No one knows for sure what causes MCS. However, in non-industrial workplaces, a number of common products and processes have been identified as contributing to the onset of MCS. Some exposures that have been linked to this condition are:
• Agent Orange for Vietnam Veterans
• antibiotics and other medication
• carbonless paper, inks, copying machine and laser printer toner
• cleaning supplies
• DEET - an insect repellant which may have been a significant trigger for Gulf War Veterans
• formaldehyde in new clothes, books, and other products
• gas stoves
• house paints
• insecticides, synergists, piperonal butoxide
• new building materials and furnishings
• chemicals in new carpets (styrene butadiene latex in flooring adhesives and carpet backing)
• pesticides and wood preservatives
• second-hand tobacco smoke
• toxic chemicals used in art, photography, printing, etc.
• vehicle exhaust fumes

These substances contribute to indoor air pollution and are often contaminants in our air and water. Many of the chemicals that trigger MCS-symptoms are known to be irritants or to be toxic to the nervous system. One especially harmful group of chemicals, known as "volatile organics," readily evaporates into the air at room temperature. Even low airborne levels of such contaminants can make ordinary people sick. The impact on health of long-term, low-level exposure to most chemicals found in consumer products remains untested. The products and other chemicals that cause problems vary among affected individuals.

Commonly reported triggers include:
• anesthesia
• artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives in foods, drinks, and drugs
• detergents and other cleaners
• electromagnetic fields
• fluorescent lights
• perfumes and fragrances
• prescribed medications
• smoke from tobacco products
• air fresheners and disinfectants
• solvents from dry-cleaning, felt pens, etc.

When our bodies are assaulted with levels of toxic chemicals that cannot be safely processed, many of us become ill. For some, the outcome could be cancer or reproductive damage. Others may become hypersensitive or develop other chronic disorders, while some people may not experience any noticeable health effects. Even when high levels of exposure occur, only a small percentage of people become chemical-sensitive. The threshold of toxic injury is not the same for everyone because the ability to detoxify varies greatly from individual to individual.

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