Our News
Thank you for those of you that filled in the MCS-Aware survey to let us know how the charity can help you. For those people that didn't fill it in we have attached it again here, remember you could be in with a chance to win a year's free e-mail support group subscription. It should only take a few minutes and really helps us with prioritising what is best for you.
If anyone would like to organise an 'MCS get together' in your local area do let us know and we will add it to the Spring/Summer magazine. E-mail us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Glossary: EI: Environmental Illness, MCS: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, EHS/ ES: Electro-Hypersensitivity
Tips for dealing with household smells
Deodorising carpets & air freshener just sprinkle on some bicarbonate of soda, leave for a couple of hours then vacuum. You can also put small pots in the fridge, next to the cooker and dotted around the house as air fresheners. Smelly shoes? keep your feet smelling sweet with a baking soda bag. Fill the toe of an old sock with bicarbonate of soda and tie up. Sit the bag in the shoe overnight to absorb the smell. Open the windows whenever possible to let air circulate, this is the most natural air freshener possible. Use a steam cleaner to disinfect and clean surfaces. House plants such as spider plants can absorb a lot of airborne pollutants.
|
Puy lentil, ginger and hazelnut casserole
Dairy, wheat, gluten, corn, nightshade, onion & egg free; can be soya & nut free
A warming and healthy vegetarian dish that can be eaten as an accompaniment or main dish. If you can't tolerate nuts try using pumpkin seeds instead.
Click here for the full recipe. Thanks to Foodsmatter for letting us reproduce their recipe.
Helen's Blog
I have recently started pranayama breathing which is a kind of yoga practise. It has really helped me when I am dealing with stressful situations. I was recommended that I do it before I eat breakfast every morning. I can't say I have done it everyday but am trying to do it most days and am really noticing the difference in how I am handling things. It starts very simply with breathing in and out deeply through the nose, then alternate nostril breathing and some deep diaphragm breathing. The deeper breathing is supposed to enrich the blood with oxygen and also slow down the turbulence of the mind. I'm looking forward to trying it outside when the weather, finally, gets better.
Carpets and Chemicals
In a groundbreaking move, California has proposed that carpets and rugs containing the stain-resistant fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS should be considered a priority product under the state’s Safer Consumer Products program. This could lead to the development of safer alternatives to the use of these potentially harmful chemicals in carpets and rugs.Carpets and rugs cover nearly half of all U.S. homes and workplaces. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control has identified carpets and rugs as the largest potential sources of significant and widespread PFAS exposures, especially for children. The proposed priority listing is an essential stage in the state’s program to assess toxic chemicals in consumer products and find alternatives. If the listing is made final, it would prompt carpet manufacturers to look for safer alternatives and help shoppers find healthier floor treatment choices for their homes. The public can submit comments supporting the listing through April 16. The first stain-resistant carpet was introduced in 1986 with the Stainmaster label. Other manufacturers followed with “Wear-Dated” and “Worry Free” treatments. But these treatments are far from worry free. To repel stains, the carpet industry used the same kind of chemicals in DuPont’s Teflon cookware – poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS chemicals. The Teflon chemical, called PFOS, and its close chemical cousin PFOA, were phased out under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agencies after the revelation of secret studies by their manufacturers that found they caused cancer and birth defects in lab animals, built up in people’s bodies and did not break down in the environment. In studies of tens of thousands of people exposed to PFOS and PFOA, very small doses of the chemicals have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, immune system harm, reproductive harm and liver damage. The U.S. carpet industry transitioned away from its use of PFOS, PFOA and other so-called long-chain PFAS chemicals in 2008. But they’ve been replaced by a new generation of “short-chain” chemicals in this class that have many of the same potential health concerns. California regulators lists all PFAS chemicals as having the potential for bioaccumulation; cancer; developmental, endocrine and liver toxicity; and other health hazards. PFASs are found in numerous other consumer items including cookware, clothing, personal care products and cleaning products. EWG’s 2015 review showed that the majority of PFAS in homes comes from its use on carpets and textiles. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control named carpet as the number one exposure pathway to PFAS for infants and toddlers who spend and lot of time lying, playing and crawling on carpeting. Adults can be exposed from inhalation or ingestion of dust, or dermal contact. To read the rest of this article and to find out recommendations to limit exposure click here. This was first published on March 18th by EWG, written by Tasha Stolber.
Latest News
A newly formed EMF concern group, has written to oppose the recently announced UK Government & Church of England joint communications that church spires are to boost digital connectivity in rural areas. They are encouraging everyone to share their concerns with both the Church leadership (Archbishops) and the organisation more generally; the Archbishops haven’t formed the agreement but are well positioned/expected to exercise (much needed) moral leadership on the issue. Here is an accessible TEDx talk on the issue and the trailer for a relevant award-winning documentary that recently premiered in the US. UK EMFCAG Team. If you would like to get in contact with the relevant people to oppose this potential ruling e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will forward you the details.
Click here to read how clean indoor air is becoming China's latest luxury must have.
This e-newsletter is published every 3 weeks free by email.
Sign up at www.mcs-aware.org. If you like this why not also have a look at our magazine: over 40 pages of articles, news and tips delivered straight to your door or inbox twice a year, find out more here. If you join the support group the magazine is part of the package. Get the latest news follow us on Twitter and Facebook or check out our pictures on Pinterest.
www.MCS-Aware.org - The Charity for Environmental Illness. MCS-Aware is a Registered Charity No: 1152139 and Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England and Wales: 07772408. To ensure you don't miss future email updates, please add This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to your email address book or safe list. If this message is not displaying properly, please view the online version. You are welcome to reproduce this newsletter on your blog, website, forum or newsletter provided it is properly attributed to www.MCS-Aware.org.
Not interested any more? Back to top
|
