Why do people who lose their health from being polluted and poisoned for profit end up being forced into isolation and invisibility in order to try to remain alive?
Why?
Why do people who lose their health from being polluted and poisoned for profit end up being forced into isolation and invisibility in order to try to remain alive?
Why?
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Pollution
Tagged allergies, asthma, cancer, chemical sensitivity, Chemicals, fibromyalgia, Fragrance, hazardous air pollutants, Human Rights, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, petrochemicals, toxic trespass, VOCs
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has created a video about MCS and job accommodation featuring Dr John Molot.
Video: Demystifying Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Posted in Accessibility, Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Human Rights, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
Tagged accommodation, Chemicals, hazardous air pollutants, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, petrochemicals, PSAC, sensitive to pollution, toxic trespass, video
When I wear my mask I noticed people couldn’t see me smile at them and would avert their eyes and not smile at me.
I will usually speak and say hello. Most people will nod or say hello back even if they don’t smile or look at my eyes. Some will shrink away like I have Ebola. I’ve felt like a leper when that happens. I just hate that my kids are learning that lesson about humanity so young. I hope it will help instill a more compassionate nature in them as they see how not to be.
I started using fabric stickers on my mask sometimes and noticed that people would smile at them. I felt less invisible even if it was my stickers they smiled at more than me. I have several different ones including penguins, crosses, and holiday relevant ones I wear around Christmas time.
Posted in Air Quality, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Fashion, Fragrance, Pollution
Tagged allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity, Chemicals, dizziness, Fragrance, fragrance-free, hazardous air pollutants, IAQ, invisible disabilities, masks, MCS, migraines, multiple chemical sensitivities, perfume, petrochemicals, toxic trespass
Here’s a screenshot of where you all are from!
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!
Posted in Disability, Environmental Health, Human Rights, Pollution
Tagged allergies, asthma, autism, cancer, Chemicals, environmental sensitivities, Fragrance, global, hazardous air pollutants, IAQ, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, multiple chemical sensitivity, petrochemicals, sensitive to pollution, toxic trespass, wireless
“For me, MCS means having to wear a mask when I go out”
⇔
MCS Awareness Month Guest Post from Laura J Mac
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or MCS (also known as Environmental Sensitivities) is a chronic and disabling condition characterized by symptoms from low-level exposures to common chemicals. To put it simply, really common chemical exposures are disabling to some people, even in very small amounts.
ES has been recognized as a disability in Ontario since 2000, and federally (in Canada) since 2007, yet most people, and in fact many medical professionals, have never heard of it.
May is MCS Awareness Month, though I promise you, we are aware of it all year!
Instead of asking others to imagine something so unimaginable, we asked 1500 people with MCS to share what life is like with MCS. These memes are some of the responses.*
Posted in Accessibility, Disability, Environment, Environmental Health, Human Rights, Pollution
Tagged awareness, Chemicals, EHS, environmental sensitivities, fibromyalgia, Fragrance, hazardous air pollutants, Housing, IAQ, invisible disabilities, May 12, MCS, MCS/ES, ME/CFS, multiple chemical sensitivity, petrochemicals
When breathing the air hurts…
When we have to filter and “purify” the air just to breathe…
What options do we have?

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.
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Disability, Environmental Health, Health Care, Pollution, Products
Tagged allergies, asthma, cancer, Chemicals, environment, environmental sensitivities, fragrance chemicals, hazardous air pollutants, indoor air, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, petrochemicals, phthalates, sensitive to pollution, toxic chemicals, toxic trespass, VOCs
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.
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
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Chemicals, Disability, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Pollution
Tagged allergies, asthma, autism, awareness month, canaries, cancer, Chemicals, environmental sensitivities, fragrance chemicals, hazardous air pollutants, health, IAQ, indoor air quality, invisible disabilities, MCS, MCS/ES, multiple chemical sensitivities, petrochemicals, sensitive to pollution, toxic trespass
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]
Guest post by Sandra McPherson
I have a niece who moved back from out west just a year or so ago. I love her dearly. Her son that she had so much difficulty to have is named Owen. I lost a son named Owen and she contacted me to tell me she wanted to name him after my son unless it would upset me. She is so thoughtful!
I was sucking it up and inviting her here to my place, (safe place) for meals and visits now and then when I was strong enough. Her laundry fragrances and personal products were hard on me but it was only every few months, though I wished it could be more. We talked often about my MCS because she saw me go from a person that was at EVERY party and kid sport gathering and family get together, etc., etc., to a hermit.
I had not seen her in several months and she inquired about getting together again. We set up a date for lunch at my place again.
Posted in Environmental Health, Fragrance, Friendship, Health
Tagged allergies, asthma, Chemicals, family, fragrance-free, MCS, petrochemicals
The May June 2015 issue of Costco’s magazine had an article about scent marketing.
The Economist had an interesting article in 2007 regarding manipulative chemical use.
Women’s Voices For the Earth has several reports about fragrances and the fragrance industry.
Why should you be concerned? Read on:
Posted in Air Quality, Brain, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Health, Human Rights, Neurotoxicity, Pollution, Public Health, Toxic Trespass
Tagged allergies, asthma, autism, cancer, Chemicals, child health, fibromyalgia, fragrance chemicals, hazardous air pollutants, IAQ, manipulation, marketing, MCS, petrochemicals, shopping