Chemical sensitivity lingers for 'San Antonio Seven'

More research into MCS and ES is needed,doctors warn

Environmental sensitivities are on the rise, experts say

A group of Southwest Airlines employees who got sick working at the airline’s San Antonio reservations center in the 1990s are still experiencing the health impact 18 years after the fact.

They say they developed a rash of symptoms they attributed to the building’s indoor air quality, including mold problems, pesticide use, bacteria in the air vents and more.

As the San Antonio Seven, they sued the airline, but lost their case.

Recently, they spoke out, drawing attention to the fact that multiple chemical sensitivities, or environmental sensitivities, are difficult to manage and once triggered, unlikely to ever go away completely.

The airtight design of the building and the serious case of black mold that was growing behind ceiling tiles, carpeting, insulation and in the HVAC system affected the workers health in a way that they started experiencing severe reactions to chemicals outside of the workplace.

MCS not well understood by the public and healthcare professionals

The condition is still not well understood, as there is no official definition accepted by the medical community.

Petrochemicals are a common ingredient
in most household products.

MCS can affect a multitude of areas in the body, including the nervous system, the endocrine system and the immune system.

The lack of research and experts on the topic and the multitude of possible symptoms often leads to misdiagnosis for patients, who may be unsure of what caused their ailments.

“People were overlooking the fact that this is a two-step mechanism. There’s this initial exposure event, the loss of tolerance, and then people start being triggered by things,” Dr. Claudia Miller, an allergist and immunologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center’s School of Medicine, told the Current in an in-depth article on the subject.

“They often don’t even realize the fragrances that are now triggering their symptoms are not the cause of their illness, necessarily. It may be pesticides in their home, it may be the sick building, their home or workplace.”

Low-level exposures affect everyone

According to Miller, people nowadays are exposed to petrochemical toxins in their environments – from VOCs in sick buildings that are outgassing from construction materials, adhesives, cleaning agents and other building features to the many pollutants that are lurking in their own homes.

Airtight construction often leads to higher concentrations of pollutants within their walls.

Read the entire article in the Current here.

AllerAir’s MCS Air Quality Program

Air cleaners for MCS with carbon
and Super-HEPA filters

AllerAir is committed to help people with MCS get relief, by offering information-based webinars, a library of related articles, an an air quality program that includes a carbon test kit, a custom-made air purifier with the most inert materials on the market to prevent off-gassing, additional information and consultations with an air quality expert and more.

The air purifiers for MCS from AllerAir feature a deep-bed activated carbon filter to remove a wide range of irritating and harmful odors, chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors from the ambient air, a Super-HEPA or micro-HEPA to remove 99% of particles at 0.1 microns, organic unbleached cotton pre-filters to capture larger particles and prolong filter life and a variety of other options designed to improve air quality.

Recommended MCS air purifiers include:

• 5000 MCS Supreme
• 5000 D MCS Supreme
• AirMedic MCS (for people who also have asthma and other allergies)
• AirMedic D MCS (see above)

Contact AllerAir for more information.

Supporting Loved Ones with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome and Reducing Chemical Exposures

Seeking refuge from the many chemicals and toxins that threaten their health and well-being often forces people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome into isolation. A positive, supportive attitude can have a big impact on a friend or family member suffering with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome. Living with Environmental sensitivities can mean enduring rejection and life in quarantine. People suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome experience severe symptoms that interfere with their day-to-day activities, and so their goal is to reduce their chemical exposures.

For those suffering with Environmental sensitivities, finding a home that doesn’t make them sick can be overwhelming. Newer homes are built with materials that emit chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene, while air fresheners, plug-ins and a variety of toxic cleaning chemicals leave behind a toxic trail of over 400 airborne pollutants.

Older homes present other air quality problems like mold, lead, asbestos and radon. They also tend to have poor ventilation systems, so just imagine the chemical exposures. If finding a safe home presents such a unique set of challenges, how difficult must it be to venture into a world that is clueless about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome and the dangers of chemical exposures?

In a world that glorifies the signature scent and equates cleanliness with the smell of pine, is it really necessary to question why an MCS sufferer finds his/her self in isolation? Central nervous system depressants and carcinogens are present in everyday products affecting indoor air quality in homes, schools and offices around the world.

People are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of chemicals and of how real chemical allergies really are. Once referred to as a “spurious disease,” the growing numbers of people suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome worldwide is sparking interest and support.

There are choices that we can make everyday to reduce chemical exposures and indoor air pollution. Firstly, we must begin by redefining the meaning of a clean home.

Help your loved one stay involved and active by following these simple rules.

1. Put yourself in their shoes
2. Find out which products your loved one can tolerate
3. Try using dye and perfume free laundry detergent
4. Try crystal stick deodorants
5. Use an air purifier in your home

Avoid:

1. Clothes washed with regular laundry detergent
2. Wearing dry cleaned clothes
3. Wearing clothes that have spent time next to items with any type of fragrance
4. Wearing nail polish
5. Wearing leather, suede, or any other material that requires protective sprays
6. Anything that is scented (shampoo, hairspray, creams, perfumes, body sprays, etc.)
7. Chewing gum, breath mints, etc.
8. Cosmetics

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome is real. Chemical exposures can have a real impact on your health, eventually leading to environmental sensitivities and a life of discomfort. Showing compassion for a loved one with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome can even improve your quality of life, because it means reducing your chemical exposures. Seems worth it to me.