We often hear from people who think they aren’t wearing any fragrance while their fume trail is noticeable (and headache inducing or worse) from 100 feet away. Not only that, but the scent residues are left everywhere these people have touched anything, including pretty much permanently in the furniture they’ve used.
How can this be?
Laundry products!
…
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, chemicals in clothing, Environmental Health, Fashion, Laundry, Pollution, Public Health
Tagged accessibility barriers, allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivity, Chemicals, dryer vents, environmental sensitivities, fragrance-free, fragrance-free policy, hazardous air pollutants, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MCS, petrochemicals, phthalates, toxic trespass, VOCs
Dear Minister of Health, we’re ready for action!
According to official statistics:
250,000 Ontarians had been diagnosed with MCS in 2014
and the discrimination is still systemic in 2018
SUBJECT: Accommodation for People with Disabilities
Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Health (at hjaczek.mpp@liberal.ola.org )
On September 29, 2017, Ontario quietly released the report “Time for Leadership: Recognizing and Improving Care” for those with myalgic encephalomyelitis /chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and environmental sensitivities /multiple chemical sensitivity (ME/CFS, FM and ES/MCS). This report was produced by the Task Force on Environmental Health for the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
The report found that throughout the Ontario health care system and in society at large, there is:
• a lack of recognition of the seriousness and severity of these conditions
• a profound shortage of knowledgeable care providers
• a dearth of clinical tools to support and guide care
• a discouraging shortage of services and supports for people living with these conditions
• an absence of support for family caregivers
The lack of knowledge and appropriate accessible care has devastating effects on Ontarians struggling with ME/CFS, FM and ES/MCS.
Posted in Accessibility, Action, Environmental Health, Health Care, Human Rights, Policy
Tagged allergies, chemical sensitivity, Chemicals, environmental sensitivities, fibromyalgia, fragrance-free, hazardous air pollutants, IAQ, MCS, MCS/ES, ME/CFS, multiple chemical sensitivities, Ontario, Task Force on Environmental Health
Here are 11 excellent reasons to stop using and allowing fragrances in your home, at work, in healthcare, in housing, at school, in transportation, in retail, and in other public places:
Posted in Accessibility, Air Quality, Environmental Health, Fragrance, Health, Human Rights, Pollution, Public Health
Tagged allergies, asthma, cancer, chemical sensitivity, environmental sensitivities, essential oils, fragrance-free, hazardous air pollutants, health care access for people with MCS/ES, MCS, mental health, petrochemicals, VOCs
A few of us were talking about the steps some of us canaries have to take to be able to go places: masks, respirators, scarves to cover hair, lab coats, long skirts, outdoor only clothes that are removed before entering our safe homes, and clothes that are never worn inside due to picking up so much 2nd and 3rd hand fragrance contamination.
And the removal and bagging for later washing of everything we did wear or have with us, and the showers we have to take as soon as we get home.
Then there’s the lunch kits and other accessories we need to pack, but that’s another blog post or three.
I’ve posted before about using tyvek suits, both to wear in order to protect us from exposures when we go out, or to have others wear to protect us from exposures to their products off-gassing when we need them to enter our space.
This time though, someone mentioned that they wanted to go to an event that lasted long enough that they would need to use the washroom while out, so a one piece tyvek suit wasn’t going to cut it.
Accommodation for Environmental Sensitivities: Legal Perspective
2007 Canadian Human Rights Commission
An important update on the situation in Ontario, from Varda Burstyn, one of the original members of the Task Force on Environmental Health.
Please read and share, and find a way to put pressure on the elected reps, and if possible, get much needed media attention on this travesty of justice!
Note too that it’s not just for us, it’s a public health issue when over 50% of children have chronic health problems (including preschool kids with disabling anxiety), and something like 2/3 of the population on at least one pharmaceutical drug. We know that removing the cause of the problem results in better health than ineffectively trying to manage some symptoms!
When the canaries are ignored, public health suffers!
“These three environmental health conditions typically have a devastating impact on the individuals affected. Unfortunately, our health care system too often has not helped them to the extent they need. The report of the Task Force sets out a course that will begin to remedy this. I look forward to seeing the Minister’s response to our report, and urge him to respond quickly and decisively. There is a need for strong leadership.“ Neil Stuart, Vice-Chair of the Task Force.
Few people have any idea of the number of people in Ontario afflicted with the debilitating, painful, often co-occurring and even life-threatening conditions of Environmental Sensitivity/Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (about 310,000), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (about 215,000) and Fibromyalgia (about 196,800). But it turns out that, in total, there are a…
View original post 2,692 more words
Posted in Accessibility, Community, Environmental Health, Human Rights, Policy, Public Health
Tagged CFS/ME, discrimination., environmental sensitivities, FM, health care, MCS, Ontario, Task Force, Varda Burstyn
Wishing you all some Happiness during the Holidays!
May all beings have clean air, clean water, healthy organic food, and safe and healthy shelter! All that and love, lots and lots of love!
