The Hidden Marginalization of Persons With Environmental Sensitivities

Reed, GibsonPamela

doi:10.1089/eco.2016.0003

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The authors claim that MCS symptoms may not be linked to pathophysiological mechanisms, further underlining the lack of consensus in the scientific community. From a diagnostic point of view, MCS is difficult to recognise clinically and patients risk marginalisation [1,3]. MCS pathogenesis can be traced back to an exaggerated response to oxidative and nitrosative stress, chronic neurogenic and systemic inflammation [4], altered blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability, abnormal xenobiotic metabolism and insufficient detoxifying capacity [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of sensory and olfactory pathways in multiple chemical sensitivity

Palmieri

Corazzari²,

Vadalà

et al. 2020

Reviews on Environmental Health

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Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is characterised by non-specific and recurring symptoms affecting multiple organs and associated with exposure to chemicals, even at low concentrations, which are, under normal circumstances, harmless to the general population. Symptoms include general discomfort, cardiovascular instability, irritation of the sensory organs, breath disorders, hypersensitivity affecting the skin and epithelial lining of the gut, throat and lungs, anxiety, and learning and memory loss. Chemical intolerance is a key distinguishing feature of MCS, limiting considerably patients’ lifestyle with serious social, occupational and economic implications. Since no specific diagnostic markers are currently available for chemical intolerance, the diagnosis relies on clinical symptoms. Despite the formulation of several hypotheses regarding the pathophysiology of MCS, its mechanisms remain undefined. A person-centred care approach, based on multidisciplinary and individualised medical plans, has shown promising results. However, more definite treatment strategies are required. We have reviewed the main experimental studies on MCS pathophysiology, focusing on the brain networks involved, the impact of environmental pollution on the olfactory system and the correlation with other pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we discuss treatment strategies targeting the olfactory system.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of sensory and olfactory pathways in multiple chemical sensitivity

Palmieri

Corazzari²,

Vadalà

et al. 2020

Reviews on Environmental Health

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“…Despite (or perhaps due to its ubiquitousness and its all-too-frequent involvement in highly publicized litigation issues) there is no consensus by the medical authorities on how this disease should be recognized. Marginalization of patients (2) with this disorder results inevitably in serious social welfare problems. The very recently (11/2016) issued, and in our opinion totally biased, Current Care Recommendations for treating patients suffering from moisture-damaged buildings (3) only aggravate this injustice.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severe Sequelae to Mold-Related Illness as Demonstrated in Two Finnish Cohorts

Tuuminen

Rinne²

2017

Front. Immunol.

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The presence of toxic indoor molds with accompanying bacterial growth is clearly detrimental to human health. The pathophysiological and toxicological effects of toxins and structural components of molds and bacteria have been clarified in experiments conducted in tissue culture and animals, and there is convincing epidemiologic evidence; nonetheless their implications for human health are either ignored or denied, at least in Finland. In this communication, we describe two cohorts suffering severe sequelae to mold-related illness. One cohort is a nine-member family with pets that moved into a new house, which soon proved to be infested with pathogenic molds. The other cohort consists of 30 teachers and 50 students from a mold-infested school building. The first cohort experienced a plethora of mucosal irritation, neurological, skin, allergic, and other symptoms, with all family members ultimately developing a multiple chemical syndrome. In the second cohort, we detected a greatly elevated prevalence of autoimmune conditions and malignancies. We claim that mold-related illness exists in multiple facets; if not simply a transient mucosal irritation or even an increased risk of asthma onset or its exacerbation. We propose a scheme to explain the natural course of the mold-related illness. We recommend that future studies should combine data from, e.g., cancer, autoimmune, and endocrine disorder registers and neurological and mental health or neuropsychological registers with mold-exposed individuals being monitored for prolonged follow-up times.

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“…Yet most people think that the Constitution is sacrosanct, the food at the grocery store is good for you, and our regulatory agencies will protect us. One can ignore the occasional person at the grocery store wearing a mask, though a noticeable minority of Americans now report having chemical sensitivities that require heroic measures just to survive in technological culture (Gibson, 2015(Gibson, , 2016(Gibson, , 2017.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Waking Up to the Environmental Crises

Reed

2019

Ecopsychology

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As a people, as a world, we need to wake up to the environmental crises at hand. In this essay, I name and discuss 11 of the underlying problems (and correlative opportunities through understanding them): faith/belief in the system, Baconian science, the tendency for highly aware persons to be perceived as radicals, the habit of treading lightly at times in order to communicate with others, the severity of the problem, our fragmented perception of the cycles of nature, that we are often lied to, the difficulty and/or inability to deeply perceive nature, identification with consuming and cultural artifacts, confrontation with capitalism's ''forced choice,'' and the processes of numbing and colonization. I expand on each of these and show how we can change course. I then summarize actions of people fighting pipelines in Virginia as a brief case in point of such change.

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The Hidden Marginalization of Persons With Environmental Sensitivities

Cited by 5 publications

References 26 publications

The role of sensory and olfactory pathways in multiple chemical sensitivity

The role of sensory and olfactory pathways in multiple chemical sensitivity

Severe Sequelae to Mold-Related Illness as Demonstrated in Two Finnish Cohorts

Waking Up to the Environmental Crises

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