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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, MCS

Annex F

May we present:

The Danish MCS Organisation

(Founded February 1994)

The main objectives of the organisation are (from the organisation regulations):

1. To disseminate information and knowledge of odour and chemical hypersensitivity,
2. to give odour and chemical hypersensitive people advice and guidance
   (help them to help themselves),
3. to fight for a clean environment and cleaner air,
4. to convince The National Board of Health/the legislators of the importance of odour and chemical hypersensitivity research,
5. to fight for a long-term solution to our indoor climate problems - especially odour-free waiting rooms, hospital wards, nursing homes, etc. - and encourage the building of allergy-friendly homes,
6. recognition of our illness and full pensions for those not able to work, and
7. to contribute to the establishment of a diagnosis and treatment centre.

Briefly about the illness:

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity differs from allergies in that antibodies cannot be traced in the skin, in mucous membranes or in the blood. The term hypersensitivity or chemical intolerance is, therefore, more appropriate.

The condition/illness is not recognised as an illness in Denmark, which is probably due to the lack of diagnostic parameters. Awareness from the media is, therefore, very important to this patient group, in order for them to be able to put pressure on/inspire relevant health persons.

The character and extent of the illness has not been investigated in Denmark. But American physicians estimate that about 4% of the population in North America suffer from this illness. By a rough estimate, this would mean that about 200,000 persons in Denmark would to some extent have symptoms (one or more), if “appropriately” exposed.

Symptoms: fatigue, irritated mucous membranes in eyes, nose, and throat, headache, dizziness, concentration difficulties, memory and learning difficulties, breathing difficulties, palpitation, arthralgia, depression, and many more (varies from patient to patient).

Causes: chemicals that reach our mucous membranes via the air around us and create violent and aggressive reactions in the “nervous system”.

The concentrations of these substances are often far lower than those ”normal” individuals would notice.

The chemicals can be so-called natural substances or they can be synthetic.

Examples of every-day elements that can create symptoms in odour and chemical hypersensitive persons:

Tobacco smoke, frying odours, wood smoke, perfumes, deodorants, after-shave, washing powder and softener, newspapers, advertising brochures, photocopying machines, self-copying paper, disinfectants, etc., etc.

Consequences: Persons suffering from odour and chemical hypersensitivity experience difficult situations with odours in the busses, trains, offices, cinemas, restaurants, medical laboratories, churches, libraries, public swimming baths, etc., etc., etc. - in other words in all of the places where people meet and exchange odours and argue about who smells the best.

For many, having the symptoms described above leads to disabling social isolation.

The Danish MCS Organization attempts, to the best of its ability, to act as spokesman for the socially isolated and encourages everyone with symptoms of this disease to join the organisation.

The more we are, the better we can work to establish a better and wider understanding of our everyday problems. At the same time we can increase our efforts regarding the health system.

We look forward to co-operating with an understanding and communicating press at all levels.

Kind regards on behalf of the organisation,

Flemming Obling

Should you wish to contact the organisation for further information, or if you wish to receive comments on events with relation to our handicap, then you are welcome to contact one of the persons below.

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Version 1.0 March 2005, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency