Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS) – suggestions for an extension of the US MCS-case definition

Lacour, Michael; Zunder, Thomas; Schmidtke, Klaus; Vaith, P; Scheidt, Carl Eduard

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2005.01.017

Cited by 137 publications

(132 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…effects of air aldehydes and VOCs (1-4) because of the increase of air tightness of recent buildings and houses in well-developed countries. MCS is caused by multiple chemical substances that are found not only in the outdoor environment, such as pesticides, but also in indoor air and which are similar to substances inducing SBS (5)(6)(7)(8). In addition, lowdose exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma and represents a situation that includes adverse effects on health associated with indoor air circumstances since most asbestos is used in architectural materials for heat/fire resistance (38)(39)(40).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two Weeks of Permanence in Negatively-Charged Air Conditions Causes Alteration of Natural Killer Cell Function

Takahashi

Otsuki

Mase

et al. 2009

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol

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The effects of negatively-charged air conditions were analyzed as one of the approaches to improve health and quality of life. We previously reported that the use of a charcoal coating and application of an electric voltage yielded predominantly negatively-charged particles in an experimental room, and that 2.5 hours of living in these conditions caused a slight activation of the immune system (slight elevation of serum interleukin (IL)-2), regulated blood flow, and stabilized the autonomic nervous system when compared with control conditions (no dominance of negatively-charged particles). In this study, we expanded the previous study and placed 15 subjects in negatively-charged air conditions for two weeks during the night and analyzed various biological parameters. Although individual biological reactions differed from subject to subject, natural killer (NK) cell activity increased significantly following living in negatively-charged air conditions. Taken together, the results of the previous investigation and those ofthis study show that repeated elevation ofIL-2 (although it immediately returned to the baseline level) causes chronic and recurrent stimulation to NK cells and results in the steady activation of NK cells. Negatively-charged air particles may be a good tool to improve health and quality of life.The health effects of indoor-air have recently received attention, and some of the adverse effects of indoor-air include sick-building syndrome (SBS) (1-4) and multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (MCS) (5-8). These diseases are mainly caused by indoor-air aldehydes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that affect the human psycho-neuro-endocrineimmune (PNEI) network (9-13). The concept of the PNEI network (PNEI-NW) has evolved in the past few decades and is thought to include a close relationship between immunoregulation and brain functions. Particular emphasis is given to circuits involving immune cell products, the hypothalamuspituitary-adrenal axis, and the sympathetic nervous system (9-13). There is increasing evidence that brain cytokines play an important role in brain

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two Weeks of Permanence in Negatively-Charged Air Conditions Causes Alteration of Natural Killer Cell Function

Takahashi

Otsuki

Mase

et al. 2009

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol

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“…Each item includes a 0-10 rating scale, summed to obtain a total score of 0-100. Miller and Prihoda [17] defined the criteria for three levels of symptom score as low (0-11), medium (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23), and high (24-100).…”

Section: Life Impact Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

“…At present, there are at least seven case definitions for MCS, including those of Randolf [11], Cullen [12], Nethercott [13], and the 1999 Consensus in the USA [14], but no case definition has been proven worldwide. Among them, the 1999 Consensus is considered the most comprehensive and well-known case definition, and is now being used in the USA, Germany, and a number of other countries [15]. In Japan, however, the only diagnostic standard currently in use for MCS is the diagnostic guideline proposed in 1998 by the Allergy Research Study Project of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of subjective symptoms of Japanese patients with multiple chemical sensitivity using QEESI©

Hojo

Sakabe

Ishikawa

et al. 2009

Environ Health Prev Med

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Objectives The Quick Environment Exposure Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI Ó ) has been used as a questionnaire to evaluate subjective symptoms of patients with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), also known as idiopathic environmental intolerance, in Japan. However, no cutoff value for Japanese subjects has yet been established. We designed this study to establish a cutoff value for Japanese subjects using QEESI Ó for screening of MCS patients. Methods A questionnaire using the QEESI Ó was administered to 103 MCS patients and 309 healthy control subjects matched for age and sex. QEESI Ó scores of the two groups were compared using logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic analysis, and the Mann-Whitney test.

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“…Self-reported sensitivities are often attributed to diverse environmental stressors such as noise, odors, chemical substances and EMF [21][22][23]. Similar to MHW, such subjective environmental sensitivities are associated with more NSPS, poorer perceived health and increased illness behavior particularly related to alternative therapies compared to the broader population [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship of modern health worries to non-specific physical symptoms and perceived environmental sensitivity: A study combining self-reported and general practice data

Baliatsas

Kamp

Hooiveld

et al. 2015

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

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a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f oObjective: The present study investigates the association of modern health worries (MHW) with self-reported as well as general practitioner (GP)-registered non-specific physical symptoms (NSPS), medication use, alternative therapy consultations, sleep quality and quality of life. The interrelation between MHW, general environmental sensitivity and the aforementioned outcomes is also explored. Methods: Self-reported questionnaires and data from electronic medical records from 21 general practices in The Netherlands were combined in a sample of 5933 adult participants. Results: The majority of the participants reported increased worries about potential health effects from environmental exposures. The highest worry scores were reported by people who perceived themselves as more vulnerable to environmental stressors. After adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics and diagnosed psychiatric morbidity, higher MHW were significantly associated with increased self-reported prevalence and duration of NSPS, symptom-related healthcare utilization, GP-registered NSPS, alternative therapy consultations and lower sleep quality and quality of life. These associations were statistically mediated by perceived environmental sensitivity. No association was observed between worries and GP-registered medication prescriptions. Conclusion: Modern health worries are very common in the general population. They are associated with self-reported as well as clinically defined NSPS and as such might play a key role in the process of developing and maintaining environmental sensitivities and related symptoms. A large cross-cultural longitudinal study would help to determine important aspects such as temporal precedence and stability of MHW and the relevant psychosocial context within which symptomatic conditions occur.

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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS) – suggestions for an extension of the US MCS-case definition

Cited by 137 publications

References 40 publications

Two Weeks of Permanence in Negatively-Charged Air Conditions Causes Alteration of Natural Killer Cell Function

Two Weeks of Permanence in Negatively-Charged Air Conditions Causes Alteration of Natural Killer Cell Function

Evaluation of subjective symptoms of Japanese patients with multiple chemical sensitivity using QEESI©

The relationship of modern health worries to non-specific physical symptoms and perceived environmental sensitivity: A study combining self-reported and general practice data

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