Odor and Noise Intolerance in Persons with Self-Reported Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity.
Nordin S, Neely G, Olsson D, Sandström M · 2014
View Original AbstractPeople with electromagnetic hypersensitivity show heightened sensitivity to chemicals and noise, suggesting shared biological mechanisms behind environmental sensitivities.
Plain English Summary
Swedish researchers compared people who report electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) to healthy controls, testing their sensitivity to odors and noise using standardized scales. They found that people with EHS scored significantly higher on both chemical sensitivity and noise sensitivity measures, with strong correlations between the two sensitivities. This suggests that electromagnetic hypersensitivity may be part of a broader pattern of environmental sensitivities rather than an isolated condition.
Why This Matters
This research provides important context for understanding electromagnetic hypersensitivity within the broader framework of environmental sensitivities. The strong correlation between EMF sensitivity, chemical sensitivity, and noise sensitivity (correlation coefficients of 0.60 to 0.65) suggests these may share common underlying mechanisms rather than being separate conditions. This finding challenges the narrow focus on EMF exposure alone and points toward individual susceptibility factors that could make some people more vulnerable to multiple environmental stressors. What this means for you is that if you experience symptoms around EMF sources, you may also be more sensitive to chemicals and noise. Rather than dismissing these interconnected sensitivities, this research suggests we need a more comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing environmental health impacts. The reality is that our bodies don't experience EMF in isolation but as part of a complex mix of environmental exposures.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
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 c...
The findings suggest an association between EHS and odor and noise intolerance, encouraging further investigation of individual factors for understanding EMF-related symptoms.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2014_odor_and_noise_intolerance_2473,
author = {Nordin S and Neely G and Olsson D and Sandström M},
title = {Odor and Noise Intolerance in Persons with Self-Reported Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity.},
year = {2014},
url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4198991/},
}