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’
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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Special Issue on Ecopsychology and Environmental Sensitivities:
Chemical, Electrical, and Beyond
The articles in the special edition of Ecopsychology are sometimes available for free (like right now), so if you haven’t read them yet, this is a good opportunity to check them out!
This is a real gift from the publisher! The usual cost is about $50 per article!
Please read and share with others who aren’t familiar with what is going on!
http://online.liebertpub.com/toc/eco/9/2
The articles and authors are listed here:
Introduction Continue reading
This is why so many people with MCS/ES, MCAD/MCAS, asthma, migraines, and fragrance allergies and sensitivities lose their jobs and end up housebound.
When policies are mere wallpaper, they become dangerous.
Real people’s lives and well-being are threatened.
Please, do not put up a sign if you are not going to respect or enforce it.
we end up with choices.
Sit outside for a little while to get some Vitamin D
or
Be able to think, wash dishes, and/or make something to eat
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Chemicals, Community, Disability, Environmental Health, Human Rights, Pesticides, Pollution, Products, Toxic Trespass
Tagged allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity, drift, environmental sensitivities, fibromyalgia, Fragrance, hazardous air pollutants, health, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, VOCs
Guest post and art from Gloris Smith Young
You look at me
You look away
I see it every day
If only you could see
This could be you
Instead of me
Posted in Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Pollution, Public Health
Tagged allergies, asthma, autism, chemical sensitivity, creativity, drift, environmental sensitivities, Housing, mask, MCS, Mold, mould, pesticides, toxic trespass
All it takes is a decision to go fragrance-free!
It should be easier than quitting smoking since there aren’t supposed to be addictive chemicals in fragrances, right?
…
Due to the fact that so many people are now experiencing adverse effects from fragranced products (34.7% in 2016), we are well on the way to having fragrance-free policies everywhere for the sake of protecting public health just as was done with smoking bans. It’s not just those of us who suffer immediate and disabling adverse effects from the products (1st, 2nd, and 3rd hand), but for everyone.
Here are some great resources (in no particular order) to help you go fragrance-free:
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Healthy Environment, Human Rights, Policy
Tagged allergies, asthma, autism, cancer, care givers, chemical sensitivity, environmental sensitivities, event plannicg, fragrance-free, hazardous air pollutants, IAQ, invisible disabilities, links, MCS, MCS/ES, petrochemicals, resources, tools, visiting, VOCs
I saw something that shocked me, and I don’t know how anyone involved with this could have thought it was a good idea.
This is what I saw
If you are a Canadian, you will probably understand.
.
It’s pretty much the same thing as this (slightly revised) image:
(pretend it’s done all the way)
What would you think if you saw that?
Shoppers Drug Mart is the antithesis of scent or fragrance free!
Posted in Accessibility, Disability, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Health Care, Human Rights
Tagged accessibility barriers, allergies, asthma, cancer, chemical sensitivity, Environmental Health Clinic, environmental sensitivities, fibromyalgia, fragrance-free, gaslighting, hazardous air pollutants, health care access for people with MCS/ES, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, petrochemicals, ShoppersDrug Mart, smoke-free, tobacco, toxic chemicals, VOCs, WHO
My article “Invisible Barriers, Invisible Disabilities, Invisible People” is now available to read in the
Special Issue on Ecopsychology and Environmental Sensitivities:
Chemical, Electrical, and Beyond
All the articles in the entire special issue will be available for free until Sept. 5 2017, which is unprecedented access!
Please check them out and share as widely as possible!
Table of Contents:
Posted in Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Human Rights, Public Health
Tagged chemical sensitivity, ecopsychology, EHS, environment, fibromyalgia, Gibson, health, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, Ontario, petrochemicals, Research, systemic discrimination, toxic chemicals, toxic trespass
WHO Says We Need Fresh Air?!
Guest Post from Marie LeBlanc
Bringing awareness to chemical sensitivity
Marie LeBlanc at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. May 12th 2017.
I am an artist in Winnipeg who lives with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and environmental illness caused by mold exposure. My art has been in relation to multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)/Environmental Illness (EI) and toxic environments.
“WHO says we need fresh air?!” is a series of quotes from sufferers of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental Illness, Mold Exposure, Electrohypersensitivity Syndrome, Lyme Disease and other conditions related to Chronic/Complex Immunological Neurological Diseases.
The art installation was on display during the evening of Fri. May 12, on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)/Environmental Sensitivities Awareness Day, outside the Centennial Concert Hall (with a few quotes displayed on the indoor screens), and is dedicated to my friend Eliana from Mexico.
Posted in Accessibility, Disability, Environment, Environmental Health, Health, Housing, Human Rights
Tagged allergies, anaphylaxis, asthma, chemical sensitivity, chemicals in clothing, CIND, creativity, EHS, environmental illness, environmental sensitivities, Fragrance, hazardous air pollutants, homeless, Housing, invisible disabilities, Lyme Disease, MCS, MCS/ES, Mold, multiple chemical sensitivities, suicide, toxic chemicals
May 12th is International MCS Awareness Day, and May is MCS Awareness Month. Many people who have MCS also have MCAS – Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, where chemical and other exposures cause anaphylaxis.
Guest Post from Raven
My request for you to visualize:
I’d like to ask each of my friends to sit in a quiet space for just 15 minutes and close your eyes. Breathe and get calm and relaxed.
Now I want you to think of yourself only. Visualize yourself in your body. Once you see or feel you, I want you to see yourself Continue reading
Posted in Community, Disability, Environmental Health, Housing, Human Rights, Imagination, Pollution
Tagged allergies, anaphylaxis, chemical sensitivity, Chemicals, environmental illness, environmental sensitivities, Fragrance, health effects, Housing, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, pesticides, petrochemicals
 | linda @ Seriously "S… on MCS/ES |
| linda @ Seriously "S… on The CDC and MCS |
 | Tabatha Schnorr on MCS/ES |
| Tabatha Schnorr on The CDC and MCS |
| linda @ Seriously "S… on MCS and Housing |
| linda @ Seriously "S… on Hospital Protocols for People… |
Seriously "Sensitive" to Pollution 