Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
- Condition with various symptoms appearing after exposure to a range of chemicals.
- Causes not fully understood
-Routine contact and one “big exposure” to VOCs forms a typical pattern
- Medical community still split on diagnosis
see Theories of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Many studies of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) lead to confusing conclusions, with no clear determination if the disease is in fact a physical affliction, or if it is ultimately a psychological disorder. For those who claim to be afflicted, the symptoms are very real.
Symptoms vary from case to case, with common ones being respiratory constriction, swelling of certain glands (which vary from case to case), or rashes and skin eruptoins. Headahes, fevers, chills, nausea, fatigue and other more general symptoms often accompany one of these common major symptoms. Recent reassessment of the disease has resulted n researchers suggesting that it be called “time dependent sensitization” (TDS)
Treatment for this disease is typically pursued outside of conventional medical practices in a field known as “clinical ecology.” There are several clinical ecologists, all physicians by training operating facilities in the US, where they offer “detoxification” for MCS sufferers.
References: Case Studies, Chapter 3, pages 24-38, especially pages 32-33, and Chapter 14, pates 171-187; Managing IAQ, pages 53-53