HEALTH: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

[Guest guest]

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

by Cathy Wong

 

When Shawna Doherty, a 46-year old mural artist, was told that she may

have multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), she was relieved. The

symptoms she was experiencing, such as unexplained fatigue, baffled her

doctors. They could not pin down the cause after repeated laboratory

tests. One doctor even suggested that she " just needed to get out more " .

Finally, Shawna was referred to a doctor specializing in environmental

medicine who believes the cause of her illness stems from a sensitivity

to the chemicals in the paint she works with.

 

MCS is a relatively new and controversial diagnosis. Exactly how it

affects the body is not yet known and is just starting to be studied.

Some critics in the medical community, however, dismiss it as being

essentially a psychological disorder with physical manifestations.

 

MCS is diagnosed after alternative reasons for the symptoms, such as

cancer and other illnesses, have been ruled out. A person with MCS often

has a history of chemical exposure. After the initial exposure, he or

she may become increasingly sensitive to an array of foods and chemicals

at levels that would not cause the same reaction in an ordinary person.

 

Symptoms of MCS were recently studied by the government-funded Nova

Scotia Environmental Health Center, a clinic that receives patients only

by referral from medical doctors. The Center mailed 812 of its patients

questionnaires about their symptoms. The questionnaire consisted of a

general health and lifestyle history, the nature, frequency, and

intensity of the symptoms, whether or not the symptoms worsened after an

identified exposure, the limitations in daily activities from illness,

and additional illnesses the patient had. Out of the 812 questionnaires,

384 (47%) were returned.

 

The top symptoms reported by the patients were:

altered sense of smell

fatigue, very tired, without energy

tiredness not relieved by rest or sleep

usually acceptable odors were sickening

trouble seeing at night*

bruise easily*

sensitive to temperature change*

 

* these symptoms occurred after chemical exposure

 

Although the poor response rate may have biased the results, this report

increases our understanding of the type, frequency, and severity of the

most common symptoms of MCS. Further studies are needed to establish the

validity of this syndrome and to develop treatment protocols, especially

considering the constant introduction of new chemicals into our environment.

 

References

1. Joffres MR, Williams T, Sabo B, Fox, RA. Environmental

Sensitivities: Prevalence of Major Symptoms in a Referral Center: The

Nova Scotia Environmental Sensitivities Research Center Study.

Environmental Health Perspectives 2001;109:161-165.

 

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