The Massachusetts Association for the Chemically Injured is a non-profit statewide support, education, and referral organization for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), others who are sensitive to chemicals in the environment, and those who care about the prevention of chemical injuries.
Governor Proclaims MCS Awareness Week, May 11 - 17, 2025
Raising Public Awareness and Education about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Please click here for complete information and to view/download the Proclamation.
Raising Public Awareness and Education about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Please click here for complete information and to view/download the Proclamation.
Greater Boston MCS Support Meetings (Online ZOOM Meetings)
Special Note: Meeting: Monday, May 19, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
MACI zoom support group meeting for May will be a week earlier this month. It will be held on Monday May 19th because the 4th Monday is Memorial Day. The link for the support group meetings hasn't changed.
Please call 978-681-5117 or email [email protected] in advance to ensure that you receive the ZOOM meeting invitation.
Topic: Open Meeting, plus:
The meeting will be an open meeting where folks can ask questions and share on issues that come up during open meetings. If you attended the Quebec International MCS Conference that was held on May 1 and May 2 - please share your thoughts at the meeting.
If you are a new person planning to attend the meeting, please be sure to connect with MACI before Monday's meeting.
It is the collective people who join each month who are willing to share and ask questions at the meeting that makes the meeting valuable for everyone. Yes, we all have some things in common and then there are specific things that we can tolerate and work for us and may not be ok for someone else and their specific individual sensitivities or situation. However, it is in the sharing and suggestions that is helpful to other members and why we gather and hold these zoom meetings.
To learn more about MACI Support Meetings, please click here.
Medical Reference Links:
- Emergency Department Treatment Protocol
- An important outline for discussion between patients, medical staff, and physicians.
- Please print and complete this Card or Page and present it to caregivers.
- Other Hospital Protocols:
Hospital Protocols for People With MCS/ES | Seriously "Sensitive" to Pollution
Canada Considers Safe Air Quality a Human Right
"People who have allergies or sensitivity to certain products may have a bad reaction to a much lower level of chemicals, perfumes or environmental triggers than the average person. Their reaction is a medical condition. It is a recognized disability. People with allergies or environmental sensitivity are entitled to protection from its cause.
The Canadian Human Right Act protects people with allergies or environmental sensitivities, like any other disability. Employees or clients with environmental sensitivities can ask employers or service providers for accommodation. Employers and service providers must ensure that their facilities are accessible and safe."
The Canadian Human Right Act protects people with allergies or environmental sensitivities, like any other disability. Employees or clients with environmental sensitivities can ask employers or service providers for accommodation. Employers and service providers must ensure that their facilities are accessible and safe."
Professor Anne Steinemann’s
Latest Reports on Fragranced Products and Health Effects
Since October 2016, Doctor Anne Steinemann, Professor of Civil Engineering and Chair of Sustainable Cities at the University of Melbourne, Australia, has completed two studies related to health and societal effects caused by exposure to fragranced consumer products.
The reports indicate that over one-third of Americans and Australians experience health problems—from asthma attacks to migraine headaches—when exposed to common fragranced consumer products such as air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry products, scented candles, cologne, and personal care products.
Moreover, the findings also show that fragranced products may affect business profits, with more than 20 percent of respondents stating that they leave fragranced business establishments as quickly as possible. And, given a choice, more than twice as many customers would select fragrance-free hotels and airplanes. To read Dr. Steinemann’s reports, please visit her Publications webpage at http://www.drsteinemann.com/publications.html
The reports indicate that over one-third of Americans and Australians experience health problems—from asthma attacks to migraine headaches—when exposed to common fragranced consumer products such as air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry products, scented candles, cologne, and personal care products.
Moreover, the findings also show that fragranced products may affect business profits, with more than 20 percent of respondents stating that they leave fragranced business establishments as quickly as possible. And, given a choice, more than twice as many customers would select fragrance-free hotels and airplanes. To read Dr. Steinemann’s reports, please visit her Publications webpage at http://www.drsteinemann.com/publications.html
Investments in Our Health
Hoffman Program on Chemicals and Health
(Located at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
The Hoffman Program was founded in 2014 with a generous bequest from Ms. Marilyn B. Hoffman. It is dedicated to the study of chemical and particle exposures and their subsequent human health effects.
https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/hoffman-program/
- Hoffman TILT Program
(Located at University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio)
https://tiltresearch.org/
- Hoffman TILT Program Blog
https://tiltresearch.org/category/blog/
- Article: Bequest funds the search for answers in mystery illness.
https://magazines.uthscsa.edu/mission/bequest-funds-the-search-for-answers-in-mystery-illness/
(Located at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
The Hoffman Program was founded in 2014 with a generous bequest from Ms. Marilyn B. Hoffman. It is dedicated to the study of chemical and particle exposures and their subsequent human health effects.
https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/hoffman-program/
- Hoffman TILT Program
(Located at University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio)
https://tiltresearch.org/
- Hoffman TILT Program Blog
https://tiltresearch.org/category/blog/
- Article: Bequest funds the search for answers in mystery illness.
https://magazines.uthscsa.edu/mission/bequest-funds-the-search-for-answers-in-mystery-illness/