🚀 go-pugleaf

===forwarded message===

Contact: Karen Sutherland, Director, MCS Initiative, 
Institute for Science & Interdisciplinary Studies,
413-582-5582; kssGU@hampshire.edu 
or 
Peggy Wolff, Chairperson pro tempore, 
Environmental Health Coalition of Western Mass., 
413-253-2646; towo2@aol.com
 
For Immediate Release
 
LOCAL COLLABORATION WINS 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SMALL GRANT
   The Institute for Science & Interdisciplinary Studies 
(ISIS) and the Environmental Health Coalition of Western 
Mass. (EHCWM) have won grant funding for work in 
Hampshire County to increase knowledge about Multiple 
Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) for school and health care 
personnel and the general public.
   The award is one of 18 EPA Environmental Justice Small 
Grants to be made in the New England region.  The highly 
competitive EPA program is designed to address 
environmental justice issues to facilitate fair treatment and 
meaningful involvement of all people with respect to 
environmental law and policies.
   The ISIS-EHCWM project will sponsor workshops for 
health care professionals on diagnosis and treatment for 
MCS and for schools on prevention of MCS among children 
and adults.  It will also increase public understanding 
through development of educational materials, public 
presentations, and expansion of the EHCWM to individuals 
and organizations who are in positions to affect public 
knowledge of MCS.  
   MCS is a rapidly growing public health problem 
recognized by numerous state and federal agencies that 
presents particularly difficult environmental justice issues 
and demands public understanding.  Although local numbers 
are as yet unknown, studies elsewhere have found 
prevalences of 16-33% chemical sensitivity in the general 
population and, in California, 7% with fully developed 
MCS.  People with MCS are very often unable to work or 
participate in society due to their reactivity to small amounts 
of commonly used chemicals.  The condition is poorly 
understood medically, hampering effective diagnosis and 
treatment.  The crippling effects of poor health, poverty and 
isolation are compounded by the ignorance and prejudice 
with which MCS sufferers are often confronted.
   The EPA-funded project is part of a larger MCS Initiative 
developed by ISIS, working with local, state and national 
MCS organizations and individuals.  The MCS Initiative 
brings chemically injured people together to work with 
scientists, doctors, service agencies, and other citizens to 
devise methods for prevention and services.  Its Center for 
Outreach, Research and Education (CORE) identifies and 
responds to needs for information.  
     ISIS is an innovative scientific institute located at 
Hampshire College which is developing a new approach to 
science that is open, self-relexive, democratic and socially 
responsible.  Other ISIS projects include work with local 
citizens, scientists and the miltary to clean-up toxic waste at 
Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, work with the 
Secoya of rainforest Ecuador to cope with the vast 
problems caused by oil development, and work with the 
local Community Involved with Sustaining Agriculture to 
foster a sustainable food and farming system in the 
Connecticut River Valley.  
     EHCWM is a grass roots organization which works to 
increase local public and professional understanding of 
environmental health issues and to facilitate services needed 
by persons injured by and sensitive to chemicals.  Other 
EHCWM projects include working to develop healthier, 
accessible hospital facilities, schools and housing.
     Individuals and organizations interested in being 
connected with the project and/or who need referrals and 
information about chemical sensitivity are encouraged to 
contact Karen Sutherland at 413-582-5582 or Peggy Wolff 
at 413-253-2646.

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