Combined Neurological Syndrome in Electrohypersensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Clinical Study of 2018 Cases - by Dominique Belpomme and Philippe Irigaray

Combined Neurological Syndrome in Electrohypersensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Clinical Study of 2018 Cases
New paper by Dominique Belpomme and Philippe Irigaray, 30 Nov. 2023
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(23), 7421; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12237421

Abstract

From a cohort of 2018 evaluable consecutive cases issued from the European Clinical Trial Database, we describe the complete clinical symptomatic presentation of electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and their association in the framework of a unique, sensitivity-related environmental neurologic syndrome. Eligibility criteria are those of the Atlanta consensus meeting for MCS, and those of WHO for EHS. There were 1428 EHS, 85 MCS and 505 EHS/MCS evaluable cases, so EHS was associated with MCS in 25%. Women appeared to be much more susceptible to EHS and/or to MCS than men, with no statistical significance between the EHS and MCS groups (p = 0.07), but the combined group revealed a more significant female sex ratio of 80.4% (p < 0.0001). All symptoms except emotional behavior were significantly more frequent in EHS patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.0001). We found no pathognomonic symptoms to establish the diagnosis of both disorders or to distinguish EHS from MCS. The three groups of patients were found to share identical symptoms, while several symptoms were found to be more significantly frequent in EHS/MCS than in EHS (p < 0.0001). From these data, we suggest that EHS and MCS are new brain disorders, generated via a common etiopathogenic mechanism.

Full text of paper:
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/23/7421

Creation of ARIEM (Association for Research at International Level on EHS and MCS)

Creation of ARIEM (Association for Research at International Level on EHS and MCS)

phonegatealert.org/en, 31 May 2022

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Today in France, there are approximately 3 million people suffering from electrohypersensitivity (EHS). The National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) estimated in its opinion and report of March 13, 2018, that 5% of the population is concerned. Our country is not the only one affected. All over the world, people with EHS face significant difficulties in medical care and the persistence of symptoms can only aggravate this pathology. Moreover, in nearly 25% of cases (source ECERI), EHS is associated with MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity). It is therefore essential to develop medical and scientific research on these two pathologies – EHS and MCS.

The Hidden Marginalization of Persons With Environmental Sensitivities

"This paper constructs persons with environmental sensitivities as comprising a hidden, marginalized group in technological culture that is paying a large price for our industrialized lifestyle... This population is marginalized by health-care providers and shunted into mental health categories, as our current health paradigms are not adequate to frame and categorize health problems caused by our toxic industrial lifestyle..."

The Hidden Marginalization of Persons With Environmental Sensitivities
by Pamela Reed Gibson Department of Psychology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC. VOL. 8 NO. 2 JUNE 2016 ECOPSYCHOLOGY

Full text of paper

Abstract 

This paper constructs persons with environmental sensitivities as comprising a hidden, marginalized group in technological culture that is paying a large price for our industrialized lifestyle. Due to the polluted nature of most public venues, this population is robbed of a sense of ‘‘place’’ necessary to maintain personal relationships. This population is marginalized by health-care providers and shunted into mental health categories, as our current health paradigms are not adequate to frame and categorize health problems caused by our toxic industrial lifestyle. The problem is discussed within the context of the pressures of capitalism, and examples are given of persons with environmental illness receiving mental health diagnoses (an attempted colonization) when they attempt to access mainstream health-care providers who lack knowledge or expertise regarding toxic-induced illness.

Support Individuals with Electrosensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Petition to the Government of the United Kingdom

Petition to the UK Government:  Support Individuals with Electrosensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

(Please note that the petition can only be signed by UK residents, and is open until 12 August 2016)

Link to the petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/121419

Message from Dave Ashton, creator of the petition:

A fairly long comment was prepared for this petition, but it turned out that there was a space restriction, and so I had to lose most of what we'd written. A link to the actual petition is given below, along with a copy of the longer original version that we couldn't use.

The petition includes links to documents recommending steps to be taken to deal with the urgent situation represented by EHS and MCS, as well as dealing with the wider health issues posed by wireless technologies.

There are a couple of extra links below, which tell the human side of the story for EHS and MCS sufferers.

Thank you for reading this, and for signing the petition (if you are a UK resident!)

Dave Ashton

Reliable Disease Biomarkers Characterizing and Identifying Electrohypersensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity as Two Etiopathogenic Aspects of a Unique Pathological Disorder

The full text of this study is now available online : 
Click here.

"Our data strongly suggest that EHS and MCS can be objectively characterized and routinely diagnosed by commercially available simple tests. Both disorders appear to involve inflammation-related hyper-histaminemia, oxidative stress, autoimmune response, capsulothalamic hypoperfusion and BBB opening, and a deficit in melatonin metabolic availability; suggesting a risk of chronic neurodegenerative disease. Finally the common co-occurrence of EHS and MCS strongly suggests a common pathological mechanism."

Reliable disease biomarkers characterizing and identifying electrohypersensitivity and multiple chemical sensitivity as two etiopathogenic aspects of a unique pathological disorder 
Rev Environ Health. 2015 Dec 1;30(4):251-71. doi: 10.1515/reveh-2015-0027.

Belpomme D, Campagnac C, Irigaray P.

Abstract

Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance: Abstracts of Papers Published in December 2015 Issue of "Reviews on Environmental Health"

UPDATE (April 2016):  Please note, the "EUROPAEM EMF Guideline 2015 for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health problems and illnesses" has been retracted.  We are in touch with the principal author who will alert us to its re-publishing.

We would like to draw the attention of readers to the special December 2015 issue (Volume 30, Issue 4) of "Reviews on Environmental Health" on idiopathic environmental intolerance (Editor: Dr. David O. Carpenter).   Abstracts are available by clicking on the titles of the reviews below.

Editorial

David O. Carpenter* and Dominique Belpomme

This issue of Reviews on Environmental Health consists of invited papers on several syndromes of uncertain etiology but ones that pose serious and severe debilification and interference with quality of life for those affected.  Often in aggregate called “idiopathic environmental intolerance” they include electromagnetic hypersensitivity, multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic  fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Gulf War Illness and likely some others less well defined.  All have in common fatigue, pain (especially headaches and joint and muscle pain), often altered cognitive function, cardiac problems, and impaired mobility and balance.  Often, but not always, some specific event or exposure triggers the initiation of the syndrome.  Because the symptoms are relatively non-specific, patients may unfortunately be referred to psychiatric rather than medical care.  There are few effective treatments other than reducing exposure to triggering environmental factors.  There is increasing world-wide awareness that these are real diseases that affect a significant percentage of the population, but still attract significant controversy.  We hope that these peer-reviewed publications will not only stimulate awareness of the problem but also stimulate science-based research on treatment regimes for symptomatic relief and reversal of the disease processes.  All of these pathologic disorders should be recognized by the scientific and medical communities and international health institutions.  This issue presents state-of-the-art reviews of the scientific advances in the pathophysiologic understanding of these disorders for medical practitioners and research scientists.

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*Corresponding author: David O. Carpenter, Institute for Health and the Environment, University of Albany, University at Albany, 5 University Pl., Rm. A217, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA, E-mail: dcarpenter@albany.eda

Dominique Belpomme: European Cancer and Environment Research Institute, Brussels, Belgium

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International Scientific Declaration on Electrohypersensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Press Release and Statement

PRESS RELEASE

International Scientific Declaration on Electrohypersensitivity and 

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity 

The WHO is invited by scientists to recognize Electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) as genuine pathological entities including them in the International Classification of Diseases

Paris, September 4 th 2015, 

Following the fifth Paris Appeal congress, which took place on the 18th of May, 2015, the attending European, American and Canadian scientists unanimously decided to create a working group and to write a Common International Declaration to request an official recognition of these new diseases and of their sanitary consequences worldwide. 

The declaration calls upon national and international bodies and institutions and particularly the WHO, for taking urgently their responsibility for recognizing electrohypersensitivity and multiple chemical sensitivity as real diseases, including them in the International Classification of Diseases. 

EHS - MCS 5th Paris Appeal Congress - Video of Press Conference - Brussels, 18 May 2015

This press conference should be viewed by everyone. It particularly focuses on the plight of children, who will be - already are - the innocent victims of exposure to wireless technologies. Please share as widely as possible.

EHS - MCS 5th Paris Appeal Congress (18 min. - in English with French subtitles)

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO.

Published on Jun 7, 2015

A focus on ElectroHyperSensitivity (EHS) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

- Conférence de Presse 5ème Colloque de l’Appel de Paris
Au sujet de l’Electro Hyper Sensibilité (EHS) et de la Sensibilité Chimique Multiple (MCS)
- Dominique Belpomme, Director European Cancer and Environment Research institute, Professor in medical Oncology Paris V University Hospital, France
- Cindy Sage, MA Co-Editor, BioInitiative Reports, USA.
- David Carpenter, Director, Institute for Health and the Environment University of Albany, Professor, Environmental Health Sciences, USA.
- Olle Johansson, Neuroscientist, Professor in Experimental Dermatology, Department of Neurosciences, Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
- Lennart Hardell, Epidemiologist, Professor at Orebro University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden.
- Michael Kundi, Professor, Medical University Vienna, Center for Public Health, Institute of Environmental Health, Austria.
- Magda Havas, Associate Prof of Environmental and Resource Studies at Trent University, Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTFAMlCKUBM

Switzerland: Zurich: The First European Refuge for Electrosensitive People

We do not wish to discourage the initiator of this project, but it seems that the site is badly polluted with cell phone tower radiation.  The article, however, describes well the plight of people living with chemical and electromagnetic sensitivities.

In Zurich, the first European refuge for electrosensitive people
by Solène Cordier, Le Monde, 12 August 2014 (translated by the Editor of this blog)

At first glance, nothing distinguishes this apartment building in the suburbs of Zurich from those surrounding it. Located on the heights of the quiet neighborhood of Leimbach, its sand-colored walls are surrounded by a vast garden of tall grasses. The big trees of the forest of Entlisberg, perched on the adjacent mountain, extend their refreshing shade to the surrounding area.

It is because of the particular setting that the building, destined to welcome people suffering from multiple chemical hypersensitivity (MCS) and electrosensitivity, has been constructed in this location. “Five sites were studied in the beginning,” says Christian Schifferle, the initiator of the project. “Measurements showed that this site was radiated very little thanks to the nearby mountain which offers a protective environment.” The absence of antennas was also a precondition for construction, as well as air quality.