Chemical Sensitivity: The Truth About Environmental Illness (Consumer Health Library) [Hardcover]

Stephen J. Barrett (Author), Ronald E. Gots (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1998 | Series: Consumer Health Library

Chemical sensitivity (or 'multiple chemical sensitivity') describes people with numerous troubling symptoms attributed to environmental factors, from simple house paint to complex building structures and materials in offices and schools. Many such people are seeking special accommodations, applying for disability benefits, and filing lawsuits claiming that exposure to common foods and chemicals has made them ill. Their efforts are supported by some physicians who refer themselves as clinical ecologists. They use questionable diagnoses and treatment methods, while critics charge that these approaches are bogus and that 'chemical sensitivity' is not a valid diagnosis. The complaints associated with chemical sensitivity include depression, irritability, poor memory, fatigue, drowsiness, constipation, sneezing, wheezing, skin rashes, headache, chest pain, pounding heart, swelling, upset stomach, paralysis, AIDS-like illnesses, psychotic experiences, and just about every other symptom noted in medical textbooks. One prominent clinical ecologist even claimed that chemical sensitivity patients may well be human 'canaries' on an increasingly poisoned planet, and others have actually labeled chemical sensitivity as a disease. While some people are adversely affected by exposure to some chemicals, there is an overwhelming increase in false claims and reports from misled obsessive patients and opportunistic doctors. "Chemical Sensitivity" examines this phenomenon in depth and the scientific, legal, ethical, and political issues that surround it. The authors explore the speculations about environmental exposure in the light of scientific knowledge of human physiology, allergy and immunology, pathology, toxicology, and clinical medicine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 212 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; 1 edition (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573921955
• ISBN-13: 978-1573921954
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #803,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Chemical Sensitivity Has Already Been Objectively Identified by Medical Science, April 13, 2006

By 

ACSE - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chemical Sensitivity: The Truth About Environmental Illness (Consumer Health Library) (Hardcover)

Mainstream medical science has already identified numerous chemicals as Sensitizers, while ones it has identified as Irritants. Case-specific & medically accepted forms of Chemical Sensitivity include Chemical Worker's Lung (a subset of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis), Irritant-induced Asthma, Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome, Irritant Rhinitis, Irritant-associated Vocal Cord Dysfunction, and Airborne Irritant Contact Dermatitis.

Chemical-specific forms include Formaldehyde Sensitivity, Glutaraldehyde Sensitivity, Cinnamic Aldehyde Sensitivity, Oil of Turpentine Allergy, Methyltetrahydrophthalic Anhydride Allergy, IgE-mediated Triethanolamine Sensitivity, Ammonium Persulfate Sensitivity, Methacrylate Sensitivity, Plicatic Acid (Red Cedar) Sensitivity, Sulfite Hypersensitivity, and numerous other ones.

Nontoxic/ambient benzene exposure has resulted in cases of hematotoxicity, while a number of chemicals, at nontoxic levels, have triggered anaphylaxis.

Objective medical findings in the chemically sensitive have included turbinate hypertrophy, nasal & laryngeal erythema, objective skin whealing resulting from skin testing, glandular hyperplasia, paradoxical adduction of the true vocal cords, urticaria, bronchial hyperresponsiveness in inhalation challenge testing, and other ones.

The AMA, in Report 4 of the Council on Scientific Affairs (A-98), has acknowledged as asthma triggers, "volatile organic compounds from carpeting, cabinetry, plywood, particle board, and fumes from household cleaning products", among other ones. The AAAAI has acknowledged "chemicals in the air", "household cleansers", and "paints or varnishes" as asthma triggers, among other ones. And the American Lung Association included in its list of asthma triggers "room deodorizers, cleaning chemicals, paints," and "hair spray".

Any literature on chemical sensitivity that does not include mention of these facts is, at the very least, an irresponsibly produced piece of literature. Such literautre can have an extremely deceptive effect.

Furthermore, the reading public has the right to know that Stephen Barrett, M.D. was never board certified at anything at any time in his life, being that he failed his board exams. He has no experience as a biochemist, no experience as a medical technologist, and no experience as a practitioner in any form of internal, dental, or dermatological medicine. In addition, Ronald Gots' association with the terms "insurance," "misrepresentation," and even "completely bogus operation" resulted from a now-defunct paper review company that he founded, in its services for the State Farm Insurance Company, along with an Oregon court case. The NBC television network was the entity which placed that matter in the public forum. And it did so years ago.

40 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Just the facts, please!, November 5, 2003

By 

Amanda Gayda (Durham, NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chemical Sensitivity: The Truth About Environmental Illness (Consumer Health Library) (Hardcover)

I find it very interesting that those who read the book and gave it a positive review could ignore the outright arrogance of the authors given that Gots isn't even in the field (see the reviews below). It reads like a child having a tantrum when he doesn't get his way. Speaking from a scientific background, I feel that it is necessary to look at both sides of the argument provided they are presented in a factual manner. The emotions conveyed in this book have without a doubt elicited the emotional responses from the readers.
I find it very disturbing that nowhere in this book does it mention that people are not designed to withstand chemical exposure. Chemicals are not a part of the natural environment! When unnatural elements are introduced into our environment, they cause problems. We've all seen it before. Remember when DDT was supposed to be "good for us"?
In short, I'll just say that if you are looking for a book to present information on MCS to you in a direct, un-tampered way, this book is not for you.

49 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Chemical industries attempt to silence chemically injured, March 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Chemical Sensitivity: The Truth About Environmental Illness (Consumer Health Library) (Hardcover)

Many large chemical companies such as DowElanco, Monsanto, Procter and Gamble, the Cosmetic Toiletries and Fragrances Association, and other companies and trade associations involved in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other chemicals, each pay $10,000 per year to keep the Environmental Sensitivities Research Institute(ESRI) going. The head of ESRI is Dr. Ronald Gots, who also runs something called the National Medical Advisory Group, which provides expert witnesses to defend the chemical corporations in tort lawsuits. Dr. Gots is a pharmacologist, not a toxicologist, with no formal training or certification in toxicology. Dr. Gots has not treated or seen patients of his own for 20 years and has never been the physician for a chemically sensitive person. He practiced medicine for only a few years before becoming a full time expert witness and consultant for the chemical industry and other corporations, and many times has testified against MCS patients. It is my understanding that Ronald Gots has also been charged with insurance fraud. I wouldn't be surprised if these large giant chemical companies are paying Dr. Gots for writing this book so they can keep on polluting the planet and causing diseases. More than 2 billion people have cancer alone not to mention the 50 plus autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, MS, Lupus etc. that are being linked to chemicals in the environment. What does that tell us about what the chemical industry is doing??