brand logo

Am Fam Physician. 2000;61(1):45

to the editor: In their recent letter to the editor,1 Drs. Fung and Kennon misrepresented the position of the World Health Organization (WHO) when they stated that WHO recommends changing the name of multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) to “idiopathic environmental intolerances.” The reference2 that the authors cited in their letter was anonymously published and was not authorized by the workshop's sponsors (UNEP-ILO-WHO). It contained the following disclaimer:

“These conclusions and recommendations contain the collective views of an international group of experts and do not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organization (ILO) or the World Health Organization (WHO).”2

Despite this disclaimer, some of the workshop participants began to misrepresent WHO's position on MCS after the meeting. In response, WHO issued a statement to participants,3 which reaffirmed the disclaimer and stated that “(w)ith respect to ‘MCS’, WHO has neither adopted nor endorsed a policy or scientific opinion.”

in reply: Dr. McCampell's letter1 appears to mis-state the content of our previous letter2 and then claims that the mis-stated information is a misrepresentation. In the era of evidence-based medicine, we have not seen validated evidence to support any pathophysiologic basis for “multiple chemical sensitivity.” We also would like to point out that the position papers3,4 previously used the term “idiopathic environmental intolerances” based on a published article.5

We remain comfortable about the objectivity and the contribution to the discussion presented in our letter.2 Staudenmayer6 states it best, “If all concerned would adhere to the scientific method and respect the principles of physics and chemistry that are the foundation of toxicological and biological medicine, this phenomenon will more likely find a resolution.”

Email letter submissions to afplet@aafp.org. Letters should be fewer than 400 words and limited to six references, one table or figure, and three authors. Letters submitted for publication in AFP must not be submitted to any other publication. Letters may be edited to meet style and space requirements.

This series is coordinated by Kenny Lin, MD, MPH, deputy editor.

Continue Reading


More in AFP

More in PubMed

Copyright © 2000 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.  See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests.