Multiple Chemical Sensitivity und subjektive chemikalienempfindlichkeit in Deutschland - Ergebnisse einer bevölkerungsbasierten befragung

Background: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is an individual overreaction to low doses of a variety of widely used chemicals. By interviewing 2032 Germans we aimed to obtain information about symptoms attributed to environmental causes, the frequency of self-reported chemical sensitivity, the diagnosis MCS and beliefs and attitudes concerning environmental chemicals. Method: Representative population survey among 2032 adult Germans. Results: 11% were familiar with the term MCS; 0.5% had received the diagnosis MCS from a physician; in both cases, the share of women and individuals with several physical complaints was beyond average. Subjective chemical sensitivity, the major criterion for MCS, was confirmed by 9%. Physical complaints were common, but a connection between subjective symptoms and environmental triggers was denied by 67% of persons complaining of one or more symptom (and by 35% of the chemically sensitive). Conclusions: Subjective chemical sensitivity is a relatively common, but non-specific phenomenon with similar rates as in other countries. About 300,000 Germans have been diagnosed of MCS. Awareness of the MCS-concept is sparse.