Chemical Exposure and CFS

The lead author of this study, Claudia S. Miller, M.D., has done some pioneering research on autism as well as the effects of chemical exposures on the non-autistic.  I am linking to an earlier video because it provides a useful background on Dr. Miller and her research, even though the main subject of this post is about CFS. 







This post is about a somewhat older study--published in 2021 and described in an article on the University of Texas San Antonio website. In an interview for this artcle, a study author describes the effects of chronic chemical exposures on the development of "mystery illnesses" whose causes are difficult to pinpoint. 

The populations studied included government employees who became ill after new carpeting was installed iin their office, Gulf War veterans, pilots and flight attendants exposed to "fume events," firefighters responding to the World Trade Center attacks on September11, 2001, women with breast implants, those exposed to mold either in the workplace or at home, and tunnel workers exposed to solvents.  

The diseases these previously healthy workers developed include Gulf War Syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

It is the view of study authors that the mechanism involved in the development of these diseases is an activation of mast cells, components of the immune system that orginate in the bone marrow and travel to places in the body that have been exposed to foreign substances. 

These mast cells can become sensitized, either by one or a few exposures to high levels of the substance or by repeated exposure to lower levels.  These mast cells release inflammatory chemicals thus producing an allergic response. 

One of the study authors notes that her previous study revealed that children born to chemically sensitive mothers have triple the risk of developing either autism or ADHD. 

Unfortunately, the number of articial chemicals in our environment that can trigger these reactions include cleaning products, mold in water-damaged buildings, and fragrances. 

For that reason, the next several posts will post information about avoiding potentially harmful chemicals in personal care products. 

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