Italian ES 48 years old suicided on 15th Feb in Tuscany

                                       
 


Elecromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS):
desperation for a denied illness

Pistoia, 15th february 2009 – During the night between 14th and 15th
February a 48-year old lady, M. from Pistoia in Tuscany, committed
suicide because exasperated by a complex disabling condition.

She had a motor disability and a few months ago she started to be
extremely reactive to electro-magnetic fields and chemicals so she
had lost her autonomy and she also suffered for the isolation caused
by these sensitivities. The help of friendly people and of patients-
organizations was not enough to give her confidence in the future.

M. had a burning sensation in the head and throughout the body,
tinnitus in the ears, a feeling of suffocation when she was in
contact with a freshly washed fabric or near a computer, a phone or
electrical. She could not even use the phone because it caused her
headache. These are all very common symptoms for those suffering
from Elecromagnetic Hypersensitivity (ES), a condition that,
according to medical estimates, affects from 1 to 8% of the
population.

M. was in contact with the Association for Chronic Toxic and/or
Environmental Injury (AMICA) and the Association of Italian Electro-
Hypersensitive people (AIE), which have been trying for months to
help the lady as much as possible and had provided scientific
evidence to bring to her doctors.

"We know that she had plans to move to the mountains, away from
phones, masts and power lines", Silvia Bigeschi, Vice President and
Head of AMICA Tuscany comments.

The lady started to react to electromagnetic fields since last
April, shortly after a therapy with electromagnetic stimulation, and
she wondered if this could be the cause of her deterioration.

"M. had metal plates in her body that may increase the absorption of
electromagnetic fields up to hundreds of times and, according to
some scientific studies (Irvine No 2004), these represent a risk
factor for EHS", said Anna Zucchero, physician and President of
Associazione Italiana Electro.

"The ICNIRP guidelines (International Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection) does not specify limits to ensure safety for
the population with metal prostheses and we are still waiting, since
10 years ago, that the CENELEC (European Committee for
Electrotechnical Standardization) determines limits of exposure for
these subjects", Dr. Zucchero adds.

"Many scientists complain that the current standards do not protect
the health of citizens and the European Parliament has recommended
last September to review the limits for exposure to electromagnetic
fields dell'ICNIRP precisely because the emergence of diseases like
the EHS and MCS", Francesca Romana Orlando, Vice President of AMICA,
comments.

EHS is a recognized disability in Sweden, where there are initiative
to overcome "electric barriers" and, similarly, in the United States
and in Germany, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is recognized as a
physical disability by several administrations. A few months ago the
first village for EHS was created in France: www.zoneblanche.fr

According to international associations, such as www.next-up.org or
www.microwavenews.com, the non-recognition of this condition
worldwide is attributable to the heavy conflict of interests of the
leader of the WHO group of study about electromagnetic fields.

A.M.I.C.A. and A.I.E. believe that the silence of the institutions
and their failure in protecting who is suffering from Multiple
Chemical Sensitivity and Elettrosensibility might be a real crime
and the two organization are considering to take legal action.

"The only investment by the Ministry of Health to the Istituto
Superiore di Sanità (the scientific arm of the Ministry) is used for
a study about the change the perception of the risk from
electromagnetic fields (project CAMELET); this is contrary to the
provisions of the law suggesting the need for studies about the
health impact", the President of the Italian EHS complains.

"M. loved the truth, the intellectual honesty and the social
commitment: we invite everyone to listen to what she is telling us
with her death in order to avoid to others the same suffering she
had", Dr. Zucchero says.


Press contacts:

Silvia Bigeschi
Vice President of A.M.I.C.A.
P.O. Box 3131 - 00121 Roma  
[hidden email] - www.infoamica.it
Tel. 0039.0572-767884

Anna Zucchero, MD
President of the Associazione Italiana Elettrosensibili
via Cadorna n°5 35123 Padova
[hidden email] - www.elettrosensibili.it
Tel. 0039.041.908951