Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) - Refuting the Skeptic

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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) - Refuting the Skeptics

_http://www.sylvane.com/blog/multiple-chemical-sensitivity-skeptics/_

(http://www.sylvane.com/blog/multiple-chemical-sensitivity-skeptics/)

 

Posted by john on August 24th, 2008

Even though millions of people are sensitive to certain chemicals, some

members of the medical establishment have long viewed multiple chemical

sensitivity (MCS) with skepticism.

At a physicians’ conference last year, one immunologist told me that MCS is

“

all in their heads.†At the same conference, another physician told me that

he has suffered from MCS ever since medical school, when he was exposed to

high levels of formaldehyde during dissections.

I know that MCS exists because I have suffered from it. When I was a child

with severe allergies, my mom picked up one of my friends on the way to school

every morning. My friend wore perfume (quite a bit of it), and every time

she got in the car, I got a headache and started sneezing. I often had to roll

down my window to avoid the chemical odor.

Even though some doctors still think it’s “all in your head,†several

years

ago Martin Pall, professor of biochemistry at Washington State University

wrote a paper that describes mechanims of MCS.

Professor Martin explains, “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), where

people report being exquisitely sensitive to a wide range of organic chemicals,

is

almost always described as being ‘controversial.’ The main source of this

supposed controversy is that there has been no plausible physiological

mechanism for MCS and consequently, it was difficult to interpret the puzzling

reported features of this condition. As discussed below, this is no longer true

and consequently the main source of such controversy has been laid to rest.â€

“The descriptions of MCS made by a several different research groups are

remarkably consistent. MCS sufferers report being hypersensitive to a wide

variety of hydrophobic organic solvents, including gasoline vapor, perfume,

diesel

or jet engine exhaust, new or remodeled buildings where building materials

or carpeting has outgassed various solvents, vapors associated with copy

machines, many solvents used in industrial settings, cleaning materials and

cigarette and other smoke. Each of these is known to have volatile hydrophobic

organic compounds as a prominent part of its composition.â€

Without going into too much scientific detail, Martin put together a theory

of MCS and answered the most puzzling questions about this widespread

condition:

How do pesticides (organophosphates and carbamates) and hydrophobic organic

solvents act to induce cases of MCS? Each acts to initiate a vicious cycle

mechanism involving NMDA receptors, nitric oxide and peroxynitrite in the

brain, with organophosphates/carbamates acting via one known mechanism and

hydrophobic organic solvents acting by another mechanism.

How do hydrophobic organic solvents act to trigger the symptoms of MCS? They

act by the same mechanism proposed for such solvents in #1 above.

Why is MCS chronic? Presumably for two reasons: Because of the several

positive feedback loops that maintain the elevated nitric

oxide/peroxynitrite/NMDA

activity and also because changes in the synapses of the brain may be long

term.

How can MCS victims be so exquisitely sensitive to organic solvents? Because

there are four different mechanisms by which nitric oxide or peroxynitrite

act to produce the response, with the combination of all four acting

synergistically to produce such exquisite sensitivity. The mechanisms of all

four are

well documented although their relevance to MCS can be questioned.

How can we explain the overlaps of MCS with chronic fatigue syndrome,

fibromyalgia, posttraumatic stress disorder and Gulf War syndrome? All of these

are

proposed to involve excessive nitric oxide and peroxynitrite and all may

also involved excessive NMDA activity.

To see Martin’s full explanation, see his entire paper at _immunesupport.com_

(http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/4371/e/1/T/CFIDS_FM/)

 

_http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/4371/e/1/T/CFIDS_FM/_

(http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/4371/e/1/T/CFIDS_FM/)

(http://www.ei-resource.org/articles/multiple-ch

emical-sensitivity-articles/multiple-chemical-sensitivity--the-end-of-controver\

sy/)

(http://www.sylvane.com/vapor-steam-cleaners.html) If you suffer from MCS,

eliminate chemicals

like pesticides and cleaning agents from your home. Use traps for pest control,

and replace chemical cleaners with a _vapor steam cleaner_

(http://www.sylvane.com/vapor-steam-cleaners.html) .

(http://www.sylvane.com/multiple-chemical-sensitivity-purifier.html)

Eliminate off-gassed chemicals in the air with an _air purifier_

(http://www.sylvane.com/air-purifiers.html) . Some air purifiers are specially

made for people

who suffer from multiple chemical sensitivity. For more information, see _Air

Purifiers for MCS_

(http://www.sylvane.com/multiple-chemical-sensitivity-purifier.html)

_http://www.sylvane.com/multiple-chemical-sensitivity-purifier.html_

(http://www.sylvane.com/multiple-chemical-sensitivity-purifier.html)