From Debra Lynn Dadd
Spain has recognized Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
AC / MADRID
Day 09/26/2014 – 3:56 a.m.
Incorporating the health system has been made in accordance with guidelines approved by WHO and other countries had already adopted
Spain has officially recognized multiple chemical sensitivity ( MCS ) to incorporate its International Classification of Diseases or ICD (the system that classifies the Health and encodes their diagnoses). With this decision, Spain joins the list of countries that recognize MCS as a disease: Germany (2000), Austria (2001), Japan (2009), Switzerland (2010) and Denmark (2012).
The process was carried out through a non-legislative proposal (PNL) presented by Deputy María del Carmen Quintanilla’s Party;following a request made to it by the Fund for the Protection of Environmental Health ( Fodesam ), in collaboration with theInformation Service Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Environmental Health ( SISS ).
The SQM radically changes the lives of those who suffer. The recognition was a longstanding demand of those affected by a disease that turns many common chemicals in everyday life a torment for those affected by MCS. Detergents, soaps, colognes, or air fresheners become aggressive to them products they produce palpitations, vomiting, skin irritation or recurrent headaches. “MCS changes the lives of those who suffer and forces, in many cases, to live with many preventive measures to not contact or in the air, with these products,” says Carmen Quintanilla. Go outside or into a store can be, for these people, impossible to perform tasks.
This condition was further added the inappropriate treatment that many of these patients receive from the health system. Because it does not appear in the ICD as a disease is in an administrative “limbo” that involves “a state of complete helplessness. Something that should end with the recognition of MCS as a disease.
“The situation of these people is very difficult,” says Carlos Prada,Chairman of Fodesam. His intolerance synthetic substances frequently used in society often forces them to live homebound, almost like “bubble people”; wear a mask and the few times they go out.
MCS affects the central nervous system, but may also cause malfunctions in other systems such as respiratory, gastrointestinal or heart. This is an “emerging disease” of chronic nature and “environmental toxic ‘causing a’ physiological response to many agents and chemical compounds” that can be found in air fresheners, colognes, personal care products, cleaning supplies, food, water Griffin, clothing, cosmetics, snuff … Therefore, although as in other diseases MCS have degrees and symptoms vary according to the parameters of health and “chemical” environment of the patient, it is a problem difficult to handle, further “limited remarkable quality of life “form, noting the non-legislative proposal.
See article at BBC: Mundo: La difícil vida de las “personas burbuja”
such welcome news. My tragic son has been treated as a psychiatric case for a long time and the drugs (all chemicals) have taken their toll. He is so sensitive, one whiff of perfume makes him feel terribly ill and faint. MCS devastates hi life. S. Shaw
Sorry to hear about your son but the problem of synthetic perfumes is huge. It would seem that, with time, we discover that almost all things unnatural are damaging to the human system.
Perhaps it’s time that the scientists, who make big profits for chemical industries, take a step back and give us all time to recover our health. I’ve suffered M.C.S. for more than 20 years and can only be well away from chemicals, especially fragrance chemicals. At least these days quality products do warn of ‘parabens’ and ‘phtahalates’ and it’s less difficult to buy safer products.