[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Green Cleaners

[Keith Winston]

Yes, it may be that I'm simply particularly sensitive to whatever it is 
in Simple Green. I'm not sure, of course (how could I be?). I am not 
particularly sensitive otherwise -- even though I try to avoid what I 
can, I come in contact with a remarkable range of noxious stuff (as a 
contractor), and mostly it doesn't unduly faze me. I also don't mean to 
understate MCS, I'm quite familiar with it and know several people who 
deal with it personally and professionally. I just don't think this was 
an unusual sensitivity, I think SG is more noxious, at least in some 
certain kind of situations, than people realize. But I guess I'll let it 
rest now, I've only said that 4 times or something!

Keith


David Seth Melchert wrote:
> Over the years I have worked with people with Multiple Chemical 
> Sensitivity (MCS), also called Environmental Illness (EI). While many 
> are only moderately sensitive to toxins in their homes and lives, some 
> are way off the scale. In my experience they are not being dramatic, 
> hypochondriacs or fussy. It would seem that their bodies had been 
> whacked out by some sort of chemical trauma which made them hyper 
> sensitive, and they are unable to get back to normal. Seemingly 
> innocuous things such as isopropyl alcohol, scent from those cling-free 
> sheets people put in their clothes dryers, newsprint ink, new wood 
> resins, duct tape glue (I could go on writing a very long list) now make 
> them ill. Allergy doctors in general are unable to help very much 
> either. It is as if some sort of critical mass had been reached in their 
> bodies and from that point on they are in an entirely new quantum level 
> of sensitivity. Normal MSDS criteria no longer apply.
>
> While I myself am not sensitive to these things I've had to train myself 
> to perceive them. You can start by walking down the gardening isle in 
> any mainstream store to experience the assault on your body by 
> fertilizers and pesticides. Then go to a mainstream drug store and 
> choose cosmetics or detergents. From here, try paper products or 
> medicines. Each level is more subtle, but I have learned that even the 
> faintest of chemicals can set people off. Right now I have a client who 
> is reacting to some AFM Safecoat clear finish. Another to Bona Chemi 
> Traffic catalyzed floor finish. These are way out on the clean end of 
> the scale, but that is no guarantee to MCS folks. My mistake was to not 
> give them samples to check ahead of time.
>
> So Keith you are really on your own. Your own body is the testing 
> laboratory that will determine any product's toxicity to you. I am 
> sorry, and I wish you luck. If you can stay clean, real clean for a 
> period of time my hope is that you will lose your hypersensitivity.
>
> By the way, you are a rare case of an MCS man. Most are women.
>
> best wishes,
>
> Seth Melchert
> Oakland CA
>
> Keith Winston wrote:
>   
>> Just to be clear, since I got several personal emails on this:
>>
>> It wasn't the scent. I didn't get high.....
>> I almost died. I am not being melodramatic.
>>
>>
>> Of course in retrospect this was all very stupid (did I mention this was 
>> stupid?), but it seems unlikely to me that I could be THAT overcome in 
>> one case, and it's all friendly and yummy when used in smaller 
>> quantities. But I don't really know about that.
>>
>> Keith
>>   
>>     
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-- 
Keith Winston
Earth Sun Energy Systems
Hyattsville, MD 20781
301-980-6325
send me mail at 
keith at the company below
www.EarthSunEnergy.com