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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.
Electrosensitivity Grows in Relation to Cell Phone Towers
by Lourdes Salvador
Electromagnetic field hypersensitivity currently affects about 3% of the population and is rapidly growing in prevalence as cell phone tower and wi/fi use increases according to scientists.
Electrosensitivity is a condition in which an individual experiences a wide range of unpleasant symptoms when exposed to weak non-ionizing radiation such as that emitted by cell phones, appliances, computers, wireless networks, and other electrical devices.
Symptoms may include skin disorders (pins and needles, numbness, burning), fatigue, muscle cramps, cardiac arrhythmia, and gastro-intestinal problems.
Similar effects are experienced by individuals with related multi-system illnesses such as sick building syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity.
The skin of people with electrosensitivity conducts electricity at a higher rate than that of those who are not affected (Eltiti et al. 2007). The skin is also frequently leaky, which may also account for the high incidence of allergies and chemical sensitivities commonly found in this group (Eltiti et al. 2007).
It has been postulated that altered central nervous system function may account for symptom manifestation when under electromagnetic field and/or chemical exposure.
Neurophysiological examinations highlight baseline deviations in people who are electrosensitive and show reduced intracortical facilitation.
Landgrebe and colleagues state, "This pilot study gives additional evidence that altered central nervous system function may account for symptom manifestation" in electrosensitive patients
References:
Eltiti S, Wallace D, Ridgewell A, Zougkou K, Russo R, Sepulveda F, Mirshekar-Syahkal D, Rasor P, Deeble R, Fox E (2007), Does short-term exposure to mobile phone base station signals increase symptoms in individuals who report sensitivity to electromagnetic fields? A double blind provocation study. Retrieved from: http://tinyurl.com/39ddyv
Landgrebe M, Hauser S, Langguth B, Frick U, Hajak G, Eichhammer P. Altered cortical excitability in subjectively electrosensitive patients: results of a pilot study. J Psychosom Res. 2007 Mar;62(3):283-8.
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