Louisiana Governor Recognizes Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
A mysterious and controversial disease linked to chemical exposure is a step closer to official recognition and treatment. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) recently signed a proclamation designating May “Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month,” a move that heartened those who suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. MCS, also called environmental illness, is a poorly catalogued and understood ailment, with symptoms that vary widely from person to person. It’s reportedly due to exposure to the chemicals that are ubiquitous in modern life: pesticides, petroleum products, even household cleaners and perfumes. The medical community is divided over the causes and even the existence of MCS. Whatever the cause, sufferers find themselves in effect poisoned by contemporary society. A growing number of people are lobbying Congress and public-health agencies to recognize the disease; one key goal is to have the disease officially recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
