With Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, (MCS), a person develops markedly severe or allergy-like reactions to everyday chemicals. These include pesticides from buildings, gardens, food, pets; chemical cleaners; petrochemicals, (petrol, diesel); paints; perfumes; industrial emissions; solvents; VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds); smoke and a myriad others.

One of the major problems for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is lack of a widely accepted definition of the illness.

Consensus criteria for the definition of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) were first identified in a 1989 multidisciplinary survey of 89 clinicians and researchers with extensive experience in, but widely differing views of, MCS. A decade later, their top 5 consensus criteria defining MCS are:

[1] a chronic condition
[2] with symptoms that recur reproducibly
[3] in response to low levels of exposure
[4] to multiple unrelated chemicals and
[5] improve or resolve when incitants are removed
[6] propose adding: requiring that symptoms occur in multiple organ systems.

MCS can be the result of a single massive exposure or repeated exposures to low levels of one or more neurotoxic chemicals.

We have been conditioned to think of these exposures as being "normal" and inconsequential, but for a growing portion of the population they are not.

The processes and mechanism of causation are still not fully understood. MCS present itself differently in each patient, often making diagnosis and treatment difficult. The most effective treatment is complete avoidance of pollutants/toxicants.

These are some of the symptoms of MCS. There are many more.

• anaphylaxis
• burning eyes
• digestive upset
• dizziness/vertigo
• extreme fatigue
• headache/migraine
• muscle & joint pain
• nausea/vomiting
• paralysis
• poor memory/poor concentration
• rashes/eczema
• sleep disturbances
• sinus problems
• sore throat, cough
• wheezing/breathlessness