Poisons and Parabens

So I finally got around to planting my community garden plot. I still have some starter plants inside, but I planted some carrots, lettuce, and chives from seed to get things going.

First there was some prep work to do. I needed to remove the remaining leaves and rake the bed. Even though I did this with gloves on, I still managed to get poison ivy/oak/sumac. I am not sure which. Which I realized when I got to work and was about to embark upon a long test-run for the Ted Talks that Brown was filming.

The Dr. in my life suggested I take Benadryl right away, since I am the sensitive type and the rash was likely to spread (which it did). I went to CVS and procured the sleeping pills. If I can only drink half of a beer before I am tipsy, you can only imagine what Benadryl does to me :)

Normally I might try oatmeal, but there was no time, so I searched for Calamine lotion. When I located the lotion, I discovered that it contained two kinds of parabens among the ingredients and decided to stay away. I had heard that vinegar might do the trick, so I decided to risk the smell and go for that option. It worked for my sunburns this summer, so why not?

I found that within a day my rashes had shrunk. Excellent! I will soon be ready to go back into the garden and chance another exposure. I feel better about that now, knowing I have a remedy at the ready on my desk at work.

If it happens again I will try to tough it out without the Benadryl. I can't imagine a pill that pink is very healthy for me, but who knows? Only the active ingredient is listed on the bottle. Other home remedies for poison ivy include baking soda, banana peel and aloe vera gel. For more info go here.

In other news, I'm on the hunt for a new futon mattress. Mattresses often contain petroleum-based synthetics and fire retardants (which also often contain parabens) that emit toxic chemicals. I usually use a firm futon mattress. I figure I will go with organic cotton rather than a cotton foam mix in order to prevent the petroleum factor. This sounds great, right? It is easy enough to find a futon cover that doesn't have flame-retardants. The great thing is I can find an organic cotton flame-retardant free mattress in Rhode Island. But how do I know that the cotton inside my mattress is fair-trade? How many futon stores advertise whether or not their cotton is fair trade? Perhaps in Portlandia?

Springtime Lawncare

Spring has sprung, and I have been working in the yard to prepare our garden and yard for summer. Many of our current landscaping practices embrace our chemical and resource reduction philosophy. Our rain barrel collects stormwater from half of our roof, and we use the water to sustain all our plantings throughout the summer.

Our backyard compost bin is also starting to bustle after being frozen all winter. Not only does the compost enrich the soil in our vegetable and flowers beds, but we also use a compost “tea” for fertilizing potted plants. Instead of applying plant food, we use rinse water “tea” from our under-the-sink kitchen composter (we simply swish water from the rain barrel in the compost container and pour the mixture around potted plants). The “tea” is rich in coffee grounds, so the mixture also releases a pleasing aroma!

The father of a friend of mine is a chemist working for Terracycle, a company that was founded 10 years ago by a Princeton freshman who started making organic fertilizer out of worm castings (poop) and packaging it in used soda bottles. My friend kindly supplied me with an array of Terracycle products, and I love them! While Terracycle manufactures all kinds of products and packaging (lunch bags, backpacks, accessories) out of traditionally non-recyclable materials, like juice boxes and potato chip bags, I use the worm casting plant food. I don’t use the product often, mostly when planting perennial bulbs in the fall, but this product does wonders for new or struggling plantings.

The only thing still in need of attention in our yard is grubs. I hate them! I’m not someone who needs a weed free lawn, but I also don’t want to see my small yard destroyed by these pests. In the past, we’ve used a pretty nasty chemical to treat a few intense grub infestation, but I was not about to do that again! After doing a just a bit of research, I found an organic product, Monterey’s All Natural Turf Grub Control, which can be applied as a preventative treatment and/or mitigation measure for grubs. The active ingredients include clove oil, peppermint oil, garlic oil, and malic acid. The other ingredients are various clays and acids, all of which register as low threats on the Skin Deep website. I will consider using this product at the first sign of grubs later in the summer and early fall.

In the meantime, I have already implemented some simple, safe preventative measures for grubs as suggested on the organiclawncare101 website. The website suggests letting the lawn dry between watering, because grubs love moisture. I already don’t water the lawn, and in the past few years at least, we’ve received ample rainfall. As a result, our soil is usually very moist. Because grubs winter in the deep soil and surface to eat grass roots in the spring before burrowing back down to a depth of 6-8 inches, I decided to do what I could to keep the top few inches of soil dry. First, I raked up all the thatch (dead grass) from the lawn. Thatch not only holds moisture but it acts as a barrier between birds and grubs. Sadly, I don’t have chickens, so I added a bird feeder to the tree close to where grubs have been a problem in the past. My hope is that dry surface soil and an abundance of birds will keep grubs at bay. In the event that grubs do appear, I vow to not use nasty chemical treatments but will consider using the organic product.

Spring is one of my favorite seasons, and I feel good about keeping my yard beautiful AND safe.

A Little Sun and Skincare Exposure

Spring has finally settled  here in Boston.  The sun is shining, warmth has replaced frigidity, and I found a winning concoction of baking soda, chamomile and apple cider vinegar for my hair. Totally winning all over the place.  Summer is just around the corner, and before I step out into the hot sun, humid weather and beaches, I want to make sure my skin is adequately protected by a sunscreen that is safe for me and the environment. 

Rays from the sun are becoming increasingly harmful to our skin from the depletion of the ozone layer.    According to the EPA: "Reductions in stratospheric ozone levels will lead to higher levels of UVB reaching the Earth's surface. The sun's output of UVB does not change; rather, less ozone means less protection, and hence more UVB reaches the Earth. Studies have shown that in the Antarctic, the amount of UVB measured at the surface can double during the annual ozone hole. Another study confirmed the relationship between reduced ozone and increased UVB levels in Canada during the past several years."

I'm well aware the sun can have damaging effects on my skin, but I have been a little bit naive as to how much it can effect my health. I always surmised that since I don't burn too much, I am at a low risk for skin cancers.  However, the American Academy of Dermatology pushes sunscreen on everybody – no matter your skin type since any sunburn increases your risk of melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer.  Year around everyone should use broad spectrum, water proof sunscreen even on days that are cloudy.  Broad spectrum means that it covers both harmful UVA and UVB rays.  In short the UVA rays cause you to age, can penetrate glass and suppress your immune system, making it harder for you to prevent the development of cancer.  UVB rays are the burning rays (B is for burning, A is for aging), and cause sunburn.  Both UV types can cause cancer with excessive exposure. 
Ok now that the cancer talk is over, let’s take a look at some of the ingredients the Academy of Dermatology says for you to look out for when choosing a brand that has broad spectrum coverage.  I cross referenced their list against the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database and found some scary ingredients. 

Octyl methoxycinnamate – or octinoxate rates level 6 out of 10 for toxicity.  It is the most widely used ingredient for UV absorption and filter.  It has been known as an endocrine disrupter, targeting the thyroid, and estrogenic effects are noted in lab animals.

Oxybenzone:  This one is frightening, and is registered as 8 out of 10 for toxicity.  I’m pulling this info from Skin Deep, “Oxybenzone is a sunscreen ingredient associated with photoallergic reactions. This chemical absorbs through the skin in significant amounts. It contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans according to Centers for Disease Control research.”    Even the CDC doesn’t like it. Reading through the horror of this accumulative ingredient, Skin Deep references many studies, but one in particular stood out.  One 2007 study showed where biomonitoring indicated 96% of 6 to 8 year old girls had detectable amounts of oxybenzone in their urine!  This ingredient is  restricted in Japan, but it gets the greenlight here. 

So effectively, by using many of the leading brands of broad spectrum, water proof sunscreens, I'm trading one environmental hazard for the other.  Either I get skin cancer from the sun, or I risk bioaccumulation and a compromised thyroid from suggested sunscreen brands recommended by the Academy of Dermatology.  Tough choice right?  Imagine how many people lather their babies with these harmful chemicals?  I encourage you to look at the studies on many of the chemicals listed on Skin Deep. 

I started to research the best sunscreen, and am delighted to report on Kabana Skin Care.  This is like the Dr. Bronners soap line without the Godliness. Aside from getting Skin Deeps seal of approval, glowing testimonials, this skincare line is 100% all natural, organic, with a deep commitment to fair trade and sustainable resource extraction for all their products. 

They also have a section on their website devoted to helping consumers pick safer sunscreens by exposing many of the origins in leading brands of sunscreens.  I thought I would expand more on what I found in Skin Deep here, as it is important for people to know what their skin, the largest organ on the human body is absorbing!

Taken from their sunscreen safety page:

"The FDA approved petrochemical sunscreens are the following: Avobenzone, also known as Parsol 1789, Octylmethoxycinnamate, oxybenzone, p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Ensulizole, Homosalate, Menthyl anthranilate, Octocrylene, Octyl dimethyl PABA, Octyl salicylate, Sulisobenzone, trolamine salicylate and recently approved terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid, which is also known as Mexoryl SX and marketed exclusively by L’Oreal under the Anthelios brand. L’Oreal owns the patent on Mexoryl.

Consumers should know that all of the petrochemical sunscreens can be absorbed through your skin and into your blood in quantities higher than any other petrochemical contaminant found in our environment, air or food. Petrochemical sunscreens have significant side effects as many mimic estrogen’s effects in our bodies. They often don’t biodegrade, accumulate in the watershed and can damage coral reef ecosystems. All are toxic, and by using these petrochemicals UV damage is traded for a measure of chemical damage instead.

Parents need to know the NONE of the petrochemical sunscreen active ingredients listed above are FDA approved for use on children and babies. In fact, none of these compounds are tested for SPF on children’s skin, so products that use these ingredients and are marketed as ‘baby’ formulas are misleading you."


I personally have no interest in slathering up to a summer of petrochemicals, and am disgusted that many dermatologists approve of their patients putting this on their skin.  Shouldn't they know how these chemicals are absorbed into peoples skin, and what they do?  Petrochemicals come from petroleum, which comes from OIL!  Who wants to put the same chemical compound on their skin as the stuff they put in their car?  This is insanity.

I haven't been able to try any of their stuff out just yet, but am definitely going to do so as their product line is incredibly inexpensive.  You can buy online, or at a few retail markets.  I will most certainly report back to this blog to my findings on this one. I highly encourage people to research what goes into their skincare.  Hope I didn't scare everyone from the sun, and Happy Summer!

The Green, Green Grass of Home

We live in the suburbs, and, though I have dreams of a little urban homestead, our yard is currently used for flower beds, an herb garden, exercising our beastly puppy, and dinners on the patio.  Due to concerns for our health, the health of our highly sensitive pup, and my future plans to grow food and keep chickens and bees in our yard, it is important to me to eliminate chemicals.

Longing to Play Outside

To kill fire ants, we flood them with boiling water.  To remove poison ivy, we pull it by hand.  Fortunately, there is not much of either.  We also compost food scraps to nourish our lawn and house plants, as well as to reduce our contribution to either methane gas in the landfill or nitrogen bursts in the sewage system.

Happy Orchid

We currently maintain hot batch compost in the backyard and a worm bin in our house.

Hot Batch Compost Using Straw Instead of Leaves

Worm Bin

Last year we experienced a pretty significant drought, during which it seemed we lost much of our grass.  We do not water our lawn, but instead rely on rain for that.  We do have one large rain barrel, which in combination with a soaker hose does a nice job on the herb garden and flower beds.  However, without a pump, there is not sufficient pressure to actually water the lawn.  (We do have plans to add a pump and a few more rain barrels when we put in a large garden.)

We had been using a company called NaturaLawn of America, which claims to be The Leader in Organic-Based Lawn Care.  They did a great job with weed control in our yard.  However, we became skeptical about what ingredients were actually being used and what “organic-based” really meant.  Further, we were looking for an opportunity to cut expenses, so we cancelled that service.  I decided to battle the weeds myself instead.  How hard could it be, right?

The growing season in Charlotte began long ago.  The weather has been moderate since February, so vegetation has been in full swing here for a while.  Enter the Henbit!  I am told that bees love the stuff.  However, it is so prolific that, if I allowed it to, it would take over the yard.  My strategy was white vinegar and a pump sprayer typically used for weed control with toxic substances.

Weapons of Choice

I selected a patch clearly moving toward our yard from the neighbors' as a test area.  This patch was in the direct sun, and I sprayed liberally.  I soon realized that I would need lots and lots of vinegar!  Within one day, the weeds began to yellow.  Within one week, they appeared mostly dead.  Then a rain came and to my surprise the weeds began to rally.  That was not a part of the plan.  So I decided to pull the weeds in the test area, which easily loosened their grip on the soil.

February 6

February 8

February 20 (Notice Henbit with Purple Blossoms Flourishing in Background)

I became concerned that the quantity of vinegar would also prevent grass from growing in the test area, so I selected a second test area near the driveway for my new and improved method.  This time I would pull the weed and spray the remaining root or hole in the ground directly to insure a targeted kill.  I have used this method in several areas, and it appears to have worked well so far.  As always the weeds are much easier to pull after a heavy rain, but this method is still labor intensive.  For treating broad leafed weeds with large tap roots, of which we have relatively few, spraying copious amounts of vinegar directly on the weed has been extremely effective.  In these instances, no pulling is required.  The battle of the weeds is far from over, but I am holding my own.  I find that devoting time daily is the best way to keep the upper hand.  So much for a miracle cure...

Lastly, I must report on a disheartening development.  As I was writing this entry, I went outside to survey the treated areas.  A man, likely a relative of our neighbors, was spraying some toxic Round-Up style chemical attached to their garden hose broadly across their lawn adjacent to ours.  Our backyard is fenced, but there was a strong breeze.  Since he was spraying near our fence, which is several feet from my compost pile, and all along the property line, I was quite concerned.  The wind does not respect property boundaries.  I engaged him in conversation, and requested that he keep the spray far away from our yard.  However, he was not a native English speaker, and I am not certain he fully understood my request.  I could smell the chemicals strongly even as I walked away from the area, and I felt them in my throat and tasted them in my mouth.

If I had not gone outside when I did, I might never have realized these chemicals were being used next door.  This experience reminded me about the interconnectedness we have with our communities.  When we plant our garden next year, we could easily be eating our neighbors herbicides and pesticides if some education does not occur.  Fortunately, our neighbors are extremely nice and cooperative, so I hope that we can work together to insure a healthier environment for all - most especially their young children who play in the area now covered in spray.

Easter Egg Dyeing!

As devout Christians, Easter is the biggest holiday of the year for my extended family. Given the significance of the event, there is quite the extensive feast to accompany the celebration. My mother and her three sisters pull out all of the stops in true traditional Ukrainian style. They bring homemade bread, cheeses, and sausages (yes, homemade), ground beets and horseradish (which serves as a condiment for EVERYTHING), a wide variety of fruits, and a ridiculous number of egg dishes. Now, as an adult in the family, I am expected to participate in the preparation of the meal, and I do so quite willingly. This year, I was asked to bring homemade biscotti and raspberry pie…and to hard boil and dye three dozen Easter eggs.

OK, so aside from the animal welfare concerns I have regarding increased egg production this time of year (something I was thinking about as I read that Americans purchase nearly 1 billion eggs in the week before Easter), I had major qualms about using our family’s traditional egg dyeing methods in light of this course. I grew up using Paas and/or food coloring to dye our eggs, but I have ABSOLUTELY no idea what is in those dyes – even after some research! The dye ingredients are not listed anywhere, and if you Google “egg dye ingredients” or “egg dye safety,” there is not really a reputable source…and most websites say something along the lines of, “Oh, they’re non-toxic. Don’t worry about it!” My thoughts:

• Why are these chemicals mysterious? Why can’t I find out exactly what’s in the dyes? If they’re like food coloring (which I’m told they are), then it’s propylparaben and some kind of glycol and…mystery ingredients “approved by the FDA.” But none of that sounds like stuff I want to eat.
• Why have I never been concerned with the mysterious chemicals I’m rubbing on the outside of my food before?

I have yet to find a really good answer regarding any potential hazards for Easter egg dye, but I elected to adopt the precautionary principle and use this as an opportunity to experiment with natural egg dyes – and what fun! My roommate and I used eight different types of “dye.” Four just required us to soak the eggs in the dye overnight with a little bit of vinegar. The other four required us to boil the eggs in the dye for about 20 minutes (also with a bit of vinegar). We used this website for guidance.

Soaking dyes:

• Red Zinger tea – lavender
• Red wine – purple
• Coffee – brown
• Beet juice – pink

Boiling dyes:

• Red cabbage – blue (soaked overnight)
• Spinach – grey/green (soaked overnight)
• Green tea – golden
• Onion skins – marbled orange/brown

While chopping up and cooking the ingredients required the better part of an evening, and while a LOT of ingredients were used for relatively little yield (although who KNOWS what volume of “stuff” is used in the making of concentrated dyes…), I was very pleased with the results.

My favorites were the green tea, red cabbage, and onion skins – I will DEFINITELY do those again next year.

While I enjoyed learning about these dyeing methods, that was not really the crux of my learning experience with this particular activity. That credit must be given to the EXTENSIVE dialogue I had with my family on the subject, who were surprisingly OPPOSED to my use of the natural egg dyes. The most common conversation I had in the past week was:

“Ew! You’re soaking our eggs in coffee and red wine and tea? Aren’t the eggs going to be gross? I mean, what if the egg tastes like coffee?!”

To which I responded with (at first) dumbfounded silence, then:

“OK. So let me get this straight. You would rather that I soak your eggs in a mystery chemical we can’t identify than coffee. You acknowledge that eggshells are porous and that dye can leach through, and you would RATHER eat mystery chemical than chance a hint of a coffee flavor on your eggs?”

To which EVERYONE responded:

“Yes! They test those dyes. They’re fine.”

I don’t mean to sound like a crazy conspiracy theorist, but TALK ABOUT BLIND FAITH IN THE ESTABLISHMENT! Wow. Who’s “they”? (I know it's the FDA, but do they know that?) And what do they “test” the dyes for? (And do the results come back as 100% conclusive, or is there some doubt?) And why should we trust them? (Have "they" never messed up before?)

This experience has forced me to recognize (again) the uphill battle we face. People don’t necessarily WANT to think outside of the box, or to doubt the system, or to change the way they do things. Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that these eggs were “homework,” I’m not sure my family would’ve LET me do this – and they’re generally very supportive. Sigh.

Luckily, the eggs turned out beautifully, and with no discernible flavor additions. People were impressed. This counted as a win. But, I wonder how my aunts will respond when they all get flaxseed hair gel for Christmas…

I Get High With A Little Help From My Friends

The medication we take exits our body at some point, gets processed by our waste treatment facilities and then ends up in our reservoirs or other parts of the ecosystem. Since I learned of this phenomenon I have tried to keep as medication-free as possible or find herbal alternatives which tend to be kinder.
Having been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis has posed a new challenge for me in that regard.
The treatment for my diagnosis of relapse-remitting MS involves different factors depending on my situation. If I have an acute relapse where I have trouble walking or swallowing or with some other more essential function, most neurologists recommend either IV steroids or steroid pills. For the rest of the time, people diagnosed with MS are usually prescribed a drug that is taken regularly in order to stave off and reduce relapses. These drugs are often very effective and would seem to be no naturopathic medicine that can achieve the same solution.
In the hospital, I was given IV steroids as I was having trouble walking. The effects were interesting to say the least. My mind was racing for days. I was rather eager to eat at 3AM and I became tired crossing my apartment.
Since stress can be a factor in onset and presentation of symptoms ( as my wobbly leg discovered while working sound for an event starring Charlie Rose and James Franco :), I think I will try and remain as stress-free as possible rather than endure more steroids than absolutely necessary.
So, the question becomes what kind of therapies work in favor of low stress? Well, sunlight is one. In fact, the vitamin D obtained from sunlight is recommended for MS patients. As it turns out, the closer one gets to the equator, the fewer MS cases one finds.
Meditation works and is recommended by Neurologists. Since I usually chant twice a day, that is a no-brainer.
Acupuncture and massage therapy have been known to work for stress reduction and help with physical symptoms as well. On Monday I will have an appointment with Dr. Jiao, a well-known and very successful acupuncturist and herbal medicine expert.
Swimming has also been known to lower stress and is a good exercise for MS patients because we can often do it whether or not we are having symptoms and also because it keeps the body temperature from getting too hot. A high body temperature tends to have a negative effect on MS patients (I’m not sure I am ready to pass up a hot tub yet, but I will try to wrap my brain around that one).
In Rhode Island, MS patients are usually entitled to a medical marajuana card if a doctor is in favor of such, more so for pain and muscle relaxation than for stress as I understand it. There is no doubt that marajuana can be very calming. Unfortunately, because of the possibility of MS effecting cognitive function, I think I will stay away from the good stuff unless pain becomes more of a factor. I have heard that getting and maintaining a medical marajuana card in Rhode Island involves more of a hassle than obtaining the drug illegally. Since I don’t know anyone with a medical marajuana card personally, I will have to ask the MS Neurologist whom I have an appointment with on Wednesday. Another option for more natural stress relief is Kava Kava. My friend Heidi dropped off a bottle of Kava Kava concoction a couple months ago. Unfortunately, Kava Kava must travel from the western pacific to get to me, whereas marajuana is a slightly more local solution. Hmmmmmmmmm.
Another strategy besides stress relief for MS patients is to keep one’s mind active. Since cognitive function can be affected, a regular dose of crossword puzzles, sudoku, or any other type of strategy game or mind game is recommended. My favorite game is called, “Spot It”, obtained at a game store in P-Town. It consists of a bunch of discs with pictures on them. Each disc has one image on it that matches one image on all of the other discs. All players are dealt a stack of discs and one disc is placed in the center. The first player to find the matched image on her disk and say the name of the image out loud, places her/his disc on top of the other disc in the center and the game continues. The first player to get rid of all of her/his discs wins.
What a long strange trip it shall be. Of course, it has been that already, hasn't it?

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

I went to a workshop on toxins Tuesday afternoon as part of Lesley University’s Eco-Week activities. The presentation was done as part of the Boston Self Help Center. I learned how toxins found in everyday products can lead to MCS or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. This was an eye-opening presentation. I thought I knew a little about people’s chemical sensitivities, but I now realize just how naïve I was on the subject and how so many more people are probably affected by it than I was even remotely aware of.

The number of chemicals that people have been exposed to in the name of making our lives “better” is staggering. There have been over 85,000 different types of chemicals in use today and only 3,000 have been tested for their relative safety for eye and skin irritations. The situation is becoming increasingly apparent to some people, but considering the fact that Rachel Carson alerted us to the dangers of chemicals in the early 60’s, progress toward improvements have come at a snail’s pace. The fact is that there has been an increase in the amount of chemicals used in the name of making our lives easier with: a widespread use pesticides and fertilizers, brighter and more wrinkle-free clothing, and shinier, more manageable hair to name just a few.

People can be affected from either high level exposures such as drastic doses all at once from an explosion of toxins from a furnace or the World Trade Center, or it can come from low level exposures such as a constant use of toxic weed-killing chemicals on the outside of buildings or within older buildings from asbestos. The affects can be very gradual and put down to asthma or the flu. Symptoms can be nausea, extreme fatigue, rashes, mood swings, problems with concentration and short term memory, as well as seizures.

One theory about what happens in chemical sensitivity is that it happens as a result of the chemicals going in through the sinus cavity into the brain and breaking down the natural protective barriers on the way. Without the natural barriers, subsequent exposures of toxic fumes will have more immediate negative effects on certain parts of the brain.

Once someone has MCS or extreme sensitivity, even the smallest exposures can set off reactions. Margaret Ricciardelli, who gave the talk, told us how she has become a virtual recluse. She meets her friends outside and walks first when they take a walk. The smell of someone’s scented shampoo if she walks behind them can make her nauseous and dizzy, and the last time she walked into a store she nearly passed out. She has no short-term memory anymore and has to take regular medications to keep from breaking out in rashes and having half of her body go numb from something as simple as open windows.

One of the issues is the fact that many people do not like to admit the fact that they have a problem and to have people treat them as if they are handicapped. The fact is that MCS is a type of handicap. According to their website, the Chemical Sensitivity Foundation states:

Federal laws–specifically the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act–prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. HUD considers multiple chemical sensitivity to be a disability under these laws. Despite this coverage, the Department continues to receive many telephone calls and correspondences from people with multiple chemical sensitivity who report that their landlords refuse to reasonably accommodate their disability. If you, or anyone you know, believes that they have suffered housing discrimination because of their disability, please contact the HUD office nearest you. Fair Housing is not an option. It’s the law.

There is quite a bit of information on MCS available on the internet. I have just touched the surface of this growing problem. Below are just a few of the sites you can check out for further information. The first website includes a good introductory video on MCS.

http://www.chemicalsensitivityfoundation.org/

http://sites.google.com/site/bostonselfhelpcenter/news/secondhandscentaccommodatingpeoplewithmcs
http://www.lectlaw.com/filesh/csl01.htm
http://www.multiplechemicalsensitivity.org
http://www.chemicalsensitivityfoundation.org/bennie_howard-multiple-chemical-sensitivity.htm

As with most things there are two sides to every story. The following website disputes the validity of MCS and seems to suggest that is more of a psychosomatic illness without genuine validity. I cannot help but wonder if this reasoning is somehow backed by one of the chemical companies, or even by someone who uses some of the questionable ingredients to make products that seem to make money for some at the expense of others. Either way I am glad that I am becoming more aware of this problem that seems to effect many more people than I was formally aware of.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/mcs.html