June 2009
ES-UK has received many enquiries over the past six months requesting information about the availability of any medical tests, which might be helpful in explaining their symptoms.
You may care to discuss this information with your own doctor or health care practitioner.  

WARNING:
ES-UK is not recommending any particular tests to diagnose ES symptoms and these details are suggested only to help you gain more information about your own condition in conjunction with your own doctor.

Lymphocyte chemical sensitivity – electrical sensitivity

Dr John McClaren Howard of Acumen Laboratories was awarded a prestigious medal by the British Society for Ecological Medicine in 2009 for his dedication and deep personal commitment.  He has developed a blood test where the blood samples are examined for lymphocyte sensitivity. They test the samples against seven common allergens before and after the sample is exposed to electro magnetic fields. The allergens include: benzoate; burnt petrol exhaust; formaldehyde; metabisulphite; natural gas; nickel; salicylate.

What the test illustrates is that if there is a chemical sensitivity, then exposure toward EMFs may amplify the sensitivity. Where there are no chemical sensitivities, nothing untoward shows up after exposure to EMFs. This test does not indicate whether someone is electro sensitive or not. 

Dr David Dowson, who was medical adviser to ES-UK but is now, sadly, retired, made the following comments about the blood test and suggested the following doctors as possible sources of tests:

‘As outlined in my telephone call, this looks at the level of calcium inside the white blood cells as it appears that people with chemical sensitivity have increased calcium levels when exposed to chemicals to which they are sensitive and this is further increased when there is additionally exposure to electro magnetic fields (if calcium enters the cell it displaces the magnesium which is pushed out of the cell, and this results in an interference with ADP/ATP metabolism, the primary symptom of which is fatigue).  This explains why, as we have become aware, chemical sensitivity and electrical sensitivity often go together.

Although these practitioners use the lab I am not certain whether they do this specific test and it would be advisable for any patients considering consulting them to ascertain before doing so.  The doctors are as follows:

Dr Shideh Poria, Burghwood Clinic 01737 361177
Dr Nick Avery, CCIM Southampton 0238 0334752
Dr Chris Dawkins, Oxfordshire 01993 830086
Dr Brian McDonogh, Horsham 01403 258351
Dr David Freed, Manchester 0161 795 6225
Dr Jenny Goodman, Barnet 0208 2163751
Dr Nicola Hembry, Clifton Bristol 0117 969 2814
Dr Sarah Myhill, Wales 01547 550331
Dr Rowena Nicholson, Chudleigh Devon 01626 854743
Dr Jenny Nevison, Bygrave, Baldock 01462 894743
Dr Jens Rhorbeck, Stoke Bishop Bristol, 0117 9626060’
Dr Robert Sarkany, Photo Dermatology Department, St Thomas’s Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road,
London SE1 7EH Appointments: 0207 188 2000

You may be able to request a referral from your GP to consult Dr Sarkany for diagnosis and advice regarding skin sensitivity, rashes, tingling and pricking related to photo or light sensitivity around lighting, daylight or computer screens. (at this stage it is not known whether this includes skin problems brought on by televisions)

Given the prevalence of low energy light bulbs in almost all public buildings, we are noticing more and more complaints of ES symptoms being triggered around low energy and fluorescent lighting.

Dr Sarkany is quoted in a recent Daily Mail article, which refers specifically to low energy bulbs affecting those with skin disorders.

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June 2009

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