MCS Info
Are You Chemically Sensitive?

• Do you hold your breath when walking down the detergent aisle in the supermarket, or avoid the aisle entirely, to keep from feeling sick?
  
• Does the smell of perfume give you a headache or make you feel ill in some other way?
  
• Have you ever gone into a building such as a bank, supermarket, or discount store and felt "spacy" or found that you had difficulty speaking, writing, or remembering things?
  
• Have you suffered headaches or other symptoms at work, or some other place, and later found that they coincided with the spraying of pesticides?
  
• Have you ever had an adverse reaction to a pesticide such as headache, fatigue, respiratory problems, nausea, skin rash, or any other symptom?
  
• Do cleaning products or chemical "deodorizers" give you a headache or any other symptom?
  
• Do you get a rash, headache, dizziness, or any other symptom when you are exposed to carbonless copy paper?
  
• Do you want to hold your breath when entering a public restroom that's just been cleaned?
  
• Do you feel better when you are away from your home, work, or some other environment that bothers you?
  
• Are there foods you avoid because they make you feel ill?
  
• Do you get headaches, eye irritation, feel "spaced out," or have other symptoms when in a fabric or clothing store?
  
• Do you get a headache, eye irritation, cough, or any other symptom when exposed to environmental tobacco smoke?
  
• Does exposure to products or fumes in hair salons make you feel ill in any way?
  
• Have you ever had an unusual reaction to a medication or drug?

A "yes" answer to any of these questions may indicate that you have a heightened degree of chemical sensitivity and are at risk of developing Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), a potentially serious and disabling medical condition characterized by intolerance to almost everything in one's environment.

To prevent your sensitivities from worsening, it is important that you reduce or eliminate your exposure to chemical pesticides (including bug sprays, weed-killer, and moth balls), solvents, new carpets, and new or recently remodeled homes or offices. The use of unscented personal care products is also highly recommended.

For more information about Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), call the Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Task Force of New Mexico at (505) 983-9208.

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