Daily Archives: January 3, 2019

What’s it Like to Have MCS/ES? Part 1: Arms, Brains, and Legs

Posted on January 3, 2019 | 10 comments

MCS/ES (multiple chemical sensitivities / environmental sensitivities) is a disability recognized by the Canadian and Ontario Human Rights Codes. There are over a million people with doctor diagnosed MCS in Canada, and so many more all around the world.

The term ‘sensitivities’ seems to trivialize the condition in many people’s minds.

You may wonder what’s it really like then, if it’s not trivial?

‘have legs or brain some days but not others’

Continue reading →

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Posted in Accessibility, Disability, Environmental Health, Human Rights, Mental Health, Toxic Trespass

Tagged autism, barriers, chemical sensitivity, discrimination., EHS, environmental sensitivities, Fragrance, fragrance-free, hazardous air pollutants, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, toxic trespass

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Linda’s home to heal, with safe air, safe food, safe water & safe clothes

Linda’s home to heal, with safe air, safe food, safe water & safe clothes
Seriously “Sensitive” to Pollution

Seriously “Sensitive” to Pollution
Wendy’s House

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Recent Posts
- Persil: Just STOP!
- Human Rights and Housing: New Resources for Community Workers Supporting Clients with Chemical and Environmental Sensitivities
- Video Discussions about Environmental Illnesses, “Sensitivities”, and Disability
- Safe Housing Survey
- Now Online: “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Survival Guide”
- Hyperthyroidism in Cats Exposed to Air “Fresheners”, Upholstered Furniture, and New Buildings
- How to Basics: Accessible Washrooms for People With MCS/ES
- Accessibility STOP Signs
- Mask Challenge Revisited
- Three New Videos About Environmental Sensitivities
- Simple Fragrance-Free Posters in English and French
- MCS/ES: Societal Neglect = No More Fun and Games for Life on the Planet
- MCS Survey for May 2019
- Can’t Ban Fragrances? Consider a Fragrance Free Zone
- Welcome to the 2019 Edition of MCS/ES Awareness Month
- Gain – Sinking Your Disabled Boat
- Appropriating Disability Language to Sell Products That Harm People With Disabilities
- Are Natural Fragrances Really Any Better?
- Review Finds Ontario Far From Accessible but Report Includes People With Environmental Sensitivities
- Petitions! Fragrance-free Health Care in the U.S. & Safe Housing in B.C.
- Harm Reduction Policy for People With Autism
- The Fragrance-free Checklist
- Product Safety Gaps are Actually Canyons
- Your Very Own Neighbourhood Chemical Distribution Device
- When Someone Says They’re Fragrance-Free, But
- They Said I Wasn’t Fragrance-Free. How Can That Be?
- UK’s Clean Air Strategy 2019 Addresses Product VOCs
- So You Think We’re Being Difficult When We ask You to Change Products?
- What’s it Like to Have MCS/ES? Part 3: Toast Chaos
- What’s it Like to Have MCS/ES? Part 2: Curbs
- What’s it Like to Have MCS/ES? Part 1: Arms, Brains, and Legs
- What Are Your Wishes for 2019?
- Return to Vendor
- CBC News Hi-lights Accessibility Barriers to Housing for People With MCS/ES
- Environmental Sensitivities (Chemical, Electrical, and Beyond) in Ecopsychology
- Health Canada and Chemicals in Fragranced Products
- Gifts for People with MCS/ES
- When There’s No Accessible Potty
- How NOT to Do a Scent (or fragrance) Policy
- Sharing My Truth
- Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Father Made a Fortune Representing the Fragrance Industry
- Choices… We Always Have Some
- When Toxics Drift
- Fragrance-Free Initiative From UC Boulder’s OIT
- Every Day is Earth Day
- Laundry Products Harm Humans!
- Open Letter to the Ontario Minister of Health and the MOHLTC
- 11 Reasons To Stop Using Fragrances and Implement Fragrance-free Policies
- Canary Separates and Onesies aka Hazmat Gear
- There Is No Right to Wear Fragranced Products

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Archives
Archives
Categories
Categories
Adverse Effects reporting
- Adverse Reaction and Medical Device Problem Reporting – Canada Consumers/patients and health professionals can report adverse reactions (also known as side effects) to health products
- How to File an ADA Complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice You can file an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint alleging disability discrimination against a State or local government or a public accommodation (private business including, for example, a restaurant, doctor’s office, retail store, hotel, etc.).
- Report a Food Safety or Labelling Concern (Canada)
- Report a Food Safety Problem (US) Report food poisoning or other adverse effects
- Report an Adverse Effect or Unsafe Product (U.S.) Product Safety Commission – Through SaferProducts.gov, consumers, child service providers, health care professionals, government officials and public safety entities can submit reports of harm
- Report an Incident Involving a Consumer Product (Canada) The Consumer Product Safety Directorate deals with reports of consumer product-related health or safety concerns from industry and consumers
Environmental Health
- "Chemical Exposures: Low Levels and High Stakes, Second Edition" PDF available of the groundbreaking book by Nicholas A. Ashford and Claudia S. Miller
- CHE Toxicant and Disease Database a searchable database that summarizes links between chemical contaminants and approximately 180 human diseases or conditions.
- Environmental Health Barriers Toolkit from NCIL (National Council on Independent Living)
- Environmental Health Trust – Electromagnetic Sensitivity also known as Microwave Sickness
- Environmental Working Group Health/Toxics and much much more
- Eradicating Ecocide
- Fracking, Shale Gas and Health
- Sandra Steingraber , an acclaimed ecologist and author, explores the links between human rights and the environment, with a focus on chemical contamination
- Silent Spring Institute Everyday Chemical Exposures
- TEDX (The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, Inc.) founded by Dr. Theo Colborn
- Toxic Clout explores how the industry’s actions create uncertainty and delay, threatening public health. The Center for Public Integrity
- TOXNET – Databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, environmental health, and toxic releases.
- UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment PRHE has developed a series of brochures that describe the common types and routes of exposure to toxic substances and provide evidence-based recommendations on ways to reduce those exposures
- US Chemical Policy Reform Physicians for Social Responsibility… statements from a number of organizations concerned about the new bill
- Washington Toxics Coalition We promote alternatives, advocate policies, empower communities and educate people to create a healthy environment.
Food
- Buy Non-GMO Buying non-GMO not only impacts your own and your family’s health concerns, it also influences the buying decisions of food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
- Cultivating Food Co-ops – resources and tools to meet the needs of those involved in sustainable food and farming co-operatives
- Dr Vandana Shiva and Navdanya are actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture. It has created awareness on the hazards of genetic engineering, defended people’s knowledge from biopiracy and food rights in the face of globalisation and climate chan
- Farmers' Markets in Canada
- Gluten-Free Goddess —Recipes with a side of life.
- LocalHarvest (USA mostly) Use our website to find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area
- Ontario Natural Food Co-op natural, organic and local foods and products within a co-operative network.
- Organic Food in Canada
Fragrance
- Accommodation and Compliance: Fragrance Sensitivity from JAN Includes info about the ADA and examples of fragrance-free workplace policy statements.
- Accommodation and Compliance: Fragrance Sensitivity from JAN Includes info about the ADA and examples of fragrance-free workplace policy statements.
- Canadian Lung Association Pollution & Indoor air quality – Scents
- CDC Indoor Environmental Policy protects those with chemical sensitivities – see pages 9-10
- Dr. Anne C. Steinemann Resources: Fragrance-Free Policies, CDC Indoor Environmental Quality Policy, Leaders for Healthier Air, Air Freshener Fact Sheet, Green Clean Fact Sheet , Toxic Chemicals in Air Fresheners, Toxic Chemicals in Fragranced Laundry Products
- East Bay Meditation Center Accessibility Resources Accessibility Resources
- Fragrance Fact Sheet from the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment
- Fragrance Fact Sheet from Physicians for Social Responsibility Download a PDF from the link
- Fragrance Free Friends Thunder Bay
- Fragrance free policies from around the world
- Health Care Without Harm on fragrance chemicals
- Implementing a Workplace Fragrance Policy as an Accommodation (JAN) From JAN (US Job Accommodation Network) Learn more about how to implement a fragrance-free policy
- Physicians for Social Responsibility Fact sheet on fragrances Fact sheet from PSR on fragrances in consumer products and their impact on human health.
- Undisclosed chemicals in fragranced products Interview with Dr Anne Steinemann
- Women's Voices For The Earth Reports about fragrances and toxic chemicals in everyday products
Going Green
- Alternatives to Fragranced Cleaning Products
- Center for a New American Dream We seek to cultivate a new American dream—one that emphasizes community, ecological sustainability, and a celebration of non-material values.
- Center for Ecoliteracy
- Chemerical: Redefining Clean For A New Generation —Film by Andrew Nisker
- Children & Nature Network
- Creating Healthy Home Environments for Kids: Top 5 Tips Video about making our homes chemically safer and healthier
- EWG Consumer Guides
- Guide to Less Toxic Products
- Healthy Child Healthy World
- How to Go Green: Funerals
- How to Reuse or Recycle Old Clothes
- My Zero Waste Tips and articles for families reducing waste and pollution
- New parents' guide to safer children's products
- Non-Toxic DIY Recipes
- Sandrup Jongkhar Inititiative, Bhutan establishing food security and self-sufficiency, protecting and enhancing the natural environment, strengthening communities, stemming the rural-urban migration tide, and fostering a cooperative, productive, entrepreneurial and self-reliant spirit
- Simple Green Frugal Co-op
- Steps to a Plastic-Free Life
- The Economics of Happiness
Housing
- Asthmagens and Asthma Triggers in the Built Environment
- Breathing Easy —Environmental Analysis and Technology, Products and Services for Healthy Buildings
- Build A Healthy House Margaret Forrest chronicles her experiences building a healthy house
- Cedar Rock a proposed “healthy organic progressive ecological/ergonomic” community development project
- Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) “Housing as a Medical Necessity”, Creating Healthy Multi-Unit Housing, Creating Healthy Apartments,
- Creating Healthy Home Environments for Kids: Top 5 Tips Video about making our homes chemically safer and healthier
- EcoNest Co. Paula Baker-Laporte Consulting Services, Architectural Design & Portfolio, Bau Biologie, Articles & Books, Events
- EHAQ ECOASIS Safe Housing Project in the Laurentian Mountain area of Quebec
- EI Wellspring Practical Tips for Coping with Chemical and Electrical Hypersensitivity
- Environmental Sensitivities and Housing Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation
- Environmental Sensitivities and Rental Housing Toolkit 2019 A Toolkit for Community Workers from CERA (The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation)
- Guide for Tenants/Patients Living with Mould Includes ways that a doctor can help get the mould problem fixed,
- Healthy Building Network
- MCS Housing About, Links, Resources
- My Chemical-Free House A guide to building a chemical-free, mould-free house
- Paula Baker Laporte Articles & books about healthy housing
- ReShelter Charitable non-profit (US) to address the urgent need for housing alternatives for people with environmental sensitivities.
- Template Letter Applying For Low Allergy Housing Letter for Doctors and other support people to assist people into the right kind of housing
Human Rights
- Accommodation and Compliance: Electrical Sensitivity The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
- Accommodation and Compliance: Fragrance Sensitivity from JAN Includes info about the ADA and examples of fragrance-free workplace policy statements.
- Accommodation and Compliance: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity JAN the Job Accommodation Network
- Canadian Human Rights Commission Environmental Sensitivities: Policy, Medical, and Legal Perspectives (2007)
- CDC Indoor Environmental Policy protects those with chemical sensitivities – see pages 9-10
- Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) “Housing as a Medical Necessity”, Creating Healthy Multi-Unit Housing, Creating Healthy Apartments,
- Environmental Health Barriers Toolkit from NCIL (National Council on Independent Living)
- Environmental Sensitivities and Housing Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation
- Environmental Sensitivities and Rental Housing Toolkit 2019 A Toolkit for Community Workers from CERA (The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation)
- Environmentally Induced Illnesses: Ethics, Risk Assessment and Human Rights
- Eradicating Ecocide
- Fragrance Sensitivity and the Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Fragrance Sensitivity
- How to File an ADA Complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice You can file an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint alleging disability discrimination against a State or local government or a public accommodation (private business including, for example, a restaurant, doctor’s office, retail store, hotel, etc.).
- Ontario – Policy on ableism and discrimination based on disability 2.2 Non-evident disabilities
- Ontario Human Rights Code Disability and human rights
- Understanding & Accommodating People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in Independent Living by Pamela Reed Gibson, Ph.D. James Madison University
MCS/ES Resources
- A GUIDE TO LIVING WITH MCS from ASEHA Qld in Australia
- American Academy of Environmental Medicine Definition of Chemical Sensitivities, with list of specialists and more at the website
- Amputated Lives: Coping with Chemical Sensitivity Amputated Lives: Coping with Chemical Sensitivity by Alison Johnson With a Foreword by L. Christine Oliver, M.D., Harvard Medical School
- ANRES Australian National Register of Environmental Sensitivities
- CDC Indoor Environmental Policy protects those with chemical sensitivities – see pages 9-10
- Chemical Sensitivity Foundation The primary goal of the Chemical Sensitivity Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, is to raise public awareness about multiple chemical sensitivity.
- EI Wellspring Practical Tips for Coping with Chemical and Electrical Hypersensitivity
- Environmental Health Association of Ontario —Non-profit charitable organization that provides support and information to its members with environmental sensitivities.
- Environmental Health Association of Québec (EHAQ) Sustainable health: education, awareness, prevention and resources for people with MCS/ES
- Environmental Health Barriers Toolkit from NCIL (National Council on Independent Living)
- Environmental Illness Network Minnesota Links for policies, research and much more
- MCS Brochure (PDF) from Massachusetts Department of Public Health “What You Should Know About Multiple Chemical Sensitivity”
- MCS Under Siege by Ann McCampbell, MD
- MCS: A survival Guide Excellent book, excerpts available at the link
- MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY (MCS) Research from JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY Pam Gibson and her research team’s journal and conference papers
- Ohio Network for the Chemically Injured
- Ontario – Policy on ableism and discrimination based on disability 2.2 Non-evident disabilities
- Quand l'Environment Rend Malade
- Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) a screening instrument for multiple chemical intolerance
- Recognition Inclusion and Equity Ontario Centre of Excellence in Environmental Health (OCEEH)
- Safe Canary Nest Excellent compilation of resources for canaries
- Understanding & Accommodating People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in Independent Living by Pamela Reed Gibson, Ph.D. James Madison University
Medical
- American Academy of Environmental Medicine Definition of Chemical Sensitivities, with list of specialists and more at the website
- Environmental Health Center-Dallas The mission of the Environmental Health Center – Dallas is to provide superior medical care and education with a special emphasis on the effects of environmental factors on health and disease.
- Environmental Health Clinic Toronto
- Fragrance Free Implementation Kit for health care facilities (but can be useful anywhere)
- Health Care Without Harm Tools and Resources
- Health Care Without Harm on fragrance chemicals
- Health Information Template A template for health information that needs to be provided prior to hospital admission
- MCS Accommodations Letter from HEAL Arizona written primarily for use in outpatient and even non-medical situations.
- Quinte Healthcare Corporation Hospital Accessibility – Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
- Scent Reduction at Southlake Hospital FAQ – an introduction (note, reduction is not the same as elimination, and they don’t mention scented laundry products, which can be worse than perfumes)
- The 2nd Wind Project documenting the human illnesses across the Gulf of Mexico for those impacted by the April 2010 BP Oil Disaster
Miscellaneous
- Amelia Hill from Australia, her MCS story and resources
- How To Be Alone
- How to Get On a “guide on how to navigate “the system” and how to live a great, disabled life”
- How to get rid of chemicals in fabrics. (Hint: trick question.) Chemicals in Fabrics
- Life in the City with a Future Things you can do to help:
- Marie LeBlanc Canadian disability artist Marie LeBlanc advocates for those living with environmental sensitivities/multiple chemical sensitivity through her art.
- men with fibro fibromyalgia support group for men
- Mindfulness: The Basics
- Mold Illness Community Resources
- Paradigm Change While we are interested in all kinds of toxins (including heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, fire retardants and other chemicals), a particular focus is on the biotoxins made by molds, cyanobacteria and other microorganisms.
- Safe Canary Nest Excellent compilation of resources for canaries
- The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation (CanLyme)
- The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible
- ThinkBeforeYouStink An educational resource for reducing your chemical and fragrance footprint, improving your health, and making your home or business safe and accessible for all.
- Why We Find It Hard to Meditate … common reasons, obstacles and solutions
Mixed Media
- "Stink!" an award-winning documentary – the movie the chemical Industry doesn’t want you to see
- A Wake-Up Story A Wake-Up Story is a must-see video for every parent and anyone that cares about the health and development of children
- “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Short Introduction” Alison Johnson’s latest film
- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: How Chemical Exposures May Be Affecting Your Health Video documentary by Alison Johnson
- Orion Magazine to inform, inspire, and engage individuals and grassroots organizations in becoming a significant cultural force for healing nature and community.
- Slow Death By Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health —Book by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie
- The Story of Stuff Project Short, easily shareable online movies that explore some of the key features of our relationship with Stuff
News
- EcoWatch focuses on the issues of water, air, food, energy and biodiversity
- Environmental Health News a foundation-funded news organization that advances the public’s understanding of environmental health issues by reporting and publishing news stories and providing daily access to news from other media around the world.
Product Info
- EWG Consumer Guides
- Guide to Less Toxic Products
- O Ecotextiles Excellent info on chemicals in textiles and furnishings
- Report an Adverse Effect or Unsafe Product (U.S.) Product Safety Commission – Through SaferProducts.gov, consumers, child service providers, health care professionals, government officials and public safety entities can submit reports of harm
- Report an Incident Involving a Consumer Product (Canada) The Consumer Product Safety Directorate deals with reports of consumer product-related health or safety concerns from industry and consumers
- TOXNET – Databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, environmental health, and toxic releases.
- U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services: Household Products Database —Health and safety information on household products
- Women's Voices For The Earth Reports about fragrances and toxic chemicals in everyday products
Social Media
- Linda's home to heal, with safe air, safe food, safe water & safe clothes Environmental Health news on facebook
- Seriously "Sensitive" to Pollution – FB page for the blog
Wireless
- Accommodation and Compliance: Electrical Sensitivity The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
- Bio Initiative —A rationale for a biologically-based public exposure standard for electromagnetic fields
- EI Wellspring Practical Tips for Coping with Chemical and Electrical Hypersensitivity
- Environmental Health Trust – Electromagnetic Sensitivity also known as Microwave Sickness
- LIVING WITH ELECTROHYPERSENSITIVITY A Survival Guide
- Refugium EHS sanctuaries (and other resources)
- Show Us The Fine Print cell phone safety warnings
- The BabySafe Wireless Project a joint initiative of two environmental health non-profit organizations providing info like What You Should Know About Wireless Radiation and Your Baby
- The Switch2Safe project exists to inform the public of the dangers of e-pollution and to advise on ways to lower it in the home, at work and other public places
January 2019

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Daily Archives: January 3, 2019

What’s it Like to Have MCS/ES? Part 1: Arms, Brains, and Legs

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