Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

About Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity/Environmental Illness (MCS/EI) is an inability to tolerate an environmental chemical or class of chemicals. It usually develops from exposure to substances in the environment and may result in intolerance to even very low levels of chemicals. Symptoms can occur in more than one organ system in the body, such as the nervous system, the lungs, and the heart. Exposures can come through the air, from food and water, or through the skin. MCS/EI causes different symptoms in different people. Symptoms may include: headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, breathing difficulties, tightening of the throat, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, learning disorders, eczema, arthritis-like sensations, and muscle pain. A person who experiences limitations due to MCS/EI may have any of the above mentioned symptoms when exposed to such irritants as fragrances, cleaning agents, smoke, pesticides, molds, office machines, car exhaust, paint, new carpeting, solvents, poor indoor air quality, and others. There are specific considerations to consider when accommodating an individual with MCS/EI. 

Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Issues:

• Provide an office or workspace that has working windows.
• Make certain the ventilation system is not distributing pollutants throughout the work-site from locations within or outside of the building.
• Use HEPA filters in the ventilation system if possible and have ducts maintained.
• Have an air quality test performed by an industrial hygiene professional to assess poor air quality, dust, mold or mildew accumulation, VOC concentration, etc.
• Work with specialists in the industrial hygiene field by contacting resources like the American Industrial Hygiene Association for a member referral.
• Use air purification systems throughout the building or in personal workstations. Work with specialists in the air filtration field by contacting resources like The National Air Filtration Association for a member referral.
• Maintain a work environment which is free of pollutants such as fragrances, toxic cleaning agents, pesticides, exhaust fumes, tobacco smoke, etc.
• Provide adequate exhaust systems to remove fumes from copiers and similar office machines.

Construction, Remodeling, and Cleaning Issues:

• Provide pre-notification of events such as remodeling, painting, pesticide applications, floor waxing, and carpet shampooing by way of signs, memos, e-mail or an employee register. A voluntary registry can be created for people to be notified on a regular basis.
• Allow for alternative work arrangements for those people who may be sensitive to the chemical agents used in the above activities such as offering the use of another office, work on another floor of the building, work outside, or work from home.
• Use non-toxic building materials, furnishings, and supplies.
• Use non-toxic carpeting or alternative floor covering such as tile or cotton throw rugs. Products can be used to reduce the out-gassing of newly laid carpeting.
• If industrial products are being used such as solvents, primers, stains, paints, lubricants, etc., consider any alternative products that could possibly be used that may not illicit an MCS/EI reaction.
• If possible, have cleaning, maintenance, and remodeling activities performed when the building is not occupied to reduce employee exposure to these activities.
• Discontinue the use of toxic pesticides and opt for an alternative pest management policy. Contact resources like the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network or the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides to find out more about alternative pest management practices.
• Discontinue the use of synthetic lawn care products.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and the Americans with Disabilities Act

The ADA does not contain a definitive list of medical conditions that constitute disabilities. Instead, the ADA defines a person with a disability as someone who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more "major life activities," (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. For more information about how to determine whether a person has a disability under the ADA, see How to Determine Whether a Person Has a Disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA).

Accommodating Employees with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

People with multiple chemical sensitivity may develop some of the limitations discussed below, but seldom develop all of them. Also, the degree of limitation will vary among individuals. Be aware that not all people with multiple chemical sensitivity will need accommodations to perform their jobs and many others may only need a few accommodations. The following is only a sample of the possibilities available. Numerous other accommodation solutions may exist.

Accommodation Ideas:

Situations and Solutions:

The following situations and solutions are real-life examples of accommodations that were made by JAN customers. Because accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis, these examples may not be effective for every workplace but give you an idea about the types of accommodations that are possible.

A clerical employee was having difficulty breathing due to coworker fragrances and new carpet fumes.

The employee was placed in a more enclosed cubicle with an air purification system, coworkers were asked to decrease or eliminate the use of fragrances, and time the employee spent in the office was reduced by altering face-to-face communication with coworkers to telephone, e-mail, or fax. It was also suggested that the carpet be detoxified or removed and replaced with a non-toxic floor covering like tile or wood.

A teacher diagnosed with sick building syndrome was required to attend weekly faculty meetings in the school building.

She usually taught class from a portable classroom outside of the building and could not be in the school building for extended time. JAN suggested that she use either a speakerphone or public address (PA) system from her classroom to listen in and participate in the meetings, be provided with meeting minutes, or attend the meetings and wear a respirator mask if she felt comfortable doing so.

An outside laborer was having difficulty doing his job due to the fumes from the diesel equipment he was operating.

A portion of his time was spent operating heavy equipment while the rest of his time was spent as a laborer. He was better able to function as a laborer as he was not as exposed to the fumes performing laborer functions. JAN suggested he consider the use of a respirator mask to filter out the diesel fumes. Alternatively, his job could be restructuring so he only worked as a laborer or he could be reassigned to a vacant position that would accommodate the need to avoid exposure to diesel fumes.

A graphic arts professional whose company was in the process of remodeling was having some difficulty working in the building due to paint fumes and construction materials.

It was too far into the process to change the products that were being used so the company needed some other way to accommodate. The employee was able to work from home on a temporary basis during the remodeling phase of her portion of the building. The employee already had a computer at home so the employer provided all of the necessary software, modem, and a new telephone line to be used for business purposes only. The company also provided a fax machine so the employee could fax materials back and forth between the work-site and her home office. To monitor her work performance, the employee was required to respond to e-mails in a given time period and to keep a log of all work completed. The employee attended weekly meetings by speakerphone.