Recently, I had the privilege of attending an event hosted by La Confédération des organismes de personnes handicapées du Québec (COPHAN), which enforced a strict scent-free policy. This initiative was put in place to accommodate individuals with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and other conditions that are exacerbated by chemicals and fragrances. The experience not only opened my eyes but also […]
At the Environmental Health Association of Quebec (ASEQ-EHAQ), we pride ourselves on building a community where every member’s voice is heard and valued. Recently, one of our members shared a compelling story that beautifully illustrates the impact of our collective efforts. Living in a senior’s village in rural Ontario, our member faced a persistent challenge: fragrance exposure in shared laundry […]
ECO-JOURNAL Imagine a world where simple, everyday experiences – the scent of fresh laundry or the faint aroma of a loved one’s perfume- becomes a trigger, provoking profound physical reactions that disrupt your health and well-being. For individuals living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), this is not a hypothetical scenario, but an unwavering reality. MCS stems from physical reactions to […]
6 min read Climate change is impacting human lives and health in a variety of ways. It threatens the essential ingredients of good health – clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply, and safe shelter – and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health. We are often overwhelmed with the amount of information on climate […]
Month of May Take back your power! The Month of May is the month for raising awareness and education for multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). This month can increase visibility and support by the sharing of knowledge about the MCS condition. With many unmet needs experienced in this community, the Month of May is incredibly important to ensure that people are […]
The World Health Organization is now warning us that air pollution is among the top five major risk factors for developing chronic, non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular, respiratory and neurodegenerative disorders, along with tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.1 We also know that, because we spend 90% of our time indoors, most of our exposures […]
Shelter is a basic need for all people, yet lack of accommodation can deny access to many. For people with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), the use of chemicals, fragrances, smoke and exposure to things like pesticides and traffic exhaust can make a space inaccessible. For people with this disability, this reality significantly limits the options for housing that remain. Proximity […]
POPs. Nope, not as in soda, the fizzy liquid that we drink despite our better judgement. I’m talking about POPs: persistent organic pollutants. Unfortunately, it isn’t as fun as soda, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore it. As a result of their past and ongoing uses, POPs are deeply engrained into our global environment, quickly becoming a massive problem […]
She will die by lethal injection on February 22, 2022 unless she finds healthy housing… We are currently seeking support for Sophia, a woman in Toronto who is in urgent need of housing. She is diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, which is a disability. Instead of providing her with accessible housing (free of volatile organic compounds and chemicals from commonly […]