The Environmental Illness Society of Canada
La société canadienne pour les sensibilités environnementales
536 Dovercourt Avenue -- Ottawa -- ON -- Canada K2A 0T9
CONTACT:
Phone -- (613) 728-9493
Web -- www.eisc.ca
E-Mail -- eisc@cyberus.ca

For Immediate Release .............. ............. .................... May 8, 1999

TORONTO TEEN WINS 'SILVER' IN SCIENCE OLYMPICS

TEENAGE RESEARCHER AWARDED SECOND PLACE AMONGST 120 FINALISTS AT INTEL INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR

OTTAWA - Dilnaz Panjwani has scored again for Toronto and Canada and, for everyone suffering from CFS-FM-MCS. Says EISC spokesperson, C.E.O. Judith Spence, "The International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is to promising young researchers what the Olympics are to the sports world and, Ms. Dilnaz Panjwani of Toronto will be arriving home today with the equivalent of a Silver Medal in the Medical and Health Research competition". Just as it is with world-class Olympic sports competitors, Dilnaz developed her love for research and competition at 12 years of age. That's when she began her years of training. Dilnaz has won many awards and cash prizes for her research.

Dilnaz, no novice to the rigours of scientific research, began speculating about an enzyme deficiency that could be the cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Last year Dilnaz conducted, at her own expense, two small double blind studies into a red blood cell '2,3-DPG' abnormality and she proved that patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS) do have an abnormal concentration of this metabolite which is involved with releasing oxygen from hemoglobin into the cells of tissues and organs. Without oxygen the body and the brain become foggy and fatigued.

This year Dilnaz conducted a larger research project which included patients with CFS's 'sister' illnesses, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Fibromyalgia (FM). Her research was the talk of the Intel-sponsored ISEF competition. Her research has provided new information about the similarities between CFS, MCS and FM. It has demonstrated several other new facts about these emerging illnesses. The illnesses are organic and, contrary to previous assumptions, patients suffering from the illnesses are not imagining they are sick. So ignored are these illnesses that medical science has had to be pushed forward by a teen who had to pay for her own scientific research out of her own pocket.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US estimated that 15% of the population are affected.

"Dilnaz has proven what patients have known all along" asserts Spence, "they are sick and they need treatment, research, dignity and most importantly they need hope".

IF YOU ARE IN CANADA -- See the rest of the story here

CONTACT:
www.eisc.ca
Judith Spence (613) 728-9493


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