CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Posted by admin on March 30, 2009 under Allergies | Be the First to Comment

Chemical sensitivity means adverse reactions to tiny or very low levels of chemicals in the environment, in which the immune system is not demonstrably involved. Susceptible individuals will react when tested with tiny doses under controlled conditions, and they will replicate their symptoms each time they are tested. Like allergy, but unlike irritant reactions, only a tiny amount of chemical is required to trigger a reaction. Reactions usually occur immediately; delayed reactions are rare. They are caused mostly by inhaling chemicals, but also by ingesting them or by absorbing them through the skin or mucosa.

The most commonly reported symptoms of chemical sensitivity are breathing and skin disorders, and mental symptoms very similar to those reported above for toxic and irritant reactions when exposed to high levels of chemicals. Muscle spasm, muscle and joint pains, and nausea and digestive symptoms, are also often reported.

The causes of chemical sensitivity are not known, although a number of factors suggest that some form of enzyme defect or defects may be at work, whereby a susceptible individual simply does not produce the enzymes necessary to detoxify or break down chemicals absorbed into the body. Whereas most individuals can effectively metabolise chemicals at the levels normally encountered in the environment, chemically sensitive people cannot cope with even low levels of chemicals, sometimes even with minute amounts.

Another factor to consider when looking at whether or not chemicals are causing you to react is the so-called ‘load effect’, also known as the ‘cocktail effect’, which comes into play when your system is ‘overloaded’ with chemicals.

Which Chemicals Cause Sensitivity?

There are no hard and fast rules about which chemicals cause sensitivity. Like allergy, almost anything has been known to cause someone somewhere to react at some time, but, like allergy, certain substances are much more troublesome than others and consistently cause problems. For more detailed information and a list of chemicals that commonly cause chemical sensitivity.

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