MCSCAN Australia
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY DATABASE
LINKS
Planning:
A Layperson's Approach
MCSCAN Australia: - database design requirements
Duty of Care
Corporate
Responsibility
Community understanding and awareness
MCS:- Related Issues; Community.
Personal Stories In the life of an MCS Victim or their Carers
Articles and Progress Reports.
MCS: Related; Questions-and-Speculation
Conclusions and
Recommendations
Self Help Links. Information on how to clean without using Harmful Chemcials.
Summary: Public Database summary
MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is a complex issue.
Of course it is a complex!
If for the only reason there is so little understanding of the issues.
There are those who would try and lump it among the problems of asthmatics and allergy related conditions.
It might be argued some form of allergic response is involved, along with a breakdown of the bodies immune and other protective systems, resulting in the body being unable to protect itself.
We are not arguing about symptoms, but that the differences need to be understood and highlighted.
We need to understand any difference between common allergy and MCS “allergic reaction.
It is important to differentiate between allergy and MCS allergy .
In simplistic terms, (layperson again) allergy conditions can have a sensitivity tests done and in many cases desensitizing treatment provided to control or eliminate the allergic condition.
This is not always an option for MCS victims. It is also important that no one treatment fits all MCS cases. It depends on age, body weight, sex, what chemicals they have been subjected to and for how long. Also what protective precautions were used.
Personal knowledge demonstrates how some company's have little concern over the safety of their employees.
This company had given an employee a can of mixed two pack automotive paint to paint lines on the factory floor. Safety Gear???? What safety gear?
The employee was issued with an 80cent dust mask, (useless for chemicals and fluids) and cotton gloves, (again useless when this particular product can be absorbed through the skin.
The product Manufacturers Data Sheet stated that the use of the product required a separate source of clean air; the use of a fully enclosed protective suit, etc.
REALITY OF MCS.
The reality is that MCS is not a disease but a chemical injury.
An injury that is preventable if the right steps and procedures are put in place.
There is no cure but with research there can be ways found to alleviate the injury and perhaps repair it to a degree.
Like many other injuries, there is a critical period, for any chance of reversal, i.e. Early detection and diagnosis.
While there is no cure there is much that can be done to eliminate it in the early stages and alleviate it in later stages.
However it will need a responsible government to undertake the duty of care to ensure the victims are provided with the appropriate research, treatment facilities and general support to ensure they are not potential victims of commercial interests that are only concerned with making money
MCS or MCI?
It may not be desirable to change the acronyms used at present as this is not really an issue.
Originally it was called MCI (Multiple Chemical Injury).
A coat of paint is still a coat of paint regardless of the colour. It is more important not to get sidetracked from the real issues into debate on what it should be called.
We need to be careful not to confused what it really is. A chemically induced injury!
MCS. (MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY)
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is now going through a similar stage and treatment as MS. Many MCS victims are facing similar diagnosis as for earlier MS diagnosis.
MCS, although not a disease but an injury, is also a real condition. We need research into the effect of chemicals on the human body as well as its effect on the food chain and the environment.
Governments cannot afford to ignore it, hoping that it will go away.
Multiple Sclerosis
At one time, MS (multiple Sclerosis), was treated in very much the same way for many years with governments failing to recognize that it was a real disease. It was, and still is, not easy to diagnose.
Patients were often incorrectly diagnosed as suffering from some psychosomatic condition or were considered as Hypochondriacs.
Many sufferers were put through immense physical and psychological pain, suffering for many years, before anything were done. However, MS has now been proven to be a real disease.
The same applies for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), Alzheimer's Disease, Pre Menstrual Tension (PMT), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and tendonitis.
All of these injuries/illnesses were a mystery, until medical science explored further.
In a similar fashion, children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or (ADHD) as it is now known, were labelled as naughty children.
Yet studies now are showing their "unusual behaviour " is related to allergic reactions.
Observations and questioning also raises the question as to whether some behavioural problems in some schools might be a result o0f chemical pollution and toxicity as a result. It would seem appropriate for the education departments to conduct some research on behalf of the children into this condition.
It would need cooperation between the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) and the Education Departments. We are aware that some of the testing equipment used to monitor pollution has been inappropriately placed to get accurate readings. This needs looking into.
