title: Odor and noise intolerance in persons with self-reported electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
abstract: Lack of confirmation of symptoms attributed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and triggered by EMF exposure has highlighted the role of individual factors. Prior observations indicate intolerance to other types of environmental exposures among persons with electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). This study assessed differences in odor and noise intolerance between persons with EHS and healthy controls by use of subscales and global measures of the Chemical Sensitivity Scale (CSS) and the Noise Sensitivity Scale (NSS). The EHS group scored significantly higher than the controls on all CSS and NSS scales. Correlation coefficients between CSS and NSS scores ranged from 0.60 to 0.65 across measures. The findings suggest an association between EHS and odor and noise intolerance, encouraging further investigation of individual factors for understanding EMF-related symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. steven.nordin@psy.umu.se.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nordin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. greg.neely@psy.umu.se.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neely
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. david.olsson@envmed.umu.se.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. monica.sandstrom@envmed.umu.se.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology