Page 24 - Climate Control News Magazine

Indoor Air Quality
Poor health
due to chemical pollutants
ONE IN FIVE (18.9%) AUSTRALIANS ARE SUFFERING FROM CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY WITH MORE THAN ONE-THIRD (6.5%) DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES (MCS), ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE.
RESEARCH AUTHOR, ANNE Steinemann, is Professor of Civil Engineering and chair of sus- tainable cities at the University.
“Multiple chemical sensitivities is a serious disease that is often caused and worsened by ex- posure to petrochemical sources such as pesti- cides, solvents, new building materials and fra- granced items,” Professor Steinemann said.
“Even low-level exposure can inflict a range of adverse health effects such as migraines, breathing difficulties, cognitive impairment, seizures and asthma attacks.”
First published in the Journal of Occupa- tional and Environmental Medicine, the re- search found that the prevalence of chemical sensitivity has increased by more than 200 per cent and diagnosed MCS has increased more than 300 per cent among American adults in the past decade.
Across America, an estimated 55 million adults have chemical sensitivity or MCS.
The results mirror Professor Steinemann’s earlier research in the United States that found one in four Americans suffer from chemical sensitivity, prompting calls to reduce expo- sures to everyday chemical pollutants.
“While Australia is not yet at the same levels as the US, it appears we’re on the same pollution path,” Professor Steinemann said.
Using an online survey with a national ran- dom sample of 1098 people, the study found MCS is widespread in the Australian popula- tion, affecting an estimated one million adults nationwide, with chemical sensitivity affecting a further two million.
“WHILE AUSTRALIA IS NOT YET AT THE SAME LEVELS AS THE US, IT APPEARS WE’RE ON THE SAME POLLUTION PATH.” UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE PROFESSOR, ANNE STEINEMANN SAID.
The study also found 74.6% of people with MCS are asthmatic and 91.5% with MCS report health problems from fragranced products, such as air fresheners and deodorisers, laundry products, can- dles, cleaning supplies and personal care products.
For 55.4% of people with MCS, the severity of these health problems can be disabling.
In addition, 52.1% of Australians with MCS lost work days or a job in the past year due to illness from fragranced products in the workplace.
Research author and Professor of Civil Engineering, Anne Steinemann.
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