This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi all, I work as a auto tech & I've always said the it's the car exhaust fumes that really bothers me & got my MS really going.

What I'm wondering is with what we now know about CCSVI would my theory make any sense. I've read where altitude affects oxygen in the brain so wouldn't carbon monoxide?

Thanks Glenn

Hi Glenn,

Not sure about your actual question as regards exhaust and ccsvi...but I felt I just had to respond because of the toxic element to car exhaust, which will affect the central nervous system, which in turn will affect MS. There is much evidence to support the inhalation of toxic fumes and its negative impact on the central nervous system.

I am a painter and last year while working with oil paint I got a little too close to the turpentine I was using, sort of had temporary amnesia (which can happen when doing something you love) over the toxicity of turpentine, or paint thinner, and it's affect on the central nervous system...I had a major relapse this last year and I am almost sure it was due to this toxic overload. Our house is totally free of toxic house products, like cleaners, etc. There are a lot of natural alternative that can be used for cleaning.
However, I am not sure what to suggest for your situation, except that if you feel your symptoms got worse in that environment, then I would suggest getting out of that environment.
Any way to get in another department away from the exhaust? or to use your skills while not around the exhaust? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I don 't know about car stuff....(but I can answer questions about art!!)

Good luck, and I hope this is helpful in some way,
Zinamaria

I was reading a little of Putnam's 1936 papers and he seems to believe that a brain with carbon monoxide poisoning looks like an MS brain. I never heard that before...

Thank you both for your replies, I still work on cars but am much more careful with the exhaust fumes. The days leading up to when I started my double vision which lead to my DX I got a lot of fumes 2 days in a row. If I do get fumes sometimes my vision will go blurry until I can get some fresh air.

My reasoning is if I do have blocked veins, was breathing in carbon monoxide (car exhaust) that this would starve my brain for oxygen worse than a normal person who's veins are fine wouldn't it? I was in this environment for years and my reaction to the fumes just kept getting worse all the time.

Maybe there is nothing to it but I was curious.

Thanks Glenn

Glenn
One of the problems with CO is it is accumilative, it will build up to higher and higher levels in your body if you haven't been out of a CO contaminated environment long enough to clear your system. CO is easier for you blood stream to ingest, thereby robbing you of oxygen. If I remember correctly 25 parts per million CO over an 8 hour period is the max. Car exhaust can contain thousands of ppm CO. I would not want to be in any amount of CO for long, and would remove myself from anything over 10 ppm reasonably quickly.

I don't know if CO poisening would be potentially worse for someone with blocked veins. I think this may be a mute question. I do know CO can and does kill people every year, so be careful. You may not be able to help yourself if you are experiencing CO poisening, as the symptems can include confusion. so you may not understand what's happenning to you.
Venting your exhaust outside is a must!

Take care, Mike

I was in the same trade (mechanical) I truely believe that the poor air quaility was part of my problem

81Charger, CO is bad x bad for anyone. It displaces oxygen throughout all tissues, and is not expressed through exhalation as CO2 is. Hyperbaric therapy is the most effective way to get rid of it, but you might look at food grade hydrogen peroxide to get some more oxygen into your system.

If you feel that you are being overly exposed to exhaust toxins where you work, call the WCB for an inspection.

Another issue is MTBE (methyl-tri-butyl-ethanol - if MS does not deceive my memory) has been in gasoline in Canada since the early 1990's. It is a known carcinogen, and neuro-toxin, but a NAFTA challenge ensured that it must be added to our gasoline (the Chrétien government of the day decided that a $ billion dollar NAFTA pay-out was not as easy to deal with as poisoned, brain-damaged Canadian fauna - including you and me).

If I could put it in a word, YES!, vehicle exhaust fumes can cause you major neurological problems.

_________________
My name is not really Johnson. MSed up since 1993

Thanks everyone for your replies I've changed my own as well as fellow employees habits & we get the exhaust outside where it belongs. Since I've done this & changed my diet I feel very well.

Glenn