Danish photographer Thilde Jensen came to New York City in 1997. Six years later her life and career was cut short by a sudden development of severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). The urban life she had previously navigated with ease transformed into a toxic war zone. Her immune system crashed, forcing her unto a survivalistic journey, unravelling the comfort and construct of her previous life. The ensuing years were a lesson in basic survival – camping in the woods, while wearing a respirator when entering supermarkets, doctors’ offices, and banks. To her surprise an otherwise invisible subculture of people emerged who shared this isolated existence. Her photographs are a personal account of life on the edge of modern civilization as one of the human canaries, the first casualties to a ubiquitous synthetic chemical culture. Of her series ‘Canaries’ Thilde writes:
‘Since World War II the production and use of synthetic chemicals has exploded. During the course of an average day, people come in contact with a host of chemicals – Just walking into a supermarket one might be breathing as many as 20,000 different synthetic compounds. As a result of the prevalence of these synthetic chemicals, it is believed that more than ten million Americans have developed a disabling condition called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, (MCS).
MCS is a condition where our immune and central nervous system goes into extreme reactions when exposed to small amounts of daily chemicals like perfume, cleaning products, car exhaust, construction materials and pesticides. In addition, some people also react to light, fabrics, food and electromagnetic fields as emitted by computers, phones, cell towers, cars and florescent lights – making life a near impossibility. Many people with MCS are forced to live in remote areas in tents, cars, or trailers. Others are prisoners of their homes, with advanced air filter systems to keep outside air from contaminating their breathing space’.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Brilliant. At last a subject that isn’t cliche.
This IS MY WORLD for the last 12 years. It is isolating. Chilling. Scarey. Lonely. Undetermined. And becoming more populated with each passing year.
MCS is real. And for many more people, who have no idea of its existence, it will become all TOO REAL, very fast.
Educate yourself. You CAN avoid becoming another victim of MCS, but you must know how to do so and you must act upon it.
As well, MCS could end in as little as 6 months. IF, the world would cut back on synthetic chemical use by 50%. End completely, if we broke the habit completely. But – the businesses say – ‘Where’s he profit in that?’ And that my fellow humans, is THE REASON more of you will join our isolated community.
YOSAKIME
very intense…great work
I’ve only recently discovered this site and as an MA student I’m finding it incredibly resourceful and inspiring. I had no idea that MCS existed – I’d never even heard of it. these portraits are incredibly and it’s led me to investigate what MCS is all about. So, bravo, this project is incredible!
Daniel
I have this. These photos are so real. There is so much that isn’t written, but it’s impossible to write it all. It affects every single aspect of one’s life. It sucks.
I have been having MCS for many years. It is very difficult to go places. Some buildings I cannot even go in. People need to be educated about chemicals. We try to do that, but we don’t know if it is working. Whether it is perfumes, colognes, washing powder, fabric softener sheets, air fresheners, etc.
We are living in Louisiana and we are in need of a chemical free environment.
People need to be made aware.
Daniel, I appreciate the fact that you are understanding. We need more people like you. Please, do the research Daniel, educate yourself and help us spread the word about chemicals.
Thank you.
My son I developed MCS after exposure to malathion sprayed into our home by the health authorities in August 2010. The suffering is unbelievable and continues. Very few people know about MCS or even understand it.
I have MCS and wish nobody ever had to get it . It’s so isolating and can be very stressfull to keep alive, but we mustn’t give up. I have had this condition for about 18 years. I’ve been homeless with four small children for two to three years because finding safe housing is very difficult especially when relying on government housing assistance,ect. I am also electrically sensitive. Even typing this at the library is making me sick. It’s hard to go any where for any length of time without feeling that I cannot breath. Don’t give up and I’m rooting for you all.
These are amazing, they tell a true yet hidden story about our society and the ills set to haunt our futures. Problem is, there are many of us with this and sometimes it seems like the world keeps turning its back on us, like we don’t exist. I live with this, and I blog about it @ the-labyrinth.com
Hi, I wrote last year on this blog. Well, we found ourselves a healthy place to live. We moved out of Louisiana in July of last year and we are now living in Tucson, Arizona. But people still need to be educated. We are doing a walk-a-thon here in Tucson, Arizona on May 5, 2013, through the Jennifer Parker Foundation. I hope I worded that right. The Jennifer Parker Foundation pays to put it on. It is to raise awareness and funds for a healthy place to be built. If you want to know more about the walk-a-thon just go to the Jennifer Parker Foundation website and click on the link.
Is there anyone taking natural supplements that can help?
I take NAC, selinium, vit d, quercitin and molybdenum…http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=411571
I have lost everything and “everyone” due to MCS. I am 50, had to move in with my father as I lost my home, job, car and his house was older, so it seemed to be safer. Now, I have nothing. I try to function as a recluse, but cry every day because that is not who I am. I applied for Social Security, but must wait one year for even a court date. I am allowed $200 a month food assistance through the state, but usually by week 3 I have nothing left, as the food I must eat has to be organic and is so expensive in Northern Minnesota. I also have many other diseases now, along with severe arthritis in my back and neck, a brain aneurysm and much more. I have lost all of my family except for my father as none of them “understand”. My daughter doesn’t even let me see my grandkids anymore because I told her she couldn’t keep coming over with perfume and smelly shampoos. It made her mad, so she told me I was out of her life forever. And she meant it. There is no life lonelier than living with MCS, doctors think you are nuts, people don’t understand and being penniless and homeless is tough. I haven’t had 3 cents to my name in over a year. I can’t even buy the masks I need and my state health insurance won’t pay for anything. If I had the courage, I would just end it, but I love my father and could not do that to him. I only wish there were a cure……But most days, I wake up and just say Dammit, why did I have to wake up today? To just go to sleep and never wake up to this nightmare would be my ultimate dream.
I’m writing a research paper for my grad class titled “Healing our Built Environment” and I’ve recently, while researching toxins and harmful building materials, stumbled on to MCS. This is incredibly disturbing and I feel deeply for you all – I’ve never heard of this before. I’m studying sustainable design and have a passion for just the title, healing our build environment to provide a safer, healthier world for future generations. We have brought upon these problems, and MCS, ourselves by allowing the use of these chemicals and synthetic compounds to perpetuate the problem. Your stories must be told and you’ve given me more motivation to dig deeper into the problem. Be well and don’t give up. (ANY reliable resources you can provide me with are greatly appreciated.)
Annette Tweedel can you – or anyone else in Arizona – please email me! I am interested in Tucson (am in Oregon and can’t handle the cold winters) but really afraid of safety issues, need someone trustworthy to point us in the right direction (am a single Mom).
Email: editor (@) southamericaliving.com (my website biz)
thank you!
And apologies… these are really awesome, intriguing shots… I would be interested in your book you are putting out… not what I expected, so much shown is usually ’sad’ based, but these get the despondency message out (that this illness causes in sufferers) with some beauty and humaneness added-in. Really nice. I’m a novice travel photographer so are into these kinds of things
For those of you with MCS who have been struggling with the disability system, there is hope. I am an attorney with MCS. About 10 years ago I had to close my regular law practice, where I had ironically been doing a lot of disability law along with workers comp and PI, and move my practice into my home. Since then I have been helping people all over the USA who have MCS obtain disability benefits. We do everything by telephone, email, and mail so your location doesn’t matter. It’s not easy, and you have to get the right people to decide your case, plus put forward the best available documentation for your claim. Nevertheless, there have been victories.
If you are interested in pursuing this, check my website and fill out the online form.
Hi. I’ve been struggling with MCS for the last year especially. I live in traverse city michigan, and working at (Oryana) a food coop with alot of organic food and built the green way however, I can only work 2 days a week there because of being constantly exposed to perfume and laundry/dryer sheet chemicals etc. thanks to the public. There are a few shoppers that come in wearing masks due to MCS. I know atleast 8 shoppers that are sensitive and worry for them too! Another big concern is lawn chemicals-pesticides they spray on golf courses, lawns, parks, on the cherry trees here. The air here must be so toxic. I started a petition on(change.org), against lawn chemicals and feel confident with determination and support to get a ban on these very toxic chemicals. It’s not just us. Children, our companion animals and the innocent wildlife stuck outdoors in this mess are suffering too! Start something in your cities too! That’s the only way for change. It’s up to us! Let’s get the chemicals out of stores, our homes and outside. Best healthy wishes, Julie