New neighbors have just moved next door and you want to have them over for dinner. They arrive, but dinner is cut short because one of your visitors had terrible reaction to a cologne that your son was wearing, or to a fragranced cleaner you had just used. The party is over and your new neighbor has taken very ill.

If this sounds improbable, it is not. Many people in this country suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). Previously unheard of, environmentally aware physicians throughout this country are now diagnosing their unfortunate patients with this illness.

These people suffer from exposure to various air-released chemicals, such as smoke, cleaners and perfumes. While the list of irritants can vary greatly, fragrances are often near the top of the list of offending chemicals. Just ask Connie Pitts, 47, of Aurora, Colorado.

Recently, Connie was diagnosed as suffering from MCS by her local gynecologist. Her symptoms are instant left-sided migraines, cognitive problems, fatigue, burning eyes and sometimes alarming heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Perfumes and other artificially scented products make Connie ill.

Her symptoms can take 24 to 48 hours to clear. According to Connie, her "life has beentremendously altered, as I am primarily housebound now. MCS makes life frustrating and lonely."

Other than taking Tylenol for the pain and resting a lot, there is little relief for available for her. "Sometimes I don a mask to shop, but getting stared at is also difficult to take, emotionally."

Fragrances are a real problem for Connie, who is not bothered by car exhaust fumes, pet dander, or even second-hand smoke. She said that since fragrances appear to be unavoidable, she is often forced to remain housebound. Can you imagine having to live that way?

The internet has helped to bring MCS sufferers together. " When my symptoms worsened, I went to my computer looking for answers and discovered that millions of people across the country suffer much the same as I do. We communicate via email. The internet has given me the chance to correspond with others who understand how I feel, and we offer each other support and hope."

MCS is a tremendous problem. Because so many sufferers are out of necessity homebound, no one knew these people and this problem existed. The internet is helping to solve these issues, but rules and laws are needed and attitudes must change.

One Canadian municipality has already taken measures to prevent people from wearing fragrances in public. Some American hospitals are doing the same and some federal agencies are looking at this issue as well. But so much more is needed.

MCS is a real problem- it is not just in the heads of those who suffer from it. Public awareness, and legislation similar to what has occurred in Canada, are very necessary so that these people can be helped.

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.