Seminar for people with chemical sensitivity to be held in Melbourne

Posted on Apr 25, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, MCS

Melbourne’s first ever fragrance-free event will be a seminar for the chemically sensitive.

Australia’s Allergy and Environmental Sensitivity Support and Research Association (AESSRA) reports it will hold a seminar for people with chemical sensitivities on May 15.

The event is called Chemical Sensitivity ’09. Tickets range from $10-$30.

The seminar is geared to a Multiple Chemical Sensitivity audience, but organizers say they are using the term Chemical Sensitivity for broader appeal.

Prior to the seminar, the venue is being cleaned with fragrance-free, non-toxic cleaning products and anyone wearing scented products will not sit in the same room as people who are sensitive to fragrance. This is Melbourne’s first fragrance-free event.

“The trouble with putting on a seminar for people with MCS is that most of them can’t come to it!” says organizer Harry Clark. “So we are working on getting an ‘audio release’ from the speakers to allow a recording to be made available to our members, and hopefully a more general release so we can provide a recording to interested non members of AESSRA.”

Harry Clark is an active member of The Canary Report‘s social network The Flock.

Notices for the seminar include information about chemical sensitivities: people with the illness are affected by low levels of common chemicals such as those found in car and diesel exhaust, soft furnishings, wood smoke, cigarette smoke, pesticides, cleaning products and new building materials. Symptoms or conditions that can be made worse by exposure to these chemicals include:

Coughs and other respiratory problems
Migraines and headaches
Dry, stinging, gritty, swollen or burning eyes
Sinus problems
Sneezing and runny nose
Contact dermatitis and skin rashes
Fatigue, aching muscles and joints
Dizziness and nausea
Inability to concentrate
Lack of muscular coordination
Depression and anxiety
Memory lapses

Sufferers can also be diagnosed with conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia which overlap with chemical sensitivity. Those with more severe sensitivities have to live in isolation from the rest of the community, unable to work, study or take part in social activities because of the health risks involved.

Speakers at the seminar include:

Dr Colin Little is a Melbourne based specialist. He is a Physician-Allergist who specializes in chemical sensitivities and allergies. His talk is titled “What is Chemical Sensitivity?” Topics will include the various types of testing that are available for the diagnosis of chemical sensitivities, the different types of changes people can make to their living arrangements that can help improve life with chemical sensitivities, controversial issues and future directions. Dr Little has probably seen almost all the people in Melbourne with MCS.

Deborah Randa, a solicitor from the Disability Discrimination Legal Service, will give a talk entitled “Disability Discrimination Law and Chemical Sensitivity.” Her talk will include some relevant case law and some case studies that her service has encountered. She will also give information about how to make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and will be providing handouts and brochures.

Neil Blyth is an environmentally conscious architect. He will be giving a talk titled “Chemically Sensitive? How safe is your house?” He will look at problem issues within the home environment and how they can be removed or their effect minimized for people who either suffer from or are aware of chemical sensitivities.

Maree Jeffs, from the Council of the Aging, will talk on “Remembering Well,” how to make the most of your memory.

Link to more information.

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5/31 Editor’s Note: The links to the seminar are now inactive. Here’s the link to Allergy and Environmental Sensitivity Support and Research Association Inc.