Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Enzyme Related Toxic Overdose

[Guest guest]

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity:

Enzyme Related Toxic Overdose

by Sepp (Josef) Hasslberger

November 16, 2004

_http://www.thenhf.com/articles_53.htm_

(http://www.thenhf.com/articles_53.htm)

 

 

More than 200 diseases have been linked to pollution by a recent study,

according to an article published in The Independent. Although it has been

known

for some time that increased cancer incidence is linked to pollution, it is

seldom we see an open acknowledgement in the mainstream press that we are

actively poisoning ourselves with chemicals and other pollutants released

freely

into the environment. Those substances are so ubiquitous that most people

have a toxic cocktail mixed in with their blood.

 

Although some tentative steps in the right direction are being taken - there

is the recent announcement of a National Institutes of Health study that

recommends doctors and nurses be given more environmental health training to

prevent, recognize, and treat diseases caused by environmental exposures, we

are

still a far way from really understanding just what we are doing to

ourselves.

 

Unfortunately there is much politics involved and the sufferers from

pollution are having a hard time getting their illness recognized, much less to

be

treated with anything but psychiatric medications, as the going explanation is

that " it's all in your head " . Martin Walker, author of " Dirty Medicine " , has

researched the pressures brought to bear against patients and physicians by

the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in his latest book " Skewed " . The

book is revealing, although it does not attempt to explain causes or possible

cures for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and related illnesses. It lays out what

the politics are and gives us a good idea of the players involved.

 

There is an effort to attain global recognition of Multiple Chemical

Sensitivity and related illnesses as real and caused by pollution, not by the

imagination of those suffering. The Global Recognition Campaign site is run by

Diana Buckland, a representative of the Australian Chemical Trauma Alliance.

 

Another Chemical Sensitivity campaign is located in Washington State, in the

US. Don Richard Paladin of Bellingham, Washington State, gives us a succinct

overview in his article which links chemical sensitivity to a deficiency in

detoxification enzymes...

 

 

Chemical Intolerance - Overcoming Psychogenic Psychobabble

by Don Richard Paladin of Bellingham, Washington State

 

There have been attempts to help explain why one person may have a low

tolerance for a chemical and others may not. Very recent research from Canada

may

demonstrate a relationship between deficiencies of enzymes and chemical

intolerance. The American Academy of Family Physicians, The American Medical

Association and other medical associations need to review and become current on

their positions on Environmental Intolerance (aka Multiple Chemical

Sensitivity).

 

There is much literature sponsored by advocates for industry which attempts

to minimize the consequences of synthetic toxic chemicals by suggesting that

those who report symptoms from these chemicals have psychosomatic disorders.

There are likely relationships between environmental triggers and

psychological as well as other symptoms. Symptoms, however, are not causes.

 

Dr. Robert Haley has reported a relationship between Gulf War Syndrome and a

deficiency of the enzyme serum paraoxonase (Pon-Q) that detoxifies

organophosphates. He has concluded that a deficiency of this enzyme

can explain why one soldier may tolerate a higher dose of an organophosphate

exposure and another may be damaged and become ill.

 

A report in the New York Times explains, " Citing new scientific research on

the effects of exposure to low levels of neurotoxins, the Research Advisory

Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses concludes in its draft report that

" a substantial proportion of Gulf War veterans are ill with multisymptom

conditions not explained by wartime stress or psychiatric illness. It says a

growing body of research suggests that many veterans' symptoms have a

neurological

cause and that there is a " probable link " to exposure to neurotoxins. "

 

Recent research by Ella H. Sklan et al may help explain the Panic Attack and

anxiety connection to exposures to stimuli that may be toxic (like

pesticides). " Serum AChE and PON enzyme activities were both found to be

affected by

demographic parameters, and showed inverse, reciprocal associations with

anxiety measures. "

 

If one has a much lower level than normal of the enzymes involved in

detoxification of any given stimuli (Pon-Q and organophosphates are the example

being used), then one will have a lower TOLERANCE to the stimuli than those

with

a normal tolerance. It is interesting that a lower level of PON-Q and AChE

may also be implicated in the precipitation of anxiety. This suggests the lower

level of enzymes and other biochemicals may be responsible for symptoms of

anxiety and panic disorders.

 

It is time we move away from a psychological explanation of the cause of

chemical intolerance and try to understand the rudimentary biochemistry behind

the illness. Not only will this information help those with antibody mediated

allergies but also greatly help those with intolerance to environmental

stimuli.

 

Since MCS (Chemical Intolerance, Environmental Intolerance) is not an

antibody mediated allergy, allergy specialists and others should acknowledge

they

do NOT understand the mechanism of the disorder and quit trying to discount it

with a " psychogenic " canard. Anyone with any knowledge of medical history

knows that both antibody mediated allergies and asthma were once considered to

be psychosomatic. There is a great deal we all don't understand. A little

humility by the medical community would go a long way.