Steinemann Anne
Department of Infrastructure Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
College of Science, Technology and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
Prev Med Rep. 2018 Mar 10;10:191-194. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.03.007. eCollection 2018 Jun.
Multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) is a medical condition associated with exposure to common chemical pollutants. The aims of this study are to assess the prevalence of MCS, its overlaps with asthma and fragrance sensitivity, and its health and societal effects in Australia. Data were collected in June 2016 using an on-line survey with a representative national sample (N = 1098) of adults (ages 18-65) in Australia. Results found that, across the country, 6.5% report medically diagnosed MCS, 18.9% report chemical sensitivity (being unusually sensitive to everyday chemicals and chemically formulated products), and 19.9% either or both. Among people with MCS, 74.6% also have diagnosed asthma or an asthma-like condition, and 91.5% have fragrance sensitivity, reporting health problems (such as migraine headaches) when exposed to fragranced consumer products (such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies). In addition, among people with MCS, 77.5% are prevented from access to places because of fragranced products, 52.1% lost workdays or a job in the past year due to fragranced product exposure in the workplace, and 55.4% report health effects considered potentially disabling. Results indicate that MCS is a widespread disease, affecting an estimated 1 million adult Australians, with chemical sensitivity affecting another 2 million. Reducing chemical exposure to problematic sources, such as fragranced consumer products, is critical to reduce adverse effects.
多重化学物质敏感症（MCS）是一种与接触常见化学污染物相关的医学病症。本研究的目的是评估澳大利亚MCS的患病率、其与哮喘和香料敏感症的重叠情况，以及其对健康和社会的影响。2016年6月，通过在线调查收集了数据，该调查采用了具有全国代表性的澳大利亚成年人（18 - 65岁）样本（N = 1098）。结果发现，在全国范围内，6.5%的人报告有医学诊断的MCS，18.9%的人报告有化学敏感（对日常化学品和化学配方产品异常敏感），19.9%的人报告有其中一种情况或两种情况都有。在患有MCS的人群中，74.6%还被诊断患有哮喘或类似哮喘的病症，91.5%有香料敏感，在接触有香味的消费品（如空气清新剂和清洁用品）时会出现健康问题（如偏头痛）。此外，在患有MCS的人群中，77.5%的人因有香味的产品而被阻止进入某些场所，52.1%的人在过去一年因工作场所接触有香味的产品而损失工作日或失去工作，55.4%的人报告有被认为可能致残的健康影响。结果表明，MCS是一种广泛存在的疾病，估计影响100万澳大利亚成年人口，化学敏感症又影响另外200万人。减少接触有问题的源头化学物质，如有香味的消费品对于减少不良影响至关重要。
