As the body breaks down, an ever increasing number of chemicals, including some unrelated to the initial exposure, are found to trigger a reaction. MCS affects the overall health and feeling of well-being of those with the disorder. It typically impairs many bodily functions including the nervous system and digestion. Each individual affected by MCS has a unique set of health problems. A chemically sensitive person may also have other pre-existing health conditions.
Many affected people experience a number of symptoms, in relation to their chemical exposures.
On one hand, some people may become chemically sensitive following a toxic chemical spill at work or in their community after being sprayed directly with pesticides. On the other, individuals may develop this condition from spending forty hours each week in a poorly ventilated building where they breathe a profusion of chemicals common to our modern way of life. In many cases, MCS has been brought on by a wide array of chemicals found at home and work. Not all people with MCS fit any of these categories. Other people with MCS cannot identify any situations where they had unusual exposures to chemicals.