Nordin S, Neely G, Olsson D, Sandström M. Odor and Noise Intolerance in Persons with Self-Reported Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014 Aug 27;11(9):8794-8805. (This article belongs to the Special Issue Electromagnetic Fields and Health)

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.

Excerpts

The estimated prevalence of EMF-related symptoms ranges from 1.5 to 5%, depending on definition and geographical region [3‒7]. Facial skin symptoms are common; as are neurasthenic and cognitive symptoms, but the reports vary considerably between individuals [3,8,9].

Afflicted persons commonly attribute their symptoms to mobile phones (MP), computer monitors, or electrical equipment in general. These intolerances are here referred to as perceived electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). No direct association between EMF exposure and symptoms has been demonstrated. Instead there is support for a nocebo effect in triggering acute symptoms in IEI-EMF [10] ...

For each of the 117 person with EMF-attributed symptoms, two controls, matched with respect to age and sex, were recruited through the Swedish population register and sent the same questionnaire. Of these 234 individuals, 106 agreed to participate. Forty-eight of these fulfilled the inclusion criterion of reporting none of the specific symptoms (Table 1) when using MP, computer monitors or other electronic equipment ...

Limited representativeness in the present study calls for caution. Thus, only 46% of the invited participants from the population register agreed to participate, and the sample of EHS cases was not population-based. Rather than representing EHS cases in general, the EHS sample is likely to have had fairly severe degree of hypersensitivity attributed to EMF since the symptom prevalence, varying depending on type of symptom, in general was quite high. The prevalence ranged between 25 and 68% for MP/wireless phones, between 7 and 44% for computer monitors, and between 9 and 50% for other electric equipment (Table 1) ...

The results suggest that symptoms attributed to EMF are associated with odor/pungency and noise intolerance. Furthermore, prior findings of an association between odor and noise intolerance was verified. Taken together, the findings encourage further investigation of individual factors for understanding EMF-related symptoms as well as other types of medically unexplained symptoms.