What is multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)?
It is a medical disorder in which exposure to certain chemicals causes a raft of health issues.
While some medical experts question if it is real, others say it can be triggered by either sudden extreme exposure to large amounts of a particular chemical – such as a chemical spill – or long-term constant exposure, for example working with chemicals.
It appears that once the sensitivity has been triggered, even low levels of chemicals found in a variety of everyday products can result in symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of MCS are:
• Headaches
• Rashes
• Asthma
• Aching muscles and joints
• Fatigue
• Memory loss
• Confusion and a feeling of “brain fog”
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Visual disturbances
• Restless leg syndrome
• Dry mouth and eyes
• Seizures
• Feelings of weakness
• Intolerance of heat
• Depression and anxiety.
These symptoms can also be the sign of other illnesses, which need to be ruled out. Some people only have mild symptoms but for others, it can be seriously disabling.
Which products cause symptoms?
Many chemicals have been associated with MCS, with substances that have a strong smell among those most commonly blamed for causing reactions.
Items most likely to result in sensitivity include:
• Cleaning products
• Perfumes
• Pesticides
• Vehicle exhausts
• Products used by hairdressers
• New carpets and furniture
• Chlorine in water
• Paint and solvents.
What is the treatment?
Just as there are no reliable tests to diagnose MCS, there are no proven treatments. Avoiding the chemicals that cause a reaction is usually the first course of action. For example, if you’ve noticed your symptoms since using particular cleaning products, changing to chemical-free cleaners may help.
But it is not always possible or practical to avoid what you suspect may trigger your sensitivity – for example, if you believe your health issues are the result of the new carpet laid in your office, it is going to be difficult to do anything about that other than leaving your job. And you could find that symptoms still persist.
Some people find that taking medications to ease anxiety and help with sleep can make symptoms a lot more bearable. Your doctor may prescribe drugs designed to improve specific symptoms, for example, painkillers for headaches. Other people turn to natural products and alternative medicines.
Why don’t some doctors believe in MCS?
MCS is not recognised as a chemical-caused illness by some major medical organisations, such as the World Health Organisation or the American Medical Association.
Some tests have shown that MCS patients can react just as strongly to a placebo as a chemical, leading to some theories that symptoms may be psychological.
However, many people who suffer from debilitating symptoms dispute this, saying the effects they suffer are very real. Because many people with MCS also have a major anxiety disorder or suffer from depression, there is a lot of debate about whether MCS is actually a symptom of anxiety or depression, or whether these conditions are a response to having MCS.
Other medical experts believe people who are prone to MCS may have a more acute sense of smell, which results in their sensitivity to certain products.
