Indoor Air Quality
Previous
Next
Index
Forecasts
scroll up or down
FORECASTS: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Kaliningrad, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States
Links
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Scientists know what the illness is not: it is not an inflammation, allergy, intoxication, or infection, and it is not inherited. In theory, MCS is an acquired multisystem illness, i.e. it doesn't affect only one organ but several body systems, and it is caused by low levels of chemicals, in particular those that are abundant in the indoor air. While scientists can prove the existence of the chemicals in the environment, no medical tests can substantiate the existence of MCS, though. A diagnosis is, therefore, subjective and relies on the symptoms a patient displays and describes during a consultation.
The body is like a storage cabinet for toxic substances. A drawer may contain lead or mercury, while another may store modern chemical compounds, such as dioxins or pesticides. Each individual substance accumulates over the years until the drawer is full and eventually overcomes the body’s tolerance. The person will then experience a predictable toxic reaction to a particular chemical. This is the reaction in a normal person. In a highly sensitive person, however, the drawers don't have to overflow at all. They may contain only traces of several chemicals, but it appears that the interaction of several substances may be enough to sensitize a person. Symptoms may not develop for some time, but prolonged exposure will eventually result in a multitude of acute reactions.
MCS appears to affect mostly the brain and nerve tissues in the central spinal cord (central nervous system), the lungs and the mucous layer in nose and throat (respiratory disorders), or the stomach and the intestines (gastrointestinal problems). In addition to typical allergic reactions, a person may experience: lack of energy, weakness, depressed mood, sleep disturbances, memory loss, dizziness, headache, aching joints or muscles, altered sense of smell. The symptoms vary with every person and can be mild or may be so severe that they interfere with daily life.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is another illness of our modern times. And, as with the Sick Building Syndrome, the medical profession is at a loss to explain the exact cause and mechanism. There is plenty of guesswork and plenty of suspicion, however, and the subject is highly controversial.
Scientist can't even agree to one name, because it also known as chemical hypersensitivity, environmental illness, environmental maladaptation syndrome and many other names. For our purpose let's stick to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, the term that is more widely used.