To describe the prevalence and correlates of reports about sensitivities to
chemicals, questions about chemical sensitivities were added to the 1995 C
alifornia Behavior Risk Factor Survey (BRFS), The survey was administered b
y telephone to 4,046 subjects. Of all respondents, 253 (6.3%) reported doct
or-diagnosed "environmental illness" or "multiple chemical sensitivity" (MC
S) and 643 (15.9%) reported being "allergic or unusually sensitive to every
day chemicals." Sensitivity to more than one type of chemical was described
by 11.9% of the total sample population. Logistic regression models were c
onstructed. Hispanic ethnicity was associated with physician-diagnosed MCS
(adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-2.73).
Female gender was associated with individual self-reports of sensitivity (a
djusted OR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.23-2.17). Marital status, employment, education
, geographic location, and income were not predictive of reported chemical
sensitivities or reported doctor diagnosis. Surprising numbers of people be
lieved they were sensitive to chemicals and made sick by common chemical ex
posures. The homogeneity of responses across race-ethnicity, geography, edu
cation, and marital status is compatible with a physiologic response or wit
h widespread societal apprehensions in regard to chemical exposure.