Article: Chemical Sensitivities Cause Mental Symptoms

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Article: Chemical Sensitivities Cause Mental Symptoms

 

 

Researchers from the State University of West Georgia and the Georgia Institute

of Technology analyzed a random sampling of 1,582 individuals from the Atlanta,

Georgia, metropolitan area to determine the prevalence of a hypersensitivity to

common chemicals and the resulting physical and mental conditions. (Stanley M.

Caress and Anne C. Steinemann, " A Review of a Two-Phase Population Study of

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, " Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 111,

Number 12, September 2003)

27.5% reported that their hypersensitivity was initiated by an exposure to

pesticides, while an equal percentage attributed it to solvents. Only 1.4% had a

history of prior emotional problems, but 37.7% developed these problems after

the physical symptoms emerged.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, or MCS, is generally acknowledged to be a

condition where individuals have an acute hypersensitivity to low levels of

chemicals found in everyday substances such as household cleaning agents,

pesticides, fresh paint, new carpeting, synthetic building materials, newsprint,

perfume, and other petrochemical-based products. Individuals with

hypersensitivity can encounter great difficulty functioning in normal working

and living environments.

Current research suggests that MCS goes through a two-step process of initiation

(causation) and triggering (subsequent reactions). Hypersensitivity emerges

after initiation, which can result from a massive exposure to a specific toxic

agent or a chronic exposure to one or more toxic substances, even at low levels.

After initiation, triggering occurs, which involves reactions to a wider range

of substances.

The second phase questionnaire had 71 questions and was administered only to

individuals who had previously reported a hypersensitivity to common chemicals

in the first phase. The sample used in this second phase was a derivative of the

random survey, thus ensuring that it was representative of the target

population. The initial phase located 199 individuals who reported a

hypersensitivity to chemicals; 69 of these responded to the follow-up survey.

The main symptoms reported were headaches (88.4%), burning eyes (76.8%),

breathing difficulties (59.4%), stomach distress/nausea (55.1%), dizziness

(46.4%), loss of mental concentration (31.9%), and muscle pain (30.4%).

The products that made the largest percentage of respondents sick were cleaning

agents (88.4%), pesticides (81.2%), perfume (81.2%), car exhaust (72.5%), barber

shops/beauty salons (60.9%), new carpets (53.6%), new furniture (39.1%),

chlorine in household water (39.1%), and fresh ink (26.1%).

13% moved from their homes because of their hypersensitivity. 34.8% reported

that they removed carpeting or furniture from their home, and 47.8% stated that

they had installed air and/or water filtration systems. 76.8% said they had

changed their cleaning and personal hygiene supplies, and 15.9% said they had

switched from gas appliances to electric appliances.

Only 1.4% of the respondents reported experiencing depression, anxiety, or other

emotional problems before the onset of their symptoms. An additional 5.8%

replied that they did not know if they had these emotional symptoms or not

before they developed their hypersensitivity. Only 4.3% had ever taken any

medication for emotional problems before the onset of their chemical

hypersensitivity symptoms. In contrast, 37.7% of the respondents said that they

experienced depression, anxiety, or other emotional problems after they

developed their hypersensitivity, and 27.5% had taken some medication for these

emotional problems after the emergence of their condition.

The findings indicate that the physical problems emerge first and emotional

problems develop afterward.

 

 

 

 

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