RESILIENCE: An International Conference on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)
Day 1
VIDEOS & SUMMARIES
ASL AVAILABLE
Date: May 1, 2025
INTRODUCTION:
Michel Gaudet, Executive Director of the Environmental Health Association of Canada and the Environmental Health Association of Québec
Rohini Peris, President & CEO, the Environmental Health Association of Canada and the Environmental Health Association of Québec
Caroline Barakat, PhD, Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University
Riina Bray, MD, Medical Director of the Environmental Health Clinic at Women’s College Hospital
ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS CANADA:
Developing Housing and Built-In Standards
Dino Zuppa, PhD, CEO, Accessibility Standards Canada
Chief Executive Officer, Dino Zuppa, will share the latest updates on the work of Accessibility Standards Canada and present Air Quality research, and the current development of housing and built-in standards
The MCS story: The science and resistance to change
John Molot, MD, Environmental Medicine. Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.
In the prologue, the biological mechanisms are reviewed, followed by the chronological story of MCS discoveries since it was first described in peer-reviewed literature. This presentation also includes a review of the persistent published pushback and resulting detrimental effects.
The Q/A between Dr. John Molot and Robert Lattanzio is a call to change existing attitudes in medicine and academia while shedding light on the biological benefits of scent-free policies.
Involvement of brain function and networks after exposure to extrinsic stimuli: a possible underlying mechanism in multiple chemical sensitivity
Kenichi Azuma, PhD, Professor in the Department of Allergy and Preventive Medicine at Kindai University, Japan.
Dr. Azuma will present his paper titled Involvement of brain function and networks after exposure to extrinsic stimuli: a possible underlying mechanism in multiple chemical sensitivity. The presentation explores the neurological processing of low levels of odours in patients with MCS using functional brain imaging techniques.
Gut microbiome analysis and Genetic analysis in MCS
Kentaro Watai, MD, PhD, Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Kindai University, Japan.
Dr. Watai will present his paper, titled “Elucidating the pathogenesis of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity using genetic methods: Gut microbiome analysis and Genome-wide association study”. The presentation explores multiple environmental factors which can lead to MCS using gut bacteria as indicators of metabolism.
Home diagnostic and treatment options for MCS patients
Ottaviano Tapparo, MD, Professor and doctor of medical dentistry, with a focus on immunotoxicology and regenerative therapies.
Your mouth is continuously exposed to internal risks like dental materials, periodontal disease, and toxins, which can affect not only oral health but also internal organs. This presentation from Dr. Tapparo examines ongoing oral health risks from caries, periodontal disease, and dental materials, along with their systemic impacts. It introduces innovative at-home tests, including a chewing gum test for toxic releases, blood tests for inflammation and allergies, and the Maintrac® test for cancer risk assessment.
Dissecting the Genetic Architecture of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)
Audrey V. Grant, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Department of Anesthesia, and expert in Genetic Epidemiology at McGill University.
Dr. Grant will present a literature review on the scientific papers exploring possible genetic underpinnings of MCS. Differences in proteins such as receptors and metabolizing enzymes, and other single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been implicated with increased sensitivity. Dr. Grant will also present her current work, in collaboration with ASEQ-EHAQ and Genome Quebec, which seeks to find specific genetic sequences, or epigenetic changes, which could explain a greater propensity to develop Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.
Mast cell activation in MCS
Haris Theoharides, MD, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Immunology and Director, Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine-Clearwater, Nova Southeastern University.
Mast cells are present throughout the body, including the brain, and while known for releasing histamine during allergic reactions, they have over 40 receptors and can release up to 350 different active mediators. Their activity can also be heightened by exposure to chemicals, odors, stress, and temperature changes through Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF) secretion from the hypothalamus. Although there are no truly effective mast cell inhibitors, the natural flavonoid luteolin—especially in a liposomal olive oil form (PureLut), has shown greater potency than the drug cromolyn and offers added health benefits.
Pollution & Chemical Exposure: Shared Exposure Events
Shahir Masri, PhD, Associate Specialist of Air Pollution Exposure Assessment & Epidemiology at the University of California, Irvine.
Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) is a two-stage disease mechanism proposed to explain chemical intolerance (CI); less is known about the exposures that initiate the disease, than about the intolerances that have been documented. In this presentation, we review eight major exposure events that preceded the onset of chemical intolerance in groups of individuals sharing the same exposure. We will identify the chemicals and/or groups of chemicals that were most pervasive during each exposure event, as well as identify the concentrations of key chemicals involved in each exposure event and the proportions of exposed individuals who ultimately developed TILT following exposure. By examining the exposures that underlie major initiating events, we can identify the potential role they play in TILT initiation.
The Complexities of Environmental Medicine
Jennifer Armstrong, MD, Founder and Medical Director at the Ottawa Environmental Health Clinic
This presentation explores how environmental doctors approach complex cases that conventional specialists often struggle to resolve. By assessing the cumulative effects of chemical exposures, food intolerances, heavy metals, and infections on multiple body systems, they provide a more holistic diagnosis. The talk emphasizes personalized, non-pharmaceutical strategies—like lifestyle changes, detoxification, and supplementation—that can significantly improve health and exemplify precision medicine in action.
Panel Discussion: Advancing our Understanding of MCS
Topics: Research, Diagnosis, Treatment, Environmental Policies
- Rohini Peris, President & CEO, Environmental Health Association of Canada, and the Environmental Health Association of Québec.
- John Molot, MD, Environmental Medicine. Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.
- Kentaro Watai, MD, PhD. Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Kindai University, Japan.
- Jennifer Armstrong, MD, Founder and Medical Director at the Ottawa Environmental Health Clinic.
- Arthur Chan, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto.
- Gail McKeown-Eyssen, PhD, Professor Emerita, Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto
Recognition Ceremony
The Environmental Health Association of Canada and the Environmental Health Association of Québec recognize Dr. Jennifer Armstrong and Dr. John Molot for their continued dedication to advancing clinical understanding of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Amidst significant pushback, these physicians have played a vital role in advocating for the inclusion of MCS within medical practice and public health discourse.
Jennifer Armstrong, MD. Founder and Medical Director at the Ottawa Environmental Health Clinic
John Molot, MD. Environmental Medicine. Professeur adjoint, Faculté de médecine, Université d’Ottawa
Conclusion and Next Steps
Robert Lattanzio, LL.B., Lawyer & Executive Director, ARCH Disability Law Center
Rohini Peris, President & CEO, Environmental Health Association of Canada and the Environmental Health Association of Québec