Triggers | Physical | Performance and Behavioural

Environmental Sensitivities Many common things can cause adverse reactions Avoidance is the best treatment

A certain segment of the population experiences a variety of adverse reactions to environmental agents at concentrations well below those that might be deemed to affect "average" persons. This atypical reactivity is called environmental sensitivities. Environmental sensitivities have been known to exist since the time of Hippocrates, and have been documented for the past three centuries.10 It should also be noted that environmental sensitivities have many different etiologies, and that consequently there can be no single test to diagnose them. Subsets of environmental sensitivities are labelled in a way that is descriptive of the site of the reaction, such as "asthma" (lungs), or the mechanism of the reactions, such as "allergy", or the causative agents, such as "multiple chemical sensitivities" or "electromagnetic sensitivity".

Environmental sensitivites (sometimes referred to as "environmental hypersensitivity") have been defined by a distinguished panel of teaching hospital physicians chaired by the former Judge George M. Thomson (formerly Deputy Minister, federal Department of Justice) as:

"... a chronic (i.e. continuing for more than three months) multisystem disorder, usually involving symptoms of the central nervous system and at least one other system. Affected persons are frequently intolerant to some foods and they react adversely to some chemicals and to environmental agents, singly or in combination, at levels generally tolerated by the majority.... Improvement is associated with avoidance of suspected agents and symptoms recur with re-exposure."11

• Agents, either naturally occurring or synthetic, in our air, water, food, personal and home care products, fabrics, furnishings; office equipment and supplies and building materials. An example of such airborne agents might be chemicals used or stored in homes, offices, health care facilities, schools, workplaces, farms or industries and vehicles. Other examples include, but are not limited to, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals; plant material including pollens (grass, trees, domesticated plants, weeds), dusts, moulds, animal dander; foods, micro-organisms, genetically modified foods, etc.

• Artificial lighting and electromagnetic fields.

• Heat and cold; weather.

Environmental sensitivities can develop in individuals of any age regardless of whether they have a past history of allergies. The severity of symptoms can range from mild discomfort to total disability or chronic health problems. Symptoms may develop suddenly or slowly.

Environmental sensitivities may become progressively debilitating. Prevention, early detection and treatment are of paramount importance. Treatment of environmental sensitivities focuses on prevention, prudent avoidance of offending agents, appropriate nutrition, supportive counselling and medical interventions.

In 1988, Maxwell Yalden, the Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission wrote to the Honourable Jake Epp, then Minister of Health and Welfare, stating:

"It is my understanding that [environmental sensitivities are] a true medical problem, and that we owe it to people who have the misfortune to suffer from [these problems] to be more public and more positive in acknowledging that fact.
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“My purpose in writing to you is simply to let [you] know that ... anything your department can do to increase public awareness of the legitimate concerns of people [with sensitivities] would, in our view, be most useful."12 (See Appendix A.)

The Canadian Medical Association recognizes the existence of environmental sensitivities, and states that

"there are many physicians who are acutely aware of the problems of environmental sensitivities ... have expertise in this area and are addressing the needs of patients with such sensitivities."13 (See Appendix B.)

The following are some of the physical signs and symptoms of environmental sensitivities:

Physical Signs and Symptoms Recurrent headaches and migraines Irritated eyes and recurrent styes Puffy bags or dark circles under eyes Red ears or ear lobes Frequent ear, nose and throat infections, ringing ears Hoarse throat, laryngitis Recurrent earaches and sinusitis Stuffy, runny and/or itchy nose Coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, breathing difficulties Asthma Anaphylactic shock Urinary and reproductive problems Mouth – metallic taste, dryness, cracking, excessive saliva, skin peeling or blistering Mouth breathing and throat clearing Stomach aches or diarrhea Eczema, hives and other skin rashes Light sensitivity and visual disturbances Numbness, stiffness, pain, weakness, swelling, "arthritic" symptoms of muscles, bones and joints Weakness and dizziness Loss of coordination, seizures, convulsions or tremors

Some of the performance and behavioural signs and symptoms of sensitivities are:

Performance and Behavioural Signs and Symptoms Poor concentration Memory loss Difficulty problem-solving Inconsistent performance Mood and personality changes Recurrent absences Irritability Drowsiness, fatigue Aggression and exhaustion Depression and suicidal tendencies

Such problems make it very difficult for employees to work productively.

Sensitivities affect each individual differently. Symptoms may be mild and merely annoying, or they can be severe enough to interfere with daily activities, career and family life. Severe sensitivities can be life-threatening or fatal.

It is essential that managers, employees, property managers and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) engineers work together to find the best possible environment for the individual employee with environmental sensitivities. Furthermore, accommodation of members of this protected group is required by law.

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10.   G.A. Ulett, M.D., Ph.D., "Food Allergy – Cytotoxic Testing and the Central Nervous System", Psychiatric Journal of the University of Ottawa, Vol. 5, No. 2 (June 1980), p. 100.

11.   George M. Thomson, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Environmental Hypersensitivity Disorders (Toronto: Family Division, Ontario Provincial Court, August 1985).

12.   Letter from Maxwell Yalden, Chief Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission to the Honourable Jake Epp, Minister of Health and Welfare, dated August 3, 1988 (see Appendix A).

13.   Letter from Dr. Carole A. Guzman, Associate Secretary General, Canadian Medical Association, dated January 22, 1996 (see Appendix B).

Triggers | Physical | Performance and Behavioural