Objective
To characterise the chemical exposures and symptoms affecting individuals with subsequent adjustments of social life or occupational
conditions, and further characterise these severely affected individuals.
Methods
All individuals (n = 1,134) who reported symptoms from airborne chemical exposures in a population-based questionnaire study of 6,000 individuals
were included and dichotomised according to severity. Logistic regression models were used to characterise the group of severely
affected individuals.
Results
Severely affected individuals reported more symptoms and exposures related to symptoms than less severely affected individuals,
and the number of symptoms was more predictive for severity than the number of exposures. Most predictive for the severity
of reported symptoms were CNS-symptoms other than headache (OR = 3.2, P < 0.001) and exposure to freshly printed papers or magazines (OR = 2.0, P = 0.001).
Conclusion
CNS-symptoms except from headache were a main characteristic of individuals severely affected by common chemical exposures
in a general population-based sample.
Keywords Phenotypes - Symptoms - Population-based - Airborne chemicals - Multiple chemical sensitivity - Idiopathic environmental intolerance