The (not so) Silly Season

The end of September is about the middle of what we at Chemical Injury Information Network call the Silly Season — the same way the 6'6" linebacker might be called Tiny. This is the time of year when due to summer-long exposures to sun, sun screen, pesticides, herbicides, and fires those who are chemically sensitive are at their lowest point. Emotionally hammered, logic impaired, physically beat.

This is the time of year to avid important decision-making, and to work hard to keep relationships on an even keel. Good luck.

It ain't the immune system

Chemical sensitivity — including MCS — is obviously a complex illness. However, research —often spurred by the conferences of the Chemical Injury Information Network (CIIN)— leads us away from the belief that the immune system is the culprit in the illness. For sure the immune system can be screwed up, but that is more a symptom of the illlness. In fact, the immune system can react in various ways in MCS. Sometimes it is depressed— sometimes it is hyper activated—and sometimes it remains mostly uninvolved.

When trying supplements or other treatments focused on the immune system, people must be careful to not agrevate the problem by, for example, doing things to boost the immune system when it is already overactive. I've talked to hundreds of people with chemical sensitivities over the past 14 years who have piled on treatments and supplements —usually based on well-intended suggestions— without regard for the specifics of their situation, their symptoms. It can be a wealth-draining waste or it can make a horrible situation worse.

GM-resistant pests

I just read an article about bugs becoming resistant to the genetically modified crops that were supposed to be pest resistant. This has the potential to become super serious. It means that crops that have built-in pesticide will have to be sprayed anyway. It also means that the chemical companies that developed these crops will be doing the "new and improved" 2-step to correct their mistakes. And farmers here and abroad will go insane and broke trying to keep up.

It will also make it harder and harder to avoid genetically engineered foods. For those who have MCS or are chemically sensitive, or those who are just trying to be cautious in our polluted world, organics are becoming more important and at the same time more difficult to produce.

If you can, find and support organic growers in your area — or national growers too. It's one way to fight the growing crapification of our air and water.

Case definition update

At this time, there is a new case definition for MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity). It was written in a meeting of doctors/researchers that took place in August of last year (2007). It is now working its way through the peer review process on its way to publication. Difficult to tell how long that will take, but it probably won't come out until early next year, at a guess.
When it is published, we will shout it to the world in the pages of Our Toxic Times.