Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)

Idiopathic environmental intolerances (IEI)

  • Review Articles: Feature “MCS”
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a systemic disorder causing central nervous, irritative and gastrointestinal symptoms, and can be included in the category of “idiopathic environmental intolerance” (IEI). This term describes phenomena with multiple, recurrent symptoms associated with various environmental factors that are tolerated by most people without problems. Those advocating these concepts attribute the symptoms to exogenous substances. Those opposing them explain the phenomena by classical conditioning or other psychopathological processes. To the extent that controlled studies are available, they have not furnished any hard evidence for toxic or immunological causes. In addition to psychopathological origins, neurobiological processes are also implicated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

References

  1. American College of Physicians (1989): Clinical ecology. Ann Intern Med111: 168–178

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bardana E, Montanaro A (1986): Effects of odor in asthma. Am J Med80: 18–22

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bell I, Schwartz G, Peterson J, Amend D (1993): Self-reported Illness from Chemical Odors in Young Adults without Clinical Syndromes or Occupational Exposures. Arch Environ Health48: 6–13

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bell I, Schwartz G, Peterson J, Amend D, Stini W (1993): Possible time-dependent sensitization to xenobiotics: self-reported illness from chemical odors, foods, and opiate drugs in an older adult population. Arch Environ Health48: 315–327

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Black D (1993): Environmental Illness and Misdiagnosis-A Growing Problem. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol18: 23–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Black D, Rather A, Goldstein R (1990): Environmental illness: a controlled study of 26 subjects with “20th century disease”. JAMA264: 3166–3170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Brodsky C (1983): Allergic to everything: A medical subculture. Psychosomatics24: 731–742

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Buchwald D, Garrity D (1994): Comparison of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivities. Arch Intern Med154: 2049–2053

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Council on Scientific Affairs AM (1992): Clinical ecology. Jama268: 3465–3467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cullen M. 1987. In:Cullen M.(eds) Workers with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. The Worker with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities: An Overview. Hanley & Belfus, Inc. Philadelphia, pp 655–661

    Google Scholar 

  11. Cullen M, Pace P, Redlich C (1992): The experience of the Yale occupational and environmental medicine clinics with multiple chemical sensitivities, 1986–1991. Toxicol Ind Health8: 15–19

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Davidoff L (1992): Illness from Chemical “Odors”: Is the Health Significance Understood (Editorial). Arch Environ Health47: 88–91

    Google Scholar 

  13. Dismukes W, Wade J, Dockery B, Hain J (1990): A randomized, double-blind trial of nystatin therapy for the candidiasis hypersensitivity syndrome. N Engl J Med323: 1717–1723

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Doty RL (1994): Olfaction and multiple chemical sensitivity. Toxicol Ind Health10: 359–368

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gots R (1993): Medical Hypothesis and Medical Practice: Autointoxication and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol18: 2–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gots R, Hamosh T, Flamm W, Carr C (1993): Multiple Chemical Sensitivities: A Symposium on the State of the Science. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol18: 61–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hafner H (1994): Iatrogene Amalgam-Phobie. Deutsches Ärzteblatt47: A507-A512

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hotopf M (1994): Seasonal Affective Disorder, Environmental Hypersensitivity and Somatisation. Br J Psychiatry164: 246–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Jewett D, Fein G, Greenberg M (1990): A doube-blind study of symptom provocation to determine food sensitivity. N Engl J Med323: 429–433

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kipen HM, Hallman W, Kellymcneil K, Fiedler N (1995): Measuring chemical sensitivity prevalence: A questionnaire for population studies. Am J Public Health85: 574–577

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lax MB, Henneberger PK (1995): Patients with multiple chemical sensitivities in an occupational health clinic: Presentation and follow-up. Arch Environ Health50: 425–431

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Levin A, Byers V (1987): In:Cullen M. (eds) Workers with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Environmental Illness: A Disorder of Immune Regulation. Hanley & Belfus, Inc. Philadelphia, pp 669–682

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lukassowitz I (1996): Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) — Idiopathic Environmental Intolerances (LEI): Ursachen, Diagnostik und Therapie der vielfachen Chemikalienunverträglichkeit. Umweltmed Forsch Prax1: 54–57

    Google Scholar 

  24. Meggs WJ (1995): Neurogenic switching: A hypothesis for a mechanism for shifting the site of inflammation in allergy and chemical sensitivity. Environ Health Perspect103: 54–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Meggs W (1993): Neurogenic inflammation and sensitivity to environmental chemicals. Environ Health Perspect101: 234–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Meggs W, Cleveland JRC (1993): Rhinolaryngoscopic Examination of Patients with the Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome. Arch Environ Health48: 14–18

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Miller CS (1994): White papers: Chemical sensitivity: History and phenomenology. Toxicol Ind Health10: 253–276

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Pawlikowska T, Chalder T, Hirsch SR, Wallace P, Wright D, Wessely SC (1994): Population based study of fatigue and psychological distress. BMJ308: 763–766

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Pick A (1892): Zur Pathologie der Autointoxication. Wien Klin Wochenschr46: 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  30. Pick A (1896): Über die Beziehungen der Autointoxication zur Neurasthenic Wiener klinische Rundschau 1–15

  31. Randolph T (1954): Allergic-type reactions to industrial solvents and liqud fuels; mosquito abatement fogs and mists; motor exhausts; indoot utility gas and oil fumes; chemical additives of foods and drugs; and synthetic drugs and cosmetics. J Lab Clin Med44: 910

    Google Scholar 

  32. Randolph T (1978): Human Ecology and Susceptibility to the Chemical Environment. Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Illinois

    Google Scholar 

  33. Ross G (1992): Treatment options in multiple chemical sensitivity. Toxicol Ind Health8: 87–94

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Simon G, Daniell W, Stockbridge H, Claypolle K, Rosenstock L (1993): Immunologic, Psychological, and Neuropsychological Factors in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Ann Intern Med19: 97–103

    Google Scholar 

  35. Simon G, Katon W, Sparks P (1990): Allergic to life: Psychological factors in environmental illness. Am J Psychiatry147: 901–906

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Sorg BA, Hooks MS, Kalivas PW (1994): Neuroanatomy and neurochemical mechanisms of timedependent sensitization. Toxicol Ind Health10: 369–386

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Sparks P, Daniell W, Black D, Kipen H, Altman L, Simon G, Terr A (1994): Multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome: a clinical perspective. J Occup Med36: 718–737

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Spurgeon A, Gompertz D, Harrington JM (1996): Modifiers of non-specific symptoms in occupational and environmental syndromes. Occup Environ Medicine53: 361–366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Staudenmayer H, Selner J, Buhr M (1993): Double-Blind Provocation Chamber Challenges in 20 Patients Presenting with “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity”. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 18: 44–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Stewart D, Ruskin J (1985): Psychiatric assessment pf patients with “20th-century disease” (“total allergy syndrome”). Can Med Assoc J 133: 1001–1006

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Terr A (1986): Environmental Illness. A clinical review of 50 cases. Arch Intern Med. 146: 145–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Ursin H, Endresin I, Ursin G (1988): Psychological factors and self-reports of muscle strain. Europ J Appl Physiol 57: 282–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Wolf C (1994): Multiple chemical sensitivities — Is there a scientific basis? Int Arch Occup Environ Health 66: 213–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Wolf C (1995) Umweltallergie — Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Allergologie 18: 420–424

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Dept. of Occupational Medicine, Clinic for Internal Medicine IV, University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    Christian Wolf

Authors
  1. Christian Wolf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wolf, C. Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 3, 139–143 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02985520

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02985520

Keywords

Search

Navigation