Editing Multiple chemical sensitivity (section)

== Epidemiology ==
Prevalence rates for MCS vary according to the diagnostic criteria used.<ref>"1.1.2 Studies on the prevalence of MCS in other countries." A Scientific Review of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Identifying Key Research Needs. Published in 2010 by the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme, Australian Government. Canberra. http://test.nicnas.gov.au/Media/Latest_News/MCS.asp {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307155500/http://test.nicnas.gov.au/Media/Latest_News/MCS.asp |date=2020-03-07 }}</ref> For example, a 2014 study estimated that 0.9% of Canadian males and 3.3% of Canadian females had a diagnosis of MCS by a health professional.<ref name="Toronto" />{{Rp|37}}  A 2018 study found that 6.5% of Australian adults reported having a medical diagnosis of MCS.<ref>Pigatto PD, Guzzi G. Prevalence and Risk Factors for MCS in Australia. ''Preventive Medicine Reports'' 2019.</ref><ref name=":21">{{Cite news |date=2 July 2018 |title=Common chemical products making Australians sick, study finds |url=https://about.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2018/july/common-chemical-products-making-australians-sick-study-finds |access-date=20 November 2019 |work=The University of Melbourne Newsroom}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite journal |author=Steinemann A |year=2018 |title=Prevalence and effects of multiple chemical sensitivities in Australia |journal=Prev Med Rep |volume=10 |pages=191–4 |doi=10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.03.007 |pmc=5984225 |pmid=29868366 |doi-access=free}}</ref>  In Germany, 9% of adults say they have MCS, and 12% of adults in the US say they have been diagnosed.<ref name="Current 2021" />  When self-reports are included, about 20% of Australians and 25% of Americans say that they are more sensitive to chemicals than average.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Current 2021" />  {{As of|2022}}, the number of people with MCS has either plateaued or is declining.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gardiner |first1=Kerry |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119887638 |title=Pocket Consultant: Occupational Health |last2=Rees |first2=David |last3=Adisesh |first3=Anil |last4=Zalk |first4=David |last5=Harrington |first5=Malcolm |last6=Gervais |first6=Roxane |last7=Saary |first7=Joan |date=2022-03-25 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-119-71861-1 |edition=1 |language=en |doi=10.1002/9781119887638.ch18}}</ref>
[[File:Pareto_principle.svg|thumb|Women are far more likely to have MCS.<ref name="Current 2021" />]]
The condition is reported across industrialized countries.<ref name="Toronto" />{{Rp|37}} It affects significantly more women than men.<ref name="Current 2021" />  A typical age of onset is near [[middle age]].<ref name="Current 2021" />  People with MCS are more likely to have high [[socioeconomic status]] and to be well educated.<ref name="Current 2021" />  They are also more likely to have stressful work situations and a history of subjective health complaints.<ref name="Current 2021" />

For about half of people with MCS, the symptoms could be considered disabling.<ref name=":21" /><ref name=":0" />

===Related syndromes===
Symptoms attributed to [[Gulf War syndrome]] are similar to those reported for MCS, including headache, fatigue, muscle stiffness, joint pain, inability to concentrate, sleep problems, and gastrointestinal issues.<ref name="Current 2021" />  Gulf War veterans are somewhat more likely to have symptoms consistent with MCS.<ref name="Current 2021" /> 

MCS is also similar to [[sick building syndrome]], with both showing non-specific symptoms such as headaches, respiratory irritation and fatigue.<ref name="Current 2021" />  There is also some overlap in symptoms between MCS and [[myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome]] (ME/CFS), though chemical exposures are not suspected in ME/CFS.<ref name="Current 2021" />