Second Hand Reactions - Our Little Place

Scents in the Workplace

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Article 10: Scents in the Workplace

Kootenai Valley Times – October 1, 2000

– by Dr. Gloria Gilbere

Dear Dr. Gilbere:

This article is adapted from one in my employer's company newsletter. Please share it to support your efforts to raise awareness of fragrance problems in the workplace.

A little scent goes a long way

Just pumping gas can leave you smelling of gasoline for hours. Walk through the haze of smokers outside your favorite store or restaurant, and the acrid smell of tobacco lingers for hours.

Plants Help Reverse Indoor Air Pollution

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Article 11: Plants Help Reverse Indoor Air Pollution and Allergies

Kootenai Valley Times – October 6, 2000

– by Dr. Gloria Gilbere

According to Dr. B.C. Wolverton, noted scientist for the NASA lunar habitat, most experts now agree that indoor air pollution is a major problem and may actually be as much as ten times more polluted than the outdoor environment. There is no agreement, however, on how to solve it. The Institute of Medicine estimates that one in five north Americans will experience allergy-related illness at some point during their lives, and indoor allergens will be responsible for a substantial number of those cases. Included are reoccurring sinus infections, chronic post-nasal discharge, asthma, bronchial infections, and ear infections. It is currently estimated that 28% of Americans experience multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) and it is expected to grow to 60% by 2010. Increasing the levels of ventilation in a building does not offer a solution. Constant purging of inside air is neither cost-effective nor environmentally responsible. Although the term "green building" is becoming an attractive concept to building managers and occupants, the use of living plants is not currently part of the concept.

Walk Around the Block - Symptoms Around the Clock

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Article 12: Neighborhood Health Notice!
"Walk Around the Block" can Mean "Symptoms Around the Clock"

Kootenai Valley Times – October 13, 2000

– by Dr. Gloria Gilbere

Q: Have you been enjoying a walk in the neighborhood and found you have suddenly fallen without realizing why?

Q: Do you get a numb feeling in the side of your face, or tingling around your mouth and the doctors can't find the reason?

Q: Do you get a sudden onset of dizziness or a headache?

If you answered yes to any of the above, you could be experiencing symptoms of Central Nervous System Disorder from fabric softeners, clothes dryer exhaust and treated fabrics.

MSG is a DRUG and NEURO-TRANSMITTER

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Article 13: MSG is a DRUG and NEURO-TRANSMITTER

Kootenai Valley Times – October 20, 2000

– by Dr. Gloria Gilbere

The ever-expanding use of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is of great concern to the medical profession and health care practitioners like myself who specialize in working with people affected by chemicals from any source. I am, and have been, seriously reactive to MSG since childhood, when my "comfort food" became a popular brand of canned soups containing MSG. I developed acute migraine headaches and stomachaches, and no one ever suspected that a food additive was the trigger.

MSG stimulates brain cell activity. It tricks your brain into thinking the food you are eating tastes good. Manufacturers can and do use inferior ingredients and thus make the product seem tastier. Inferior products and higher profits prevail at the expense of consumer health. MSG intolerance is not an allergic reaction, but a powerful drug reaction.