Our team at the Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) Research Program at UT Health San Antonio wanted to share a poster submitted by Aditi Mahesh, a student at the Long School of Medicine (LSOM) at UT Health San Antonio:
View Mahesh’s research poster (PDF).
Mahesh’s poster, which was selected for presentation and judging at the 2025 LSOM Research Symposium, explored TILT using the QEESI survey.
Her findings revealed “strikingly high levels of chemical intolerance globally.”
“Notably, [chemical intolerance] affected over half of the adult population in India—consistent with observations that industrialized areas, with greater levels of indoor/outdoor air pollutants and a variety of personal exposures (fragrances, antibiotics, coal-burning stoves, etc.) appear to experience greater rates,” according to the poster.
Mahesh’s poster also identified a strong connection between parental chemical intolerance and diagnoses of autism/ ADHD in their children.
These findings have several practical implications:
- Mast cell alteration, sensitization, and triggering may be reduced if toxic exposures in the home are identified and minimized.
- The QEESI can serve as an effective screening tool for prospective parents for identifying their personal susceptibly of having a child with autism/ADHD.
- Environmental counseling, the parallel of genetic counseling, could protect parents and their children.
- Medical and public health curricula should incorporation this new information on the triggers and biomechanism of TILT/ CI to better serve patients and society.
Why is this research on TILT and chemical intolerance important?
This research is tool is important for people who suffer from chemical intolerance (CI), said Dr. Claudia Miller, allergist/immunologist, professor emeritus, and leader of the TILT Program at UT Health San Antonio.
To spur awareness of the chemical-intolerance-and-autism connection, among patients, policymakers, and health practitioners, Dr. Miller developed a TILT Tutorial on Autism and ADHD.
The tutorial explores the growth of autism and ADHD in the United States, how these conditions are linked to chemical intolerance and TILT, how to understand TILT and its origins, and how we can reduce TILT – which could, in turn, help reduce the frequency of conditions like autism and ADHD.
“This tutorial contains information not available in any text. It makes clear the massive health implications of the interwoven rise of chemical intolerance and autism and ADHD, and spells out what we should do about it,” said Dr. Miller.
How can you find out if you have chemical intolerance?
Answer these three questions from the TILT Program on Chemical Intolerance:
- Do you feel sick when you are exposed to tobacco smoke, certain fragrances, nail polish/remover, engine exhaust, gasoline, air fresheners, pesticides, paint/thinner, fresh tar/asphalt, cleaning supplies, new carpet or furnishings? By sick, we mean: headache, difficulty thinking, difficulty breathing, weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, etc.
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse or allergic reactions to any drugs or medications (such as antibiotics, anesthetics, pain relievers, X-ray contrast dye, vaccines or birth control pills), or to an implant, prosthesis, contraceptive chemical or device, or other medical/surgical/dental material or procedure?
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse reactions to any foods such as dairy products, wheat, corn, eggs, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, or food additives (e.g., MSG, food dye)?
If you answer YES to any question, take the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) and share the results with your doctor!