"Toxicology
is traditionally defined as the study of the harmful effects
of drugs, chemicals, and chemical mixtures
on living organisms. Within the past two decades the environmental
branch of toxicology has assumed a wider meaning. The survival
of individuals and the human race alike is the ultimate goal
of this area of study." Environmental Toxicology, Sigmund
F. Zakrzewski
The Hidden Epidemic: Chemical Sensitivity and MCS
PREFACE
According to the American Diabetes Association, 6% of the American
population has diabetes. According to the National Academy
of Sciences, and the Department of Health of New Mexico and
California, 15% of the
American population is chemically sensitive (CS). That
means that twice as many people are afflicted with some form
of chemical sensitivity
including Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) than have
diabetes. There are many programs funded by the government and
industry to fight diabetes,
why are there none to fight the larger problem of CS?
When the National Academy of Sciences stated in 1989 that 15% of
the population is currently suffering from CS and MCS, why
didn’t
the National Institutes of Health and other government agencies
immediately put a plan
of action into place to address this significant
and wide-spread health issue?
Since
the 1950’s,
scientists and doctors helping people afflicted with
MCS have been black listed and some have
lost their license to practice. Why has this not
raised red flags within the
medical community?
Never
before have industry and business tried to dispel the
existence of an illness.
Never before
has a disease caused such controversy,
confusion and intrigue. Tragically,
there are many people whose lives
are caught in the middle of this push and pull
of money vs. health. They go on suffering, many without
adequate healthcare
or the disability income
that is due them. In “The Hidden Epidemic: Chemical
Sensitivity and MCS” you will discover the answers
to these questions as well as learn many ways to
help yourself and others afflicted with
Chemical Sensitivity.
Chapter 1
IN THE BEGINNING
In 1951, Dr. Theron Randolph published the first medical
paper on Chemical Sensitivity (CS). In it he stated that
synthetic chemicals
found everyday indoors and outdoors was causing chronic illness,
including CS.
His paper was met with much resistance in the medical community and
from industry. This is because chemical manufacturers own large pharmaceutical
companies and the pharmaceutical companies have a profound influence
over
the medical community, including the AMA (The American Medical Association).
Since the end of World War II, the chemical industry
has grown at a rapid rate. Due to the breakthroughs
using hydrocarbons in chemical
engineering, most of our food, clothing and building materials
contain synthetic chemicals.
Since World War II forward, we have socially tolerated poisons
in our food and in the air we breathe as being part
of “Better Living Through
Chemistry”.
Thus,
we are inundated with toxic chemicals in western cultures.
With the growing prevalence of synthetic chemicals has come
the growing epidemic of CS and MCS. Because of this the
chemical industry has formed
well-organized lobby groups and other organizations,
such as RISE, to refute that MCS exists. This is because
MCS is caused
by exposures to
toxic chemicals,
which makes the chemical manufacturer and the products
that contain these toxic chemicals legally responsible for
damages. This means a great
loss
of revenue for industry if, or rather when they
pay their victims.
As
science proves the toxic affects of chemicals and as epidemiological
studies prove that there is indeed an epidemic
of CS, the more organized the chemical industry becomes.
They have muddied the waters of
science just as the tobacco industry did. They
have been a large presence in all
important discussions in the medical community
regarding CS. Never before has industry had such a huge input
into public health policy.
Never before
have doctors and healthcare professionals been
prosecuted for treating an illness that industry claims does
not exist.
Yet,
emerging from this shroud of controversy is the fact that
toxic chemicals are making people very sick. Chemical Sensitivity
and
Multiple
Chemical Sensitivities affect millions of Americans
everyday. People
suffering with this disease have had to fight
for their right to healthcare and those
disabled from chemical injuries have had to fight
for their disability rights.