Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic condition with many symptoms that occur as a result of chemical exposure. People can develop MCS as a result of a single exposure to toxic chemicals or repeated low dose exposure over a period of time. MCS starts as symptoms that occur at exposure to certain chemicals then expands to include more often-unrelated chemicals along with stronger symptoms at much smaller doses (ME/CSF Society Inc, 2006).

MCS mainly affects the nervous system and has symptoms such as:

• Headaches, dizziness, confusion and memory loss
• Odour sensitivity
• Irritability, anxiety and depression
• Eye, nose and throat irritations
• Skin rashes
• Muscle and bone pain

Medical authorities accept that people react to chemicals, however they have found it difficult to classify MCS as an actual illness due to such a variation in individual symptoms and their inability to scientifically explain why it occurs (Reid, 1999) Germany has become the first country to formally recognise MCS as an illness, Australia worksafe standards do accept that some chemicals such as formaldehyde can ‘sensitise’ certain individuals and therefore make them react to low levels of that chemical, yet we do not recognise MCS as an actual illness, it appears that commercial interests may be at this stage more important than health issues (ME/CSF Society Inc, 2006).

Common chemicals linked to MCS

• New building materials including paints, carpets and furniture
• Perfumes and cleaning products
• Pesticides
• Printing inks and toners
• Vehicle pollution
• Natural gas

EKO Building Biology can help you identify toxic chemicals in your home or work environments and make recommendations for safer non-toxic alternatives.

• ME/CSF Society Inc, 2006, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, online available @ http://sacfs.asn.au/about/chemical/mcs_basic.pdf
• Reid, S, 1999, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 92(12):616-618, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity-Is the environment really to blame?