neurospect in neurotoxic chemical exposure demonstration of long-term functional abnormalities. Toxicol Ind Health. 1998;Nov-Dec;14(6):813-27.
36. Callender, TJ, et al. Three-dimensional brain and metabolic imaging in patients with toxic encephalopathy. Environmental Res. 1993;60: 295-319.
37. Callender, TJ, et al. Evaluation of chronic neurological sequelae after acute pesticide exposure using SPECT brain scans. Journal Toxicology & Environmental Health. 1995;41:275-284.
38. Heuser, G, et al. Neurospect findings in patients exposed to neurotoxic chemicals. Toxicology & Industrial Health. 1994;10:561-571.
39. Ross GH, Rea WJ, Johnson AR, Hickey DC, and Simon TR: Neurotoxicity in single photon emission computed tomography brain scans of patients reporting chemical sensitivities. Toxicol Ind Health 1999;15(3-4):415-420.
40. Simon TR, Hickey DC, Fincher CE, Johnson AR, Ross GH and Rea WJ: Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography of the brain in patients with chemical sensitivities. Toxicol Ind Health 1994;10:573-577.
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Copyrighted © 2008 MCS America
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Key Words: multiple chemical sensitivity, chemical sensitivity, chemical sensitivities, multiple chemical sensitivities, MCS, EI, environmental illness, sick building syndrome, idiopathic environmental intolerance, fibromyalgia, chronic fatiuge, FM, CFS, mold illness, clinical ecology, alternative medicine, environmental medicine, neuropathy, encephalopathy, toxic, chemical
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