What chemicals trigger the symptoms of mcs?

2.3What chemicals trigger the symptoms of mcs?

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  Coal, oil, gas and combustion products;
  
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  Mineral oil, Vaseline, waxes;
  
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  Asphalts, tars, resins, dyes and adhesives;
  
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  Disinfectants, deodorants and detergents;
  
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  Rubber, plastics, synthetic textiles and finishes;
  
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  Alcohols, glycols, aldehydes, esters and derivatives.
  

Ashford and Miller (1998) outlined an array of chemicals and chemical product types that have been shown, or have the potential, to be problematic for those with MCS. These authors grouped these substances as:

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  Outdoor air pollutants e.g. pesticides, solvent vapours, fuel and paint vapours, combustion products, tar fumes, diesel and auto exhaust, industrial air pollution;
  
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  Indoor air pollutants, domestic and workplace chemicals e.g. industrial and domestic indoor air, especially in “tight” buildings and spaces, combustion products from gas or oil-fired heaters, sponge rubber bedding, padding and upholstery, plastics, insecticides, perfumes, paints, deodorisers, cedar closets, cleaning agents, disinfectants, mothballs, newsprint and other printed materials, fabrics in clothing, bedding and window coverings, particleboard, carpeting and carpet padding; odours of virtually any description especially petrochemical odours but also natural odours from woods or cooking foods;
  
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  Foods, food additives and contaminants e.g. corn and corn sugar, pesticide residues, fumigants, fungicides, sulphur treatments, artificial colours, sweeteners, preservatives, ripening chemicals such as ethylene oxide, protective waxes, packaging materials;
  
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  Water contaminants and additives ingested but also those encountered whilst showering and bathing;
  
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  Drugs and consumer products e.g. aspirin, barbiturates, sulphonamides, diluents, excipients such as cornstarch or lactose, flavouring agents, coatings, preservatives, mineral oils, petroleum jelly, ointments, lotions, laxatives, synthetic vitamins, adhesive tape, cosmetics, perfumes, shampoos, personal hygiene products, denture adhesives, bath salts and oils, waterbeds, synthetic fabrics, felt tipped pens, polishes, cleaners, chlorinated swimming pools, skin alcohol, radio contrast dyes, contact lenses, plasticisers leaching from medical devices.
  

In a 2003 population study of MCS in the USA, out of 12 possible reaction triggers for which particular survey responses were sought, the products reported to make the largest percentages of respondents sick were cleaning agents, pesticides and perfumes. Car exhaust, barber shops/beauty salons, new carpets, new furniture, chlorine in household water and fresh ink were also common triggers (Caress and Steinemann, 2003).

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  Pesticides;
  
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  Fragranced products such as perfumes, aftershave and deodorants;
  
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  Virtually all volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including paint;
  
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  Cigarette smoke;
  
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  Cleaning products;
  
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  Carpeting, printing ink, soft plastics, synthetic fabrics;
  
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  Chlorinated and fluorinated water;
  
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  Pharmaceutical drugs and anaesthetics;
  
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  Electromagnetic radiation emitted from computers, televisions, mobile and landline phones, appliances with motors, photocopiers and microwave transmitters and high tension power lines.
  

The South Australian Parliamentary inquiry also received submissions from workers who identified particular chemicals as triggers of their MCS. Glutaraldehyde was identified as a chemical of concern for health care workers and hydraulic fluids and lubricants were chemicals of concern for aircraft pilots and cabin staff (Social Development Committee, 2005).