Aaltrude
01-12-12, 02:50 PM
BY STANLEY M. CARESS, PH.D. AND ANNE C. STEINEMANN, PH.D.
Created on April 24th, 2007. Last Modified on January 11th, 2010
This study determined the prevalence of chemical hypersensitivity and the medical diagnosis of multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) in the American population. The etiology and symptomatology of MCS were also investigated. A telephone survey of 1,054 randomly selected individuals within the continental United States was used, which produced a 95% confidence level and a +/– 3% confidence interval.
The study found that 11.2% of Americans reported an unusual hypersensitivity to common chemical products such as perfume, fresh paint, pesticides, and other petrochemical based substances, and 2.5% reported being medically diagnosed with MCS. Additionally, 31.1% of the sample reported adverse reactions to fragranced products, and 17.6% experienced breathing difficulties and other health problems when exposed to air fresheners. While chemical hypersensitivity was more common in females, it affected individuals in all demographic groups studied.
Despite concerns that hypersensitivity to low levels of common chemicals is a ubiquitous public health problem, until now its prevalence in the American population had not been established. Chemical hypersensitivity, often called multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), is also referred to as toxicant-induced loss of tolerance or environmental illness. It is typically acknowledged to be a condition characterized by acute reactions that occur after exposure to even low levels of common chemical products such as fragrances, household cleaners, fresh paints, newsprint, pesticides, and other products that contain petrochemicals. MCS can produce a wide range of symptoms, and individuals with the hypersensitivity can encounter great difficulty functioning in normal working and living environments.
Read more: http://www.healthyhouseinstitute.com/a_710-How_Common_is_MCS_Multiple_Chemical_Sensitivity
Created on April 24th, 2007. Last Modified on January 11th, 2010
This study determined the prevalence of chemical hypersensitivity and the medical diagnosis of multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) in the American population. The etiology and symptomatology of MCS were also investigated. A telephone survey of 1,054 randomly selected individuals within the continental United States was used, which produced a 95% confidence level and a +/– 3% confidence interval.
The study found that 11.2% of Americans reported an unusual hypersensitivity to common chemical products such as perfume, fresh paint, pesticides, and other petrochemical based substances, and 2.5% reported being medically diagnosed with MCS. Additionally, 31.1% of the sample reported adverse reactions to fragranced products, and 17.6% experienced breathing difficulties and other health problems when exposed to air fresheners. While chemical hypersensitivity was more common in females, it affected individuals in all demographic groups studied.
Despite concerns that hypersensitivity to low levels of common chemicals is a ubiquitous public health problem, until now its prevalence in the American population had not been established. Chemical hypersensitivity, often called multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), is also referred to as toxicant-induced loss of tolerance or environmental illness. It is typically acknowledged to be a condition characterized by acute reactions that occur after exposure to even low levels of common chemical products such as fragrances, household cleaners, fresh paints, newsprint, pesticides, and other products that contain petrochemicals. MCS can produce a wide range of symptoms, and individuals with the hypersensitivity can encounter great difficulty functioning in normal working and living environments.
Read more: http://www.healthyhouseinstitute.com/a_710-How_Common_is_MCS_Multiple_Chemical_Sensitivity