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Environmental Intolerance, Symptoms and Disability Among Fertile-Aged Women

Author

Listed:
  • Aki Vuokko

    (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 40, 00032 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Kirsi Karvala

    (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 40, 00032 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Jussi Lampi

    (Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, 70701 Kuopio, Finland
    Social and Health Services, 70701 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Leea Keski-Nisula

    (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, 70029 KYS Kuopio, Finland
    Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Markku Pasanen

    (School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Raimo Voutilainen

    (Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
    Department of Pediatrics, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, 70029 KYS Kuopio, Finland)

  • Juha Pekkanen

    (Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, 70701 Kuopio, Finland
    Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20, 00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Markku Sainio

    (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 40, 00032 Helsinki, Finland)

Abstract

The purpose was to study the prevalence of environmental intolerance (EI) and its different manifestations, including behavioral changes and disability. Fertile-aged women ( n = 680) of the Kuopio Birth Cohort Study were asked about annoyance to 12 environmental factors, symptoms and behavioral changes. We asked how much the intolerance had disrupted their work, household responsibilities or social life. We chose intolerance attributed to chemicals, indoor molds, and electromagnetic fields to represent typical intolerance entities. Of the respondents, 46% reported annoyance to chemicals, molds, or electromagnetic fields. Thirty-three percent reported symptoms relating to at least one of these three EIs, 18% reported symptoms that included central nervous system symptoms, and 15% reported behavioral changes. Indicating disability, 8.4% reported their experience relating to any of the three EIs as at least “somewhat difficult”, 2.2% “very difficult” or “extremely difficult”, and 0.9% “extremely difficult”. Of the latter 2.2%, all attributed their intolerance to indoor molds, and two thirds also to chemicals. As the number of difficulties increased, the number of organ systems, behavioral changes and overlaps of the three EIs also grew. EI is a heterogeneous phenomenon and its prevalence depends on its definition. The manifestations of EI form a continuum, ranging from annoyance to severe disability.

Suggested Citation

  • Aki Vuokko & Kirsi Karvala & Jussi Lampi & Leea Keski-Nisula & Markku Pasanen & Raimo Voutilainen & Juha Pekkanen & Markku Sainio, 2018. "Environmental Intolerance, Symptoms and Disability Among Fertile-Aged Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:2:p:293-:d:130798
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chung-Yen Lu & Meng-Chuan Tsai & Chih-Hsin Muo & Yu-Hsien Kuo & Fung-Chang Sung & Chin-Ching Wu, 2017. "Personal, Psychosocial and Environmental Factors Related to Sick Building Syndrome in Official Employees of Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sandra Fares-Medina & Isabel Díaz-Caro & Rebeca García-Montes & Inmaculada Corral-Liria & Soledad García-Gómez-Heras, 2022. "Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome: First Symptoms and Evolution of the Clinical Picture: Case-Control Study/Epidemiological Case-Control Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Pia Nynäs & Sarkku Vilpas & Elina Kankare & Jussi Karjalainen & Lauri Lehtimäki & Jura Numminen & Antti Tikkakoski & Leenamaija Kleemola & Heini Huhtala & Jukka Uitti, 2021. "Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in Patients Exposed to Moisture Damage at Work and in General Working-Age Population—The SAMDAW Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-10, November.

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