THE ASSOCIATION OF RESPIRATORY-PROBLEMS IN A COMMUNITY SAMPLE WITH SELF-REPORTED CHEMICAL INTOLERANCE

This epidemiological study evaluated respiratory histories in those in dividuals reporting chemical intolerance (CI) in a community populatio n sample. The subsample of 181 completed standard Respiratory Health Q uestionnaires. CI was determined from self-ratings of feeling 'moderat ely' to 'severly' ill from exposure to at least three of five common c hemicals (paint, pesticides, car exhaust, new carpet, and perfume); th e prevalence rate was 22.7%. The comparison group (CN) (31.5% of the s ample) were selected from their reports of 'never' feeling ill from th e same chemicals. The prevalence rate of CI in females was over twice that in males (28% vs 12.9%), a significant difference. There were no significant differences in smoking, age, or education between CI and C N. Prevalence rates for symptoms and Relative Risk Ratios (RR) indicat ed that the CI were significantly more likely to report chronic cough, phlegm, wheeze, chest tightness, exertional dyspnea, acute respirator y illnesses, hay fever, child respiratory trouble, and physician confi rmed asthma. Several of these respiratory symptoms were significantly, though differentially, related to 'current' asthma and hay fever repo rts. Results suggest a potential vulnerability to and greater interfer ence from respiratory illness for the CI, which have implications for women's health and quality of life.