Understanding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) in Canada

Imagine feeling ill from the scent of a stranger’s laundry detergent. You might be unable visit a public library due to air fresheners. Or you may have to avoid friends’ homes because of cleaning products. For Canadians living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), this is a daily reality. MCS is often misunderstood and invisible. It is a chronic condition. It significantly impacts the lives of millions of people across the country. This post will explore what MCS is and discuss its symptoms. More importantly, it will explain how we can foster a more inclusive and accessible Canada for those living with it.

What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)?

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is also known as Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance (IEI). It is a chronic condition where individuals experience adverse physical reactions to low levels of chemicals found in everyday products. People with MCS react to low-level everyday chemical and environmental exposures that don’t bother most people. While most are unaffected by these substances, those with MCS have a much lower tolerance. Symptoms often start after a significant exposure to a toxic substance, like a chemical spill. They can also develop after repeated, smaller exposures over time. After this first event, even trace amounts of common triggers can provoke severe symptoms.

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The Canadian Context: Recognition and Rights

A Recognized Disability Under Human Rights Law

In Canada, the rights of people with environmental sensitivities are clearly protected. The Canadian Human Rights Act recognizes environmental sensitivities as a disability. Federally regulated employers and service providers have a legal duty. They must accommodate the needs of individuals with MCS up to the point of undue hardship. You deserve to be safe at work. Clean air and scent-free policies in the workplace are a human rights issue.

This protection is reinforced by the Accessible Canada Act. It is also reinforced by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Canada has ratified. These laws mandate the proactive identification and removal of barriers, ensuring that people with MCS can fully join in society. Legal experts continue to highlight the importance of these protections and the need for accommodations like scent-free policies.

Prevalence: How Many Canadians are Affected?

Understanding the scope of MCS is key to acknowledging its impact. We have concrete figures on its prevalence in recent years. This information comes from data provided by the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) by Statistics Canada.

2015	1,137,000
2016	1,246,000
2019	Data not collected
2021	1,309,000
2022	1,307,000

As the data shows, over 1.3 million Canadians reported a diagnosis of MCS in 2022. This figure highlights that MCS is not a rare condition. It is a significant health issue affecting a large part of the population. Research also indicates that it disproportionately affects women, with one Canadian study during the COVID-19 pandemic finding that 86.6% of participants were female.

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Symptoms and Common Triggers

MCS affects individuals differently, and symptoms can range from mild to completely debilitating, involving multiple organ systems. They can be triggered by a vast array of common substances. Fragrance exposures, in particular, may cause or worsen a startlingly wide range of health issues.

The statistics on fragrance sensitivity are particularly striking. One study found that 32.2% of the general population reports a fragrance sensitivity. This number jumps to 57.8% among people with asthma, and a staggering 75.8% among people with autism. Up to 72% of asthmatics report their asthma is triggered by fragrance. These figures show that while MCS is a specific diagnosis, reactions to fragrances are a widespread public health issue.

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Essential Resources: Downloadable PDFs

To dive deeper into the medical, legal, and scientific understanding of MCS in Canada, refer to the following documents. They are invaluable. We highly recommend downloading and reading them.

The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities

Author: Margaret E. Sears
Publisher: Canadian Human Rights Commission (2007)
Description: This foundational report addresses the definition and prevalence of environmental sensitivities. It covers recognition by medical authorities, origins, and symptoms. This document provides clear guidelines for accommodation in the workplace. It is essential for understanding the medical consensus and legal rationale for protecting those with MCS. Download the PDF directly from the Canadian Human Rights Commission here.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Literature Review and State of the Science

Publisher: Government of Alberta (2021)
Description: This publication is more recent. It provides a comprehensive review of the current scientific literature on MCS. It explores the complex, chronic health condition linked to various symptoms tied to low-level chemical exposures. It’s an excellent resource for understanding the current research landscape. Download the PDF from the Government of Alberta here.

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Hear from the Community: Videos and Stories

Sometimes, the most powerful way to understand MCS is to hear directly from those who live with it. Here are some excellent video resources that explore the condition from a personal and educational perspective.

What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)?

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Woman with Chemical Sensitivity Forced to Live in Tent

A Toronto woman says she is forced to live in a tent. A rare chronic disorder — Multiple Chemical Sensitivity — makes normal housing too toxic for her. But with winter on the way, she’s pleading to the city and province for help.

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Woman Allergic to Chemicals Evicted from City Park

Danny Store lives in a tent in public parks due to a chronic disorder. This disorder makes her allergic to all chemicals. As Faiza Amin reports, the city is kicking her out of another park. This marks the 50th time in the last two years.

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Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Affects Millions Worldwide

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities is an invisible disability that is beginning to reach epidemic proportions worldwide.

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How You Can Help: Creating a Safer Canada

Supporting people with MCS doesn’t need a medical degree; it requires empathy and a willingness to make small changes. Because environmental sensitivity is often an invisible disability, it is commonly misunderstood. Here’s how you can help:

1. Advocate for and Respect Scent-Free Policies

Scent-free policies are a primary form of accommodation. They are a health and safety measure, much like anti-harassment policies. You can help by:

• Going scent-free yourself: Choose fragrance-free products (look for the symbol) for laundry, cleaning, and personal care. The EPA states that indoor levels of air pollutants can be 2-5 times higher than outdoor levels. Occasionally, they can be 100 times higher. Fragranced products contribute significantly to this indoor air pollution.
• Respecting policies in public spaces: If a hospital, clinic, school, or office has a scent-free policy, adhere to it strictly. Remember, it’s there to protect vulnerable individuals. All medical professionals and facilities need to implement fragrance-free work policies; the principle of “First, Do No Harm” applies here.
• Encouraging your workplace or community group to adopt and promote a scent-free policy.
• For pet owners and professionals: Switch to fragrance-free cleaning and grooming products. Scented products can trigger asthma, allergic reactions, and skin issues in pets. Essential oils and petroleum-based fragrances can be dangerous. Vapors linger in the air and coat their fur. This results in 24/7 inhalation and ingestion.

2. Be a Thoughtful Host and Friend

• If you know someone with MCS is visiting, ask them directly. You can say: “Is there anything I can do to make my home safer for you?”
• This might mean not wearing scented products that day, avoiding strong cleaning agents or simply airing out the house.
• Suggest meeting in environments you know are safer, like outdoors or in scent-free establishments.
• Pay attention to the “canaries” in your life. People with chemical and fragrance sensitivity are often called “canaries.” They can instantly detect toxic chemicals in products. They may get sick from exposure. With the increased use and strength of fragrance chemicals, our canary population is also increasing. Believe their experience.

3. Why Schools, in Particular, Need to Be Scent-Free

Fragrance is air pollution, and its impact on children is profound. Fragranced products have been shown to:

• Create and trigger breathing issues, including asthma and coughing.
• Contribute to ADHD, sensory issues, mood disorders, behavioral issues, and difficulty concentrating.
• Create primary and secondary VOCs, including formaldehyde and benzene.

Too many children are forced to stay home due to negative health effects from exposures to scented products at school. Many teachers and staff are also being forced to leave the profession due to health consequences. Everyone suffers when teachers suffer.

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Canadian Specialists in Environmental Health

Finding a medical professional knowledgeable about MCS can be challenging. Here is a list of practitioners in Canada. They have specialized experience or interest in environmental health, MCS, and related conditions. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. It is essential to research a practitioner to confirm they are the right fit for your needs. Many of these specialists have long wait times.

Name & Credentials	Location	Specialty / Focus	Affiliation / Notes
Dr. John Molot, MD	Ontario / Quebec	Environmental Medicine	Medical advisor for EHAQ and EHAC. Over 40 years of experience. Key contributor to the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s report on environmental sensitivities. Author of “12,000 Canaries Can’t be Wrong.”
Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, MD	Ottawa, ON	Environmental Medicine	Founder and medical director of the Environmental Health Clinic in Ottawa (est. 1997). Board-certified environmental physician and past president of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM).
Dr. Kathleen Kerr, MD	Toronto, ON	Family Medicine, Environmental Health	Lecturer at the University of Toronto. Based at the Environmental Health Clinic at Women’s College Hospital. Research interests include the pathophysiology and management of MCS.
Dr. Eleanor Stein, MD, FRCP(C)	Calgary, AB (Retired from clinical practice)	Psychiatry, Environmental Health	Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. Now offers online courses, webinars, and resources for people with MCS, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and long COVID.
Dr. Alison Bested, MD, FRCP(C)	Previously: Vancouver, BC & Toronto, ON	Haematological Pathology, Integrative Medicine	Formerly at the Environmental Health Clinic in Toronto and the Complex Chronic Disease Program at BC Women’s Hospital. Now based in Florida, but left a significant legacy of research and advocacy in Canada.
Dr. Gail M. Eyssen, MD	Toronto, ON	Epidemiology, MCS Research	Professor Emerita at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Principal investigator for the Environmental Hypersensitivity Research Unit funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
Environmental Health Clinic	Toronto, ON	Multidisciplinary Clinic	The only clinic of its kind in Ontario, established in 1996. Provides comprehensive assessment for patients with MCS, ME/CFS, and fibromyalgia. Requires a physician referral. OHIP covered.

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Canadian Support Groups and Networks

Connecting with others who understand the daily realities of MCS can be a lifeline. Here are some support groups and networks at various levels. They can be national or local. In these groups, you can find community. You can share information and feel understood.

National Organizations and Networks

• Action CIND (CFS/FM/MCS/ES): A Canadian Registered Charity providing support and information for those with Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases. They offer peer support groups in-person in Scarborough and North Toronto. They also provide meetings via Zoom on Wednesdays. They work to advance recognition, treatment, and support services. Find them on Facebook.
• ASEQ-EHAQ (Environmental Health Association of Quebec): Offers a wealth of information, resources, and the video series linked above.
• EHAC-ASEC (Environmental Health Association of Canada): This is a national organization. It is dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of Canadians with environmental sensitivities. They offer a telephone support hotline, an online resource center, a monthly newsletter, and opportunities to participate in research. You can become a member for a nominal $10 life-time fee.
• The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast Facebook Group: This is a community-driven group connected to the podcast. It provides a space for listeners and those affected by MCS to connect and share information.

Regional and Local Support Groups

• MCS Support Group (Facebook): This is a private Facebook group. It is for individuals living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Members can connect and support one another.
• The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast Community (Facebook): Another active Facebook community linked to the podcast, fostering discussion and connection.
• ME/FM Association of Peterborough and District: While primarily focused on ME and FM, they also offer peer support. They provide community information and resources related to MCS and other chronic conditions in the Peterborough, Ontario area.
  Note: Many of these groups are run by volunteers. Please be patient and respectful when reaching out.

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