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Allergies - Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Question: Two
years ago there was a chemical spill at my workplace, and many of my co-workers
and I became ill immediately after the exposure. Since then, I haven't been the
same. It feels like I can't think as clearly now, and I seem to be allergic to
almost everything, including perfumes, cosmetics, detergents and household
cleaning products. I heard about multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) on a radio
talk show, and I think I am chemically sensitive. When I asked my doctor about
MCS, he didn't have much to say about it. What can you tell me about multiple
chemical sensitivity?
Answer: I can tell you that
multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is something of a medical mystery. The
medical community is divided over whether or not MCS actually exists.
Some physicians acknowledge MCS as a
medical disorder that is triggered by exposures to chemicals in the environment,
often beginning with a short term, severe chemical exposure (like a chemical
spill) or with a longer term, small exposures (like a poorly ventilated office
building). After the initial exposure, low levels of everyday chemicals such as
those found in cosmetics, soaps, and newspaper inks can trigger physical
reactions in MCS patients. These patients report a range of symptoms that often
include headaches, rashes, asthma, depression, muscle and joint aches, fatigue,
memory loss, and confusion.
Others in the medical community, however,
do not accept MCS as a genuine medical disorder. The Centers for Disease
Control, for example, do not recognize MCS as a clinical diagnosis. There is no
official medical definition of MCS, partially because symptoms and chemical
exposures are often unique and are widely varied between individuals. Some
physicians are skeptical of concluding that low concentrations of the same
chemicals that are tolerated by everyone else can cause dramatic symptoms in MCS
patients. The American Medical Association denies that MCS is a clinical
condition because conclusive scientific evidence is lacking.
National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences
Path:
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Information>Allergies-Multiple
Chemical Sensitivities
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