WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY?
Over 1 million Canadians have been diagnosed with this medical condition.
Environmental Sensitivities (ES) includes all sensitivities such as Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) and Electromagnetic Sensitivity (EMS).
- 179,000 Quebecers have been diagnosed with ES (Statistic Canada, 2010), up from 171,000 in 2005.
- The number of people in Canada diagnosed with this condition has increased by 34% during this same period.
- 3% of Canadians have been diagnosed with MCS, which commonly overlaps with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (Statistics Canada, 2007).
- 5% of Canadians (1.5 million people) have been diagnosed with at least one of these disorders (Statistics Canada, 2007).
- 3.6% of Canadian nurses experience chemical sensitivities (2005 National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses).
Environmental Sensitivities (ES) can be a disabling medical condition triggered either by one large exposure to chemicals, biological substances or electromagnetic radiation. It can also be precipitated by low exposures to these same elements, over a period of time. The result of this can dramatically affect the life of the individual. People who were once able to function in various aspects of life within their homes, at work and in the community, suddenly find themselves physically unable to tolerate many products. Low levels of exposures in their daily lives now make them ill.
Disabling symptoms can occur such as: extreme fatigue, swelling, an inability to concentrate or think clearly (brain fog), memory problems, dizziness, pain in the body (muscles and joints as well as the eyes, scalp and face), bruising, tachycardia, gastro-intestinal symptoms (diarrhea, bloating, etc.) to name but a few. Removal of the offending agents results in in symptom improvement. However the symptoms can continue to affect the person for many days. If the person cannot find organic food, clean water, a healthy place to live and work free from offending agent(s), the symptoms can be provoked by additional substances such as foods, exposure to noise or light, etc. Eventually, these sensitivity reactions can be triggered by even lower doses of incitants (provoking agents).
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