Chemical Injury

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Chemical Injury

• Bonita Poulin
• Canadian CoordinatorGLOBAL RECOGNITION
  CAMPAIGNMultiple Chemical Sensitivityand other
  Chemically Induced Illnesses, Diseases
  Injuryaffecting civilians and military
  personnelwww.mcs-global.org 

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Studies show many illnesses could have an
environmental/chemical connection

• ADD/ADHD
• Asthma
• Autism
• Brain Central Nervous System Damage
• Cancer
• Fibromyalgia
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• Gulf War Syndrome (GWS)
• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue
  Syndrome (ME/CFS)

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• Parkinsons
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Arterial Sclerosis
• many forms of Arthritis
• Macular Degeneration
• Lupus
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Alzheimer's,
• ALS (Lou Gehrigs)

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How to know when youve had an exposure?

• Whenever you can
• Touch
• Taste
• Smell
• a chemical
• you have already been exposed!

Some chemicals/fumes cannot be seen or smelled
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How do chemical injuries happen?

• one or more large exposures or multiple smaller
  exposures over time via
• Ingestion
• Inhalation
• skin contact
• absorption through eyes

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How I Got Sick

• worked 10 years at a laundry detergent factory
• responsible for making sure chemicals were being
  added things were flowing through the various
  pipes, pumps etc.
• developed first case of Bronchitis during first
  week working in dept 5 more times during first
  2 ½ years
• in 1991 the companys enzyme hygiene program
  found several employees were sensitized to
  enzymes

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How I got sick

• investigation revealed defective respirators
• better respirators purchased for the entire plant
  with strict training maintenance program
• were told to wear PPE and no health problems
• 1994 I developed asthma using inhaler
• 1995 department safety, enzyme and hazardous
  system coordinator - moved me into the office
  area still did tours, inspections

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How I Got Sick

• 1997 developed bilateral carpal tunnel and tennis
  elbows, - I did not do any repetitive work
• carpal release surgeries on both hands
• more carpal tunnel arthritic symptoms
• diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis
• 1998 back to regular technician job in department
• after 3 days of working with chemicals I started
  having some serious problems - left hand arm
  was swollen to twice the size of my right hand

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How I got Sick

• ordered by plant doctor to take 3 days off to
  rest
• rheumatologist - only office work indefinitely
• carpal tunnel symptoms continued Rheumatoid
  Arthritis spread worsened
• short term disability for several months and my
  carpal tunnel healed by itself
• back at work - trouble thinking clearly
  concentrating, severe fatigue spontaneous
  crying for no reason

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How I Got Sick

• carpal tunnel symptoms started up again
  Rheumatoid Arthritis got worse
• discovered Brown Antibiotic Protocol for
  Mycoplasma as a cure to Rheumatoid Arthritis
  talked family doctor into trying it in fall 1989
• worsening of symptoms from die-off so was
  referred to an Environmental doctor on Ottawa
• provocation neutralization testing discovered
  many food environmental allergies chemical
  sensitivities that contributed to symptoms

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How I Got Sick

• list of things to avoid, strict diet, nutritional
  supplements serums to neutralize reactions and
  build up immunity
• dr. advised me to stop working at factory but I
  refused pay benefits too good
• avoidance serums worked well for while -
  asthma, carpal tunnel and Rheumatoid Arthritis
  got better
• new symptoms - slurring speech, staggered gait,
  constant nausea, dizziness, reduced sensation on
  the left side of body occasional jerking of my
  right hand - couldnt read what I had written

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How I Got Sick

• environmental doctor discovered I was on verge of
  a stroke with thick sticky blood
• dr. insisted I take a couple of weeks off work
• advised us to remove all chemicals from home
  wash everything in Borax baking soda to
  eliminate residual chemicals
• the more of this we did, the better I felt - no
  longer sick while at home
• now I got nauseous dizzy from a whiff of
  perfume, woodsmoke or other exposures was
  constantly vomitting.

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Living With MCS

• no longer able to tolerate any environment other
  than my house totally disabled by MCS
• for over a year I had to wear disposable mask
  everywhere to reduce exposures
• we owned a hobby farm 5 miles east of Brockville
• whenever wind blew from the town the factorys
  perfume would make me nauseous dizzy, even
  inside my home.
• installed electronic air filtration - helped
  while inside but still sick when I went outdoors.

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Living With MCS

• started having more and more left sided weakness
  (partial paralysis) unable to look after my
  horses
• 2005 decided we had to move away from area
• used map to find area with few roads, very little
  farming and no industry
• used pollutionwatch.com website that tells all
  the polluters in area when postal code punched in
• searched For Sale By Owner websites until we
  found our safe house in Quadeville

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Living With MCS

• house was 10 years old, built of century logs,
  sits high on hill surrounded by forest, no
  neighbours for ½ a mile
• inside is all natural wood with hardwood and
  ceramic floors, no drywall and no basement
• equipped with energy conserving Heat Recovery
  Ventilator with charcoal filter and humidity
  control

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People I Know Have Developed Multiple Chemical
Sensitivities From

• pesticide application
• carpet installation
• construction and renovations
• inhabiting a sick building (pesticides, moulds)
• handling strong chemicals
• burning CCA pressure treated wood and garbage
• breathing polluted air

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What is MCS? Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

• a chronic condition
• affecting multiple organ systems
• symptoms recur reproducibly
• in response to low levels exposures to unrelated
  chemicals
• symptoms improve when incidents are removed
• reactions may be immediate or delayed

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Is MCS An Allergic Condition?

• MCS is not an allergic condition although it is
  sometimes described that way in order to make it
  easier to understand.
• Many of the immediate MCS reactions occur via the
  central nervous system rather than the immune
  system. i.e. migraine, numbness, nausea

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Principals of MCS
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Adaptation

• Because the body is constantly exposed, the
  reactions become the normal state and so
  reactions to specific things go unnoticed.
• However, the person never feels well and
  complains of various symptoms never relating them
  to exposures.
• After several days of avoidance symptoms clear
  and then can be noticed when they reoccur after a
  new exposure.

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Bipolarity

• Reactions to environmental stimulus can be
  emotional and often varies from depression to
  mania and can change from one to another very
  quickly. Patients are often misdiagnosed as
  bipolar.

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Biochemical Individuality

• The total body burden from current and past
  illnesses and exposures and the immune system
  status of the patient as well as their parents.
• Studies have shown that chemical exposures can
  cause changes for several generations.

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Spreading or Kindling

• One sensitivity leads to many more and to
  unrelated items.
• MCSers usually also develop intolerances to foods
  eaten regularly and hypersensitivities to molds,
  pollen, algae, insect bites, and medications, all
  of which can be
• life-threatening.

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Switching

• With repeated exposures symptoms become more
  severe and can become life threatening i.e.
• anaphylactic shock instead of nausea

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Why is it so important for an MCSers to avoid
exposures?

• Each exposure causes the MCSer to
• . become less tolerant to exposures
• . develop sensitivities to new things
• . reactions can become more serious and even life
  threatening!

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What causes MCS?

• MCSers have defective detoxification pathways
  meaning their bodies accumulate toxins instead of
  removing them. These defects are caused by
  exposures to certain chemicals.
• Many MCSers can pinpoint the exact time of their
  sensitization and most often it is linked to
  exposures to pesticides or solvents.

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MCSers can develop symptoms from exposure to

• Scented products
• Solvents
• Body care products
• Construction materials
• Furniture / Appliances
• Cigarette Smoke
• And more

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Symptoms of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

• . can affect any part of the body
• Severity and duration of the reaction depends on
• type of chemical involved
• frequency, intensity and duration of the
  exposure
• history of past exposures, especially recent
• biochemical makeup of the person i.e. immune
  system status, health and exposures of parents

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Common MCS Symptoms
respiratory illnesses neurological
problems mental /cognitive capacity severe muscle
and joint pain mood swings extreme
fatigue Regardless of the form in which the
symptoms of MCS manifest themselves, it is a
reaction to the toxic chemicals in our
environment not to smells.
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How prevalent is MCS?

• . An alarmingly increasing public health problem
  worldwide especially in industrialized areas
• . Millions of people of all ages, including young
  children, have become sensitized following
  exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment.
• . Toxic pesticides that are used in schools,
  housing, offices, malls, lawns, public parks and
  facilities, contribute greatly to the incidence
  of MCS.  

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Canadian MCS Statistics

• Socio-economic impact of MCS study of Canadians
  in 2001 by the
• Environmental Illness Society of Canada
• 4 million Canadians (approximately 15) are
  affected by chemical sensitivity, half a million
  of whom are severe cases, with 5,000 being
  disabled by this condition.
• 10 billion are lost in productivity,
• 1 billion is lost in taxes,
• 1 billion is used in avoidable health care
  costs,
• 1 billion in (avoidable disabilities) paid
•  

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MCS Causes Many Life-changing Losses

• health
• ability to work and support self/family
• financial security and ability to buy
• self-confidence and self worth
• hobbies and enjoyment
• social interaction (family, friends)
• entertainment (movies, concerts, shopping,
  dining)
• marriage and relationships
• ability to complete activities of daily living
• home (live year round in cars, tents etc.)

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What is it like to live with MCS?

• Imagine a life in which you have to stay away
  from anyone using regular laundry and personal
  care products and places that use chemicals lest
  you become ill?
• A teacher who cant be near books or photocopies
  or work in a portable classroom
• A soldier that cant tolerate cleaning their gun
  or polishing their boots

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Who Acknowledges MCS?

• Canada Pension Plan
• WSIB
• CMHC
• Nova Scotia Workers Compensation
• Health Canada
• Ontario Ministry of Health
• Ontario Medical Association
• Nova Scotia Medical Association
• Nova Scotia Department of Health
• Public Works Canada
• Public Service Alliance of Canada
• Ontario Human Rights Commission
• Canadian Human Rights Commission

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The Ontario Canadian Human Rights Acts state

• Employers, schools, offices,
• hotels, stores, Doctors and Dentists,
• Health Care Facilities, other
• public places and transportation
• must make their premises accessible
• and provide reasonable
• accommodations.

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MCS Disability

• . Most disabled MCS patients are denied
  disability pensions because there are no tests
  to prove It because medical science cannot agree
  on test requirements.
• . The chemical manufacturing industry has
  launched an anti-MCS campaign designed to create
  the illusion of controversy about MCS and cast
  doubt on its existence.
• . The only diversity of opinion comes from the
  authors with industry affiliations.
• http//www.getipm.com/personal/mcs-campbell.htm

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RISE Responsible Industry For A Sound Environment

• . RISE is made up of executives from companies
  like Monsanto, Sandoz Agro, DowElanco, Dupont
  Agricultural Products, The Scotts Company,
  Procter and Gamble and other pesticide
  manufacturers, formulators, and distributors
• . Keeping MCS controversial is a key task of the
  cigarette-science activities of RISE.
• http//consumerlawpage.com/article/chemical.shtml
  

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Is There A Cure For MCS?

• . There is no cure for MCS using allopathic
  medicine.
• . Drugs administered to treat symptoms are
  usually not well tolerated and often end up
  making the patient worse.
• . Until recently, General Practitioners had no
  training in toxicology or environmental health.
• . The Ontario College of Family Physicians
  developed and is now conducting training on
  Environmental Health for new family doctors.
• http//www.ocfp.on.ca/English/OCFP/Members/Committ
  ees/EHC/default.asp?s1

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Things That Do Help

• avoidance to prevent severe reactions and
  worsening including eating only whole organic
  foods
• supplementing with the required nutrients
• detoxing to lower total body burden
• keeping a positive attitude with activities
  that promote self-esteem
• Great strides have been made with alternative
  health care approaches i.e. Environmental
  Medicine, Holistic Medicine, Orthomolecular
  Medicine, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Acupuncture
  Chiropractic.

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Can Avoidance Cure MCS?

• Total avoidance is impossible. A person with MCS
  can only decrease exposures, not eliminate them
  completely.
• It is important to avoid toxic chemicals whenever
  possible to prevent worsening.

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MCSers Fall Through The Cracks

• Most of the treatments that help are not covered
  by OHIP or the Health Insurance Industry and are
  expensive.
• Since many MCSers have no health insurance and
  have only small or no disability pensions, it is
  impossible for them to afford the help they need.
  

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Hazardous Of Fragrances

• up to 4,000 ingredients, mostly synthetic
• many are human toxins and suspected or proven
  carcinogens
• in 1989, the US National Institute of
  Occupational Safety and Health evaluated 2,983
  fragrance chemicals for health effects
• they identified 884 of them as toxic substances

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Why A Scent Free Policy

• fragrances are everywhere in everything
• known to trigger asthma attacks
• US Environmental Protection Agency found that
  100 of perfumes contain toluene, which can cause
  liver, kidney and brain damage as well as damage
  to a developing fetus.
• is a common skin irritant.

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Hazardous Of Fragrances

• Symptoms reported to FDA from fragrance exposure
  include headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin
  discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and
  allergic skin irritation.
• Clinical observations show that fragrances can
  affect the central nervous system,
• causing depression, hyperactivity,
• irritability, inability to cope other
• behavioural changes.

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Analysis Of Eternity Perfume By 2 Independent
Laboratories

• 41 chemical ingredients
• 5 are skin irritants
• 3 are skin sensitizers (cause contact dermatitis)
• 6 are respiratory tract irritants
• 2 are respiratory sensitizers (cause asthma)
• 5 are nervous system irritants
• 1 is toxic to central nervous system
• 2 affect reproductive systems
• 2 affect fetus
• 3 are suspected carcinogens (cause cancer)
• 27 have not been thoroughly investigated for
  health or toxicological properties
• 11 have little or no data

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Essential Oils - Tips Cautions

• MCSers are often sensitive to even small
  quantities of essential oils, especially the
  stronger smelling ones like tea tree, lemon and
  patchouli.
• Strong smelling scents, even natural ones, are
  not appropriate for scent-free workplaces.

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Where To Buy Scent-Free Products

• Many products labeled as perfume-free actually
  use a masking fragrance to hide smells of other
  chemicals
• Truly scent-free personal care products cannot be
  found in drug stores, grocery stores or
  department stores!

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Air Freshener, Deodorizer

• Freshen air by removing or diluting the
• offending odour (cleaning, ventilation
• absorption) not covering with other chemicals. 

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Natural Air Freshening Tips

• baking soda will absorb odours
• zeolite will absorb odours heavy metals
• simmer water and spices on stove
• bowls of fragrant dried herbs flowers (not
  commercial potpourri)
• open a window run central vacuum or use fan in
  another window to exchange air

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Anti-bacterial soaps and cleaners are not
necessary!

• exposes us to harmful chemicals
• high levels found in human breast milk
• kill both beneficial and harmful bacteria leaves
  us more vulnerable to harmful ones
• widespread use contributes to the development of
  resistant bacteria
• children need exposure to some germs to develop
  their immune systems.

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Pest Control

• Free e-book on safe alternative pest control
  methods written by an ex pesticide applicator who
  developed MCS

http//www.thebestcontrol.com/bugstop/
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Learn to Read Labels

• In Canada, ingredients are listed in order of
  quantity. The first ingredient makes up the
  greatest amount of the product
• Ingredient lists may not contain all ingredients
  i.e. inert ingredients are not listed
• Inert ingredients can be just as hazardous

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• Manufacturers Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are not
  required to list ingredients which make up less
  than 1 of a product.
• Manufacturers can cite trade secrets as an
  excuse not to list ingredients anywhere.
• In Canada, manufacturers are not required to list
  ingredients at all on labels of personal care
  products or household cleaning products. This is
  changing!

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Things To Think About

• . The Center for Disease Controls Body Burden
  report documents that everyones body contains
  many toxic chemicals that should not be there.
• . Everybody is only one exposure away from
• developing Multiple Chemical Sensitivities,
  Cancer or other Chemically Induced Illnesses.
• . If you already react to one chemical, take heed
  because your body is warning you to be careful
  about exposures.

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Rules For Your Protection

• Do not rely only on Personal Protective Equipment
  to protect you. PPE can fail!
• Educate yourself about MCS other chemical
  injuries
• Use less harmful chemicals/products where ever
  possible
• Pay attention to what your body is telling you

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Clean and Safe Environment

• An environment which is free of smoke,
  pesticides, fabric softeners, air fresheners,
  commercial disinfectants and anti-bacterial
  cleaners will decrease exposures to many
  chemicals which have been linked to human health
  problems.
• Choosing less toxic products is an important part
  of providing a healthy environment that benefits
  everyone.

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Dont be a stinker!
Chemicals in perfumes cause health problems!
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The End
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