AESSRA Inc.

Allergy and Environmental Sensitivity Support and Research Association Inc.

AESSRA Inc. is a support group for people with allergies and sensitivities, particularly Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). It started in Melbourne and now has members around Australia.

Documentary from The Feed, SBS Viceland, 13 August 2018

MCS prevalence in Australia among adults aged 18-65

“Results found that, across the country, 6.5% report medically diagnosed MCS, 18.9% report chemical sensitivity (being unusually sensitive to everyday chemicals and chemically formulated products), and 19.9% either or both. Among people with MCS, 74.6% also have diagnosed asthma or an asthma-like condition, and 91.5% have fragrance sensitivity, reporting health problems (such as migraine headaches) when exposed to fragranced consumer products (such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies). In addition, among people with MCS, 77.5% are prevented from access to places because of fragranced products, 52.1% lost workdays or a job in the past year due to fragranced product exposure in the workplace, and 55.4% report health effects considered potentially disabling.”

Steinemann A. 2018. Prevalence and effects of multiple chemical sensitivities in Australia. Preventive Medicine Reports 10:191-194; doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.03.007.

Full article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335518300457

University of Melbourne media release: http://newsroom.melbourne.edu/news/common-chemical-products-making-australians-sick-study-finds

Australian book about the health effects of fragrance

AESSRA Inc. is on Facebook , but only to share news items for people to read and share. Member discussions take place on our private online forum.