Cacosmia in healthy workers.
Self-reported cacosmia (i.e. feeling ill from the odour of xenobiotic substances) was studied in 151 young, healthy workers, unexposed to unpleasant odours and working in food stores without air-conditioning. Almost half (46%) of the sample reported feeling ill from the smell of chemical materials. Chemical odour intolerance induced headache, itching eyes, irritated or congested nose, dry and/or sore throat, cough, dizziness, and itching or rash. Cacosmic subjects showed a slight prevalence of the female sex, and had significantly higher symptom scores, anxiety, and depression than non-cacosmic subjects. Cacosmia may be related to multiple chemical sensitivity, sick-building syndrome and psychopathology. Individual variability in odour tolerance may substantially bias epidemiological studies on indoor air quality and health.
Magnavita
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Institute of Occupational Medicine, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy. nmagnavita@rm.unicatt.if
D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D018777:Multiple Chemical Sensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D018877:Sick Building Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D014691:Ventilation; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000009:adverse effects
D015262:Xenobiotics