Defining Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Book Overview

The number of people suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is greater than the number suffering from AIDS, yet the general public and the medical community know very little about the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786404132
• ISBN13: 9780786404131
• Release Date: June 1998
• Publisher: McFarland Publishing
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 0.8" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

useful, disturbing data on MCS

This is an excellent book that all physicians should own. It's unquestionably an invaluable resource for MCS sufferers. Matthews edited the book into four sections. Two of the sections have multiple chapters. SECTION I: MEDICAL INFORMATION Chapter 1. Chemical Sensitivity: A Psychological Perspective by Eileen R. McCarty (clinical psychologist) Chapter 2. MCS: Trial by Science by Donald L. Dudley, M.D. Chp. 3. SPECT Brain Scanning After Chemical Injury by Gunnar Heuser, M.D. 4. Porphyria, Cytochrome P-450, and Toxic Exposure by Bonnye Matthews SECTION II: Legal Information 5. No Balm in Gilead: Why Worker's Compensation Fails Workers in a Toxic Age by Randolph Gordon SECTION III: Science and the Literature 6. Junk Science by Bonnye Matthews 7. Medical Literature and MCS: An analysis of Seven Papers by Donald Dudley SECTION IV: Personal Experience with MCS 8. My Experience with Chemical Sensitivity by Bonnye Matthews REVIEW OF EACH CHAPTER: Chapter 1: Chemical Sensitivity: A Psychological Perspective by Eileen R. McCarty (clinical psychologist) Despite what the title might suggest, McCarty's chapter does not represent or defend a psychogenic perspective of MCS. Rather, the chapter has three goals. The first goal is to introduce readers to the problem of chemical industries focusing narrowly on the benefits of synthetic chemicals while ignoring the potential health threats they cause and trigger. The second goal is to explain why many doctors interpret MCS symptoms as psychogenic. Finally, it delves into a very brief and lacking summary of research that had recently been published, such as isolated porphyrin abnormalities of porphyrin metabolism, Callender's SPECT scans, and DHEA's potential in MCS. Regarding DHEA, McCarty said, "An [MCS-afflicted] individual will still likely react to chemical exposure, but his or her overall quality of life may be enhanced." (Page 7) I like McCarty's description of the complexity of MCS research: "Sometimes the search for answers leads only to further questions; passing through one door, we discover more doors waiting to be opened." (Ibid = Also on page 7) Chapter 2: "MCS: Trial by Science" by Donald L. Dudley, M.D Donald Dudley's chapter focuses on his unique research on MCS. Dudley studied the P300 brain wave (Auditory and Visual) of twenty patients with MCS (under Cullen's definition) before and, during and after exposure to common and everyday chemicals (in an everyday amount). Upon exposure the P300 decreased significantly in 100% of the subjects, two of which developed occipital seizures. (Page 24) Most important is the fact that the P300 is not affected by emotions/perception/etc. Any changes to this brain wave upon challenge must be the result of organic mechanisms. Dudley proposed that the olfactory system generates too much NMDA activity and that this activity might, at the least, contribute to the symptoms. (Subsequent articles by WSU biochemist Martin Pall show a role

Defining Multiple Chemical Sensitivity - CREDIBILITY issue!

Highly recommend it! It is evident that special interestswillnot like it as it is not within their financial interests! Nowwith new emerging evidence it becomes the issue of emerging credibility!This book comparing to trashy campaign published disinformation campaign sponsored by special interests ... is undisputed MASTERPIECE! WHAT ELSE ONE CAN SAY?Only works of Claudia Miller, Mohamed Abu Donia, Marc Cullen, Grace Ziem the MDs scientists and researchers could be rated any higher!Together with other jewels and masterpieces such as: Chemical Exposures: Low Levels and High Stakes, 2nd Edition; Claudia S. Miller, Nicholas Askounes Ashford the readers can get full accounting of the magnitude of informations available today from first hand witness of the suffering. To add to credibility to this book read scientific review by Alexandra Golub a DOD scientific review sponsored under PENTAGON and DOD programs on Gulf War illness research... demonstrates that there is clear the connection between neurological injury and MCS. Only by reading such first hand accounting and documented evidence one can get full image of the magnitude of legal deception by any and all means!The recent findings in reference to heavy metals and specificaly mercury toxicity and neural sensitisation, as the cause of developing heavy metal allergy suported by the newest MELISA (memory lymphocyte immuno-stimulation assay) tests with the study of metal-induced neural neurotoxic sensitization tests could beef up the splendind factual accounting by this the autor first hand of the mysery of injured by neurotoxic agents.As far as discussed treatment it is difficult to treat what is not yet fully explored there for elimination and avoidance is what must be first considered.The NEW emerging scientific evidence only adds credibility and supports this book. The recent findings of brain damage in Gulf War Veterans, as well as ethiology of allergy and asthma ...reported on May 18, 2000 with new evidence that the ALLERGY NERVE GROWTH FACTOR NGD was linked to NGF proteine."Hopkins allergy researchers took to the trail of NGF for several reasons. First, Koliatsos, who is an expert on the use of NGF in experiments to treat nerve and brain disorders, informed the allergy researchers that using NGF to treat Alzheimer's caused patients excessive pain. NGF, found naturally in the body, is a small, potent molecule that helps maintain certain nerve cells and prods other nerve cells to grow and communicate with others. "It looked like the pain syndromes we saw in these patients shared many of the same mechanisms with respiratory allergy," says Koliatsos. "The new evidence clearly demonstrates a valid what previously was unknown missing links: "Hay fever and asthma now seem to derive from events not only in the respiratory system, but also from a nervous system that is overreacting to stimuli," says Vassilis Koliatsos, M.D., an associate professor of pathology, neurology and neuroscience at the Johns

MCSS? Please read this book.

"Defining Multiple Chemical Sensitivity" is a carefully documented story, written to establish knowledge and truth based on scienfific method. The first chapters cover some of the latest work in biomarkers for demonstrating chemical poisoning. This poisoning may occasionally be followed by the complex of symptoms called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCSS). Biomarkers (medically verifiable tests) include measurable changes in molecules, biochemistry, or cells from human tissue or fluids. Included here are auditory and visual evoked (or "event-related") potentials (ERPs), SPECT scans, acute intermittent porphyrinuria, and changes in levels of cytochrome P-450. These papers go a long way towards providing an understanding of why the chemically poisoned experience such brain fog and react to so many things. There is information on how to prevent/counter attacks. Donald Dudley's chapter, "MCS: Trial by Science" shows how the influence of the olfactory system has been quite underestimated in medical science. 20 MCS patients (under Cullen's definition) were exposed to substances like formaldehyde, MEK, perfume, diesel, a whiff of felt pen... - all chemicals having 6 or fewer carbon fragments in their volatile component. Neurotransmitters from the olfactory system (like glutamate and NMDA), also have molecules with this structure. It is thought that the 6-or-less carbon chemicals act as agonists for the glutamate and other amino acids. And these are the same amino acids which are implicated in brain cell injury - eg stroke, pain, depression and degenerative brain disease. In the study, stimuli were given to eyes and ears - a changing checker board and clicks, before and after the chemical exposures. Electrodes measured how long the brain took to react and how much brain reaction there was. The findings were dramatic. Gunnar Heuser's chapter covers SPECT brain scanning; pictures of the brain which show how the oxygen-carrying blood flow is impaired in the frontal, temporal and parietal lobes in people with exposure to neurotoxic chemicals. This hypoperfusion is further decreased on exposure to, for instance, perfume. Mathematical tasks did not light up the appropriate areas of the brain. He suggests possibilities to explain these findings. These kinds of brain affects were actually detected in a study on DDT in 1966; this research was never followed up. However progress is being made - I liked Eileen McCarty's first chapter parting shot: "A cosmetic salesperson related her poorly adhering nail polish to the lessening of formaldehyde in the formula...". The book has lots of interesting "bits". Porphyrias are deficits of certain enzymes required for the production of heme. Heme is used to produce haemoglobin (for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood), and cytochromes (for breaking down such things as steroids, drugs, pollutants, mutagens and natural plant and animal products

This is a powerful tool for education and activism.

BOOK REVIEW DEFINING MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY Edited by Bonnye L. Matthews McFarland & Co., Inc. Jefferson, NC, 1998 REVIEWER: Irene Ruth WilkenfeldHaving any chronic illness is challenging. Having a chronic illness that is not recognized by mainstream medicine can be a nightmare. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is one such medical conundrum. It immobilizes lives, alters destiny and erodes potential. By all accounts the number of chemically injured patients is growing exponentially and yet institutional dismissiveness and resistance seem more entrenched than ever before. And patients, feeling alienated and ostracized, find themselves caught in the crossfire of a bitter tug of war between traditional and alternative (environmentally aware) physicians. I would encourage anyone dealing with this syndrome to get a copy of DEFINING MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY. This one slim volume is like having your own personal team of `pro bono' advocates, on call to support you, 24-hours a day. It contains up-to-date medical and legal information, as well as a detailed, very personal, compelling case history with which you will easily identify. Some may call this last section "mere anecdotal evidence." I call it a powerful account of an inspirational woman, (Bonnye Matthews) working to fight an intransigent and badly flawed system. A section on Workers' Compensation, by attorney Randolph I. Gordon will be invaluable to anyone trying to navigate this circuitous, often unresponsive system. It will also serve as a treasured aid to anyone involved in toxic tort litigation. Useful information on hazard communication, regulatory guidelines, the validity of low-level exposures, proving causation in the courtroom, coping with skepticism, along with pertinent legal precedents to help you authoritatively present your case to a prospective attorney, are all here!Bonnye Matthews has done a masterful job of reviewing the latest complicated information on porphyria and making it readable by the layperson. "With understanding porphyria, it is now possible, for the first time, to create a model of MCS." In a scientific climate insisting on "biomarkers," this may well be the key to opening the door to the validation of MCS.If you need to help document your injuries, you can learn about the latest in brain scanning technology, a section written by Gunnar Heuser, M.D., Ph.D. A chapter by Donald Dudley, M.D. will help you critically analyze the medical literature on MCS and sort out the distortions from the facts. You will learn how to defend yourself against arrogant medical misdiagnoses and learn to appreciate the reasons why conventional medicine prefers to define MCS as psychogenic rather than admit that it is an avoidable problem of chemical poisoning.You might just want to get an extra copy to share with skeptical family members and friends. This is a powerful tool for education and activism.