Family Focus: Charlotte Teen Adjusts To Life With Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Justine Poole, 14, has multiple chemical sensitivity -- an ailment that makes her physically ill when exposed to chemicals in common, household products. Doctors admit that they know very little about the ailment.

MCS is a medical condition characterized by debilitating chemical sensitivity. People who have this ailment are made sick by exposure to chemicals in many common products such as pesticides, perfumes, tobacco smoke, new carpet, building materials and many cleaning and laundry supplies.

Poole had to find a hair stylist that would cut her hair outside. The chemicals inside a hair salon would drop Justine's blood sugar to dangerously low levels and she would become disoriented and unable to breathe.

"We found within 20 minutes when we went into a place that had chemicals. Be it a new building or a hair salon, her blood sugar would drop 100 points. So that was an indication that there was something definitely physical going on," said Justine's mother, Charlene Poole.

Even outside the hair salon, Justine wears an air purifier.

Multiple chemical sensitivity has placed enormous limits on her life.

"Malls are like breeding grounds for perfume, so I can't go to the mall or the movies or school. It's been hard not going to school," Justine said.

Justine is home-schooled. Her family hopes she'll be able to return next year.

Doctors said the affliction is so new that there's no proven way to help Justine's body. For the last two years, through trial and error, Justine has been learning what was wrong with her.

"The stressful part was knowing she was sick and getting worse and not having a doctor who could property diagnose her," said Charlene Poole.

Justine was an aspiring actress who loved to be onstage.

"I can't do stuff like that anymore. I can't get onstage and perform. I mean, it's too much of a risk," she said.

Justine finds other creative outlets, like learning to play the electric guitar.

For more information about multiple chemical sensitivity, click on Chemical Sensitivity Foundation.org