Multiple chemical sensitivity prevalence

Hypothetical or potenhal causalities include postulated causalities which have not yet been proven to be related to IAQ. An example is multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Often effects or exposures cannot be quantified, not even by indicators. Toxicological evaluations can only deal with effects and exposures which are quantifiable. Therefore, these undocumented causalities must be defined as hypothetical or potential causalities. Even if some of these effects may be considered adverse or have high prevalence, the present level of knowledge prohibits an official rational preventive action and no official guidelines or recommendations can be established. It should be noted that all new types of IAQ problems start as hypothetical. This group includes many health effects which are potentially important to human health and thus defines the research forefront in IAQ sciences. Table 14.2 shows some examples. Several potential or hypothetical causalities are discussed in the scientific literature. Their relevance to health indoors is unknown and no official recommendations or guidance can be established. Mitigation of indoor climate problems becomes a matter of ad hoc solutions and a major... 

Prevalence of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities A Population-Based Study in the Southeastern United States... 

Black D, Doebbeling B, Voelker M et al. (2000). Multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome symptom prevalence and risk factors in a military population. Arch Inter Med, 160, 1169-1176. 

Kreutzer R, Neutra RR, Lashuay N Prevalence of people reporting sensitivities to chemicals in a population-based survey. Am J Epidemiol 150 1-12,1999 Kurt TL Multiple chemical sensitivities—a syndrome of pseudotoxicity manifest as exposure perceived symptoms. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 33 101-105, 1995 Kutsogiannis DJ, Davidoff AL A multiple center study of multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome. Arch Environ Health 56 196-207, 2001 Lax MB, Henneberger PK Patients with multiple chemical sensitivities in an occupational health clinic presentation and follow-up. Arch Environ Health 50 425-431, 1995... 

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