Tag Archives: allergies

People All Around the World Are Seriously “Sensitive” to Pollution

Posted on May 16, 2016 | 8 comments

Here’s a screenshot of where you all are from!2016 readers are global

Most readers are from the US of A, followed by Canada, the UK, and Australia (which makes sense from a language perspective) and thousands more visitors are from 119 other countries!

The blog’s facebook page followers are said to be from 45 countries all around the world, and apparently communicate in 24 different languages!

Being “sensitive” to pollution is truly a global issue!

There is no away!

I wish there was no need for what I do here, that pollution wasn’t profitable, and that we could all access everything we need for health and well-being.

Living beings were not designed to withstand 24/7 exposures to toxic pollutants, toxic foods, and wireless radiation (like from wi-fi and smart meters).

Hopefully what I share with you all encourages you to eliminate toxic and harmful products and materials from your lives, and to speak up and out, so that we aren’t invisible to the world, because we are all over the world, we are all “sensitive” to pollution, and we are all in this together!

♥

cropped-blog-banner-heart-and-flags.jpg

 

8 Comments

Posted in Disability, Environmental Health, Human Rights, Pollution

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MCS/ES Symptoms

Posted on May 11, 2016 | 9 comments

MCS/ES and EHS symptom lists resemble several other symptom lists.

There are many symptoms. Not all are immediate. Some can be delayed.

MCS Definition Criteria 1999

1999 Consensus Definition Criteria:

1. MCS is a chronic condition.
2. Symptoms recur reproducibly.
3. Symptoms recur in response to low levels of chemical exposure.
4. Symptoms occur when exposed to multiple unrelated chemicals.
5. Symptoms improve or resolve when trigger chemicals (incitants) are removed.
6. Multiple organ systems are affected.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: a 1999 Consensus.
Archives of Environmental Health. 54: No 3, May/June 1999; 147-149.

…

EHS symptoms WEEPEHS symptom chart from WEEP

⇔

MCS ES symptoms include:

Continue reading →

9 Comments

Posted in Chemicals, Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Health, MCS/ES, Public Health

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What I Wear In Bad Air :: Rolf

Posted on May 7, 2016 | 2 comments


2016 Rolf Aerssens

“This is me wearing a half face ABEK-P3 respirator with multi-gas filters.

I wear my “ALLERGY PATIENT” vest to identify my mask as a “medical necessity”. It helps a lot with preventing unkind comments and odd looks from people,  and hopefully will help people ask before shooting in times of terrorist threats.

I’m holding my clean air helmet in my right hand. The blower unit is normally worn on the back and is only in front for the photo.

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in Air Quality, Chemicals, Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Health, Pollution

Tagged , , , , , ,

When We HAVE to Wear A Mask to Breathe and Function

Posted on May 2, 2016 | 24 comments

When breathing the air hurts…

When we have to filter and “purify” the air just to breathe…

What options do we have?

2016 MCS-ES Awareness Month Compilation

The Courageous Canaries of MCS/ES (and mask) Awareness Month 2016

⇔

Having an invisible disability is difficult, especially when many of the adverse effects are delayed and we have to deal with them in isolation.  Some people feel  self conscious about wearing a mask, especially if we can’t find a “pretty” one that we are able to use, despite how they can reduce adverse effects. If there’s any good that comes from wearing one (in addition to protecting our health a bit) wearing a mask when we have an invisible disability helps make us visible.

⇔

The type of mask we benefit most from will depend on our “sensitivities” and circumstances. Masks will filter the air we breathe in various degrees, but unless we have a full face respirator and wear a hazmat suit, our eyes and skin will still absorb chemicals that can have an adverse effect on our health and well-being. For this reason, they should not be thought of as complete protection from pollution, and are therefore best used only when absolutely necessary.

Information and resources about masks that filter out some of the different types of daily pollutants we are subjected to, and what kinds of filter materials are needed to purify what kinds of pollutants follows.

Continue reading →

24 Comments

Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Health Care, Pollution, Products

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MCS Awareness Month and Masks

Posted on May 1, 2016 | 8 comments

May is MCS/ES Awareness Month

Due to the wide variety of chemical pollutants in our air these days, many people with MCS/ES have to wear a mask when leaving home (and sometimes even at  home) to prevent or reduce debilitating and disabling symptoms.

may is mcs es awareness month

Having an invisible (and inconvenient, or so we are told) disability is difficult, especially when many of the adverse effects are delayed and we have to deal with them in isolation, out of sight, out of mind, and without witness to our suffering.

If there’s any good that comes from wearing a mask or respirator in public (in addition to protecting our health a bit) wearing one when we have an invisible disability helps make us visible, and alerts other people that they too are at risk.

Breathing is not optional.

Pollution is!

Wearing a protective breathing device can minimize some of the damaging effects exposures to pollutants cause, but people often feel self conscious about wearing a mask, especially if we can’t find a “pretty” one that we are able to use, Continue reading →

8 Comments

Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Chemicals, Disability, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Pollution

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Advertising Harmful and Addictive Products

Posted on March 31, 2016 | 12 comments

I’ve been observing advertising for fragranced products over the years and have found some of the ads to be quite telling.

For instance, every time I’ve seen an ad for this product, it looks like the people using it are inhaling drugs.

cheap and legal 1

And this product too. All the ads show adults and/or children who look like they are getting stoned:

Continue reading →

12 Comments

Posted in Air Quality, Chemicals, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Products

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My LOVE: Resist Toxic Chemicals

Posted on February 12, 2016 | 2 comments

My LOVE!

Be fragrance-free!

valentine splatter RESIST 1

♥

What’s love got to do with it?

Everything!

Who among us wants to harm another? Modern fragrances cause harm. Stop them!

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in Action, Air Quality, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Health

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gifts of Love and Health

Posted on February 10, 2016 | Leave a comment

Guest post by T.M. Canary

Valentines Day has a different meaning for me. Three years ago in February 2013 my life changed forever. I was diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease due to the use of air fresheners at the clinic where I worked. There is no way to describe how my life has been permanently changed in just a few words. My severe asthma is permanent and likely progressive. Those that care about me have the power do something about this though. You can make the effort to choose products that do not pollute the air we all breathe.

1. Avoid fragranced body products [perfume, body creams, sun screens, deodorant, shower gels, shampoo/conditioner, hair products, hand soaps lotions, and sanitizers]


2. Avoid fragranced laundry products [detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets]

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in Air Quality, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Health, Products

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What Do You Think About Accommodating Someone With MCS/ES or Allergies?

Posted on February 7, 2016 | 9 comments

Some people think they have the right to do whatever they want, regardless of how it affects anyone else around them. Sometimes what they do is from ignorance (not knowing or understanding causes and effects), sometimes it’s a deliberately hurtful, even criminal action. Either way, what they do causes all kinds of suffering that is fully preventable.

Here are a few images you can think about and share if they “speak” to you:

telling 1

Continue reading →

9 Comments

Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Fragrance, Human Rights, MCS/ES

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Loneliness, Posttraumatic Growth, and Invisible Disabilities

Posted on January 31, 2016 | 6 comments

Amelia Hill shared an eloquent post about enduring and working with loneliness (see below).  Amelia and I are both  housebound (and have been so for years), but she is currently confined to a much smaller space in her home than I am in mine.

loneliness - Amelia HillFrom Heal Amelia’s Life:

Loneliness. I’ve kinda learned to override the often relentless waves of loneliness one feels living an isolated existence like mine.I don’t deny the feelings of loneliness or push them down in an unhealthy way. But it’s more like a repetitive cycle of acknowledging it & letting it go, acknowledging it & letting it go. It’s how I survive.

Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in Accessibility, Community, Disability, Environmental Health, Friendship, Human Rights, Support

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,