Do you suffer from chemical intolerance?
Check out the new TILT Tutorial, “Exposed Communities and Individuals, Their Doctors, and Public Health Professionals,” by Dr. Claudia Miller, leader of the TILT Research Program at UT Health San Antonio.
The new TILT Tutorial explores the onset of TILT (Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance), how it triggers chemical intolerance, how to diagnose it, and how people, providers, and leaders can reduce the frequency of TILT.
TILT starts when communities and individuals are exposed to toxicants, like pesticides, mold, or indoor air pollution. People then develop difficult-to-diagnose symptoms and intolerances to chemicals, foods, and drugs after exposures to these toxicants. This is important because about 20% of the US population has chemical intolerance.
Let’s walk through TILT and the new tutorial.
What is TILT?
The TILT Tutorial explains the two stages of TILT.
Stage 1 is called “Initiation.” It develops after a single major exposure or repeated, often lower level, exposures to chemicals such as pesticides, solvents, indoor air VOCs (volatile organic compounds) during remodeling or new construction, or mVOCs or particles from molds.
These exposures result in loss of tolerance for previously tolerated substances including chemicals, foods, and drugs. “Initiators” may be ingested, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through the skin. Substances that are foreign to our bodies are known as “xenobiotics.” Foods are xenobiotics.
Stage 2 is called “Triggering.” In this stage, exposures to tiny quantities of previously tolerated substances that never bothered the person before and do not bother most people can trigger multi-system symptoms.
Common triggers include diesel exhaust, tobacco smoke, cleaning products, fragrances, foods/food additives, drugs, or food/drug combinations such as wine, beer, coffee, tea, or chocolate.
Who Discovered TILT?
The TILT Tutorial shows how Miller was the first to identify TILT in 1996.
“Observing a consistent pattern of multisystem symptoms and intolerances in diverse exposure groups, Miller proposed that we might be witnessing the emergence of a new mechanism for disease,” according to a scientific article.
Miller has been helping research and address TILT ever since.
In 1999, Miller developed a questionnaire to assess a person’s chemical, food, and drug intolerances. This tool has since been validated by other researchers and is now used internationally.
In 2021, Miller and her colleagues identified mast cell activation syndrome and mediator release (MCAS) as an underlying mechanism for chemical intolerance, finding a long-sought link between environmental exposures and conditions like Gulf War syndrome, breast implant illness, chemical intolerance, and more.
Miller and her team published a survey in 2023 that identified two broad classes of TILT initiators, fossil fuel-related toxicants (i.e., coal, oil or natural gas, their combustion products) and synthetic chemical derivatives (i.e., pesticides, implants, drugs, VOCs).
“Taken together, our data support the idea that the person who reports multiple symptoms, multiple intolerances and recurrent infections as well as a history of exposure events is sharing a cohesive narrative, one that points to physiological (as opposed to psychosomatic) explanations of their oft-confusing complaints,” Miller said.
How Can You Use the New TILT Tutorial?
The TILT Tutorial posits that TILT is on the rise due to many reasons, including the rise of fossil fuels, synthetic chemical derivatives, toxic mold and algae, and decreased fresh air and increased indoor air pollutants.
The good news is that TILT can be prevented and its symptoms alleviated.
For individuals, check your own TILT-related chemical intolerance with the TILT Self Assessment.
Doctors and healthcare workers who see patients with medically unexplained symptoms — currently one in four primary care patients — to consider administering the TILT Self Assessment.
Reducing personal exposures to TILT initiators and triggers can significantly reduce symptoms of chemical intolerance. Miller said.
“The information in this tutorial is new and not yet taught in medical schools. If you are a patient, you can help teach your doctors by providing them with this tutorial [and the results of a TILT Self Assessment],” Miller said. “Environmental consultants who understand TILT can help you identify problem exposures wherever you spend time, for example, your home, workplace, school, church, and vehicles.”
The TILT Tutorial also spells out action opportunities for healthcare providers, hospitals, architects, engineers, indoor air quality experts, regulatory agencies and chemical manufacturers, employers, administrators, property owners, and schools.
“Our health depends upon these professionals [and groups],” Miller said.
Go here to get the full TILT Tutorial, “Exposed Communities and Individuals, Their Doctors, and Public Health Professionals.” by Dr. Claudia Miller, leader of the TILT Research Program at UT Health San Antonio.