Reported chemical sensitivities in a health survey of United Kingdon military personnel. Issue 3 (1st March 2002)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reid, S; Hotopf, M; Hull, L; Ismail, K; Unwin, C; Wessely, S
• Is Part Of: Occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 59:Issue 3(2002)
• Page Start: 196
• Page End: 198
• Publication Date: 2002-03-01
• Subjects: multiple chemical sensitivity -- occupational exposure; MCS -- multiple chemical sensitivity; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 616.980305
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.59.3.196
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0711

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To report the prevalence of self reported chemical sensitivities in three cohorts of United Kingdom service personnel. Method: Cross sectional postal survey of three cohorts of United Kingdom military personnel comprising Gulf veterans (n=3531), those who had served in Bosnia (n=2050), and those serving during the Gulf war but not deployed there (Era cohort, n=2614). Results: Sensitivity to at least one everyday chemical was reported by a considerable proportion of all three cohorts, and particularly by veterans of the Gulf war (Era: 14%; Bosnia: 13%; Gulf: 28%). Conclusion: Reported chemical sensitivities were common in all three military cohorts. Our understanding of chemical sensitivities remains limited and objective evidence for a causal link between low level exposures to chemicals and reported symptoms is lacking. Given their frequency in the population, further work in this area is necessary.