The Reason for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Is Completely Avoidable

Lourdes Salvador's Column

...Co-founder of MCS America discusses the latest Multiple Chemical Sensitivity issues.

Lourdes Salvador volunteers as a writer and social advocate for the recognition of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). She was a passionate advocate for the homeless and worked with her local governor to provide services to the homeless through a new approach she created to end homelessness. That passion soon turned to advocacy and activism for people with MCS and the medical professionals who serve them. She co-founded MCS Awareness in 2005 and went on to found MCS America in 2006. She serves as a partner for Environmental Education Week, a partner for the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE), and a supporter for the American Cancer Society: Campaign for Smokefree Air.

For more information visit MCS America

Monday, June 9th, 2008:

Looking Out At the World: The Reason for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Is Completely Avoidable

by Lourdes Salvador

Looking out at the world in snow and rain,

Locked in the isolation of your window pane,

Cars passing on the icy road below,

People hurrying along in the cold snow.

These are the people, the world, you long to enjoy,

Not the isolation which you are forced to employ,

The world below is calling you,

The thief that stole your life, now blue.

Full of pollution, lies, and deceit

All of it burglarized your seat

The worst of it is that it need not be,

The reason for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

States and counties across America recognized multiple chemical sensitivity and/or toxic injury awareness month in May of 2008.

Multiple chemical sensitivity is an illness which affects multiple organ systems after an initial toxic injury. MCS continues to produce symptoms upon additional exposure to previously tolerated and low levels of chemicals in fragrances, pesticides, and cleaning products, among others.

The May festivities and awareness efforts included presentations, library displays, passing out brochures, press releases, and many wonderful news articles from various organizations around America.

Lourdes Salvador, President of MCS America, states "MCS would be completely avoidable if people were more aware of the dangers of everyday products and utilized their buying power to guide the market towards producing safer products."

We are conditioned into believing that things would not be sold if they were not safe, however further investigation reveals that 80% of chemicals in use today have not been tested for human safety. It is only after people start becoming ill that products come into question.

The laws in place provide little, if any, protection for citizens. New legislation is direly needed. "One look in any newspaper is enough to realize our children are being poisoned with lead and bisphenol A tainted toys," says Salvador.

The California government just published a press release expressing concerns over high formaldehyde levels in childrenÂ´s furniture.

Three forward thinking senators, Lautenberg, Solis, and Waxman, have introduced the 'Kid Safe Chemical Act', which would ensure that chemicals used in every day products, especially baby bottles and childrenÂ´s toys, are proven safe.

"This is only the beginning,." says Salvador. "The fragrance and cosmetic industries are entirely unregulated and among the worst offenders."

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