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Eicher C, Marty B, Achermann P, Huber R, Landolt HP. Reduced subjective sleep quality in people rating themselves as electro-hypersensitive: An observational study. Sleep Med 2024; 113:165-171. [PMID: 38029625 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disturbed sleep is among the most frequent health complaints of people exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) used in mobile telecommunication, particularly in individuals who consider themselves as EMF hypersensitive (EHS). We aimed at investigating whether the EHS status per se is associated with sleep complaints. Because allelic variants of the gene encoding the L-type, voltage-gated calcium channel Cav1.2 (CACNA1C) were previously associated with sleep complaints reminiscent of those reported by EHS individuals, we also explored whether self-rated EHS status and sleep quality associate with these gene variants. METHODS A total of 2'040 participants (1'381 females) aged 18-30 years completed online, validated questionnaires on EMF sensitivity, subjective sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, mentation during sleep, and diurnal preference. They also provided a saliva sample for genotyping three functional variants of CACNA1C (rs7304986, rs16929277 and rs2302729). Eligible participants endorsing the question "Are you electro-hypersensitive?" were considered as "EHS" (n = 105), those denying this question yet believing to develop detrimental health symptoms due to prevailing electromagnetic pollution as "attributers" (n = 254), and the remaining participants as "non-EHS" (n = 1'406). We combined the EHS and attributers into one group for binary analyses. In exploratory analyses, we then tested possible associations between EMF sensitivity, subjective sleep variables and CACNA1C variants using linear and logistic regression. We used age, sex, level of education, presence of sleep disorders and habitual mobile phone use as covariates and corrected with Benjamini-Hochberg False Discovery Rate for multiple comparisons. RESULTS The EHS/attributers consistently reported prolonged sleep latency, reduced sleep quality, higher sleepiness and more nocturnal mentation when compared to non-EHS. Habitual mobile phone use was not associated with self-rated sleep latency and sleep quality scores. While the T-allele of variant rs2302729 of CACNA1C was associated with both, self-reported EMF sensitivity and reduced subjective sleep quality, we found no evidence for the hypothesis that EHS mediates impaired sleep quality via this allelic variant. CONCLUSIONS Irrespective of reported RF-EMF exposure, self-rated EHS/attributers rated subjective sleep quality worse than non-EHS individuals. TRIAL REGISTRATION Swiss National Clinical Trials Portal (SNCTP000002285) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03074617).
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Eicher
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Marty
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Achermann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Sleep & Health Zurich, University Center of Competence, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reto Huber
- Sleep & Health Zurich, University Center of Competence, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Peter Landolt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Sleep & Health Zurich, University Center of Competence, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Claeson AS, Edvardsson B, Liljelind I. Stress and Sleep in Relation to Severity of Building Related Symptoms. J Occup Environ Med 2023; 65:541-545. [PMID: 36952319 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigates different aspects of stress and sleep in medically examined individuals with varying severity of building-related symptoms (BRS). METHODS Three questionnaires were used to assess acute and long-term stress and sleep (Perceived Stress Scale; Shirom Melamed Burnout Questionnaire, and Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire). RESULTS Individuals with BRS, regardless of severity, did not differ in level of perceived stress (indicator of short-term stress). The indicators of long-term stress differed between the groups where an increased severity was associated with higher levels of burnout and sleep problems. CONCLUSIONS The study suggests an association between symptom severity and measures of long-term stress and sleep quality. This has implications for the treatment of persons affected by BRS, because not only the environment needs to be treated, but also the concurrent signs of distress, such as burnout or sleep problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Sara Claeson
- From the Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden (A.C); and Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden (B.E., I.L.)
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Nordin S, Köteles F, Witthöft M, Van den Bergh O, Nyback MH, Sainio M. Impact of comorbidity on symptomatology in various types of environmental intolerance in a general Swedish and Finnish adult population. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 229:115945. [PMID: 37080270 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Comorbidity with various health conditions is common in environmental intolerances (EIs), which restricts understanding for what symptoms that are associated with the intolerance per se. The present objectives were to study (i) prevalence of a broad range of specific symptoms in chemical, building-related, electromagnetic field- (EMF) related, and sound EI, irrespective of comorbidity, (ii) prevalence of symptoms in body systems in exclusive EIs, and (iii) increased risk of symptoms in body systems in exclusive EIs that cannot be referred to functional somatic syndromes, inflammatory diseases or mental disorders. Cross-sectional data (n = 4941) were used from two combined population-based surveys, the Västerbotten (Sweden) and Österbotten (Finland) Environmental Health Studies. Categorization of EI cases and controls were based on self-reports. Symptoms were assessed with the Environmental Hypersensitivity Symptom Inventory, and these were converted to 27 symptoms of the International Classification of Primary Care, 2nd edition, in eight chapters of body systems. The results showed, with few exceptions, that all assessed specific symptoms were significantly more prevalent in all four EIs than in referents. Although a large overlap between EIs, characteristic body system symptoms were eye and respiratory symptoms in chemical and building-related intolerance, skin symptoms in EMF-related intolerance, and general and unspecified, digestive, eye, cardiovascular, neurological, and psychological symptoms in sound intolerance. After controlling for various comorbidities, all studied body system symptoms were positively associated with chemical intolerance, fewer with sound intolerance, only one with building-related intolerance, and none with EMF-related EI. In conclusion, a broad range of symptoms are reported in all four EIs implying common mechanisms, but symptoms of certain body systems are more likely to be reported in a certain EI that cannot be explained by comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Nordin
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Ferenc Köteles
- Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Michael Witthöft
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, And Experimental Psychopathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
| | | | | | - Markku Sainio
- Outpatient Clinic for Functional Disorders, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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Dantoft TM, Nordin S, Andersson L, Petersen MW, Skovbjerg S, Jørgensen T. Multiple chemical sensitivity described in the Danish general population: Cohort characteristics and the importance of screening for functional somatic syndrome comorbidity-The DanFunD study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246461. [PMID: 33626058 PMCID: PMC7904225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is characterized by widespread symptoms attributed to exposure to airborne chemicals. MCS is categorized as a functional somatic syndrome (FSS), and MCS cases often meet the criteria for other types of FSS, e.g. fibromyalgia. The primary aim was to characterize MCS regarding symptom triggers, symptoms, lifestyle and describe demographics, socioeconomics and lifestyle factors associated with MCS. A secondary aim was to examine the implication of FSS comorbidity. Methods Data were derived from a random sample of the Danish adult population enrolled in the Danish Study of Functional Disorders (DanFunD; n = 9,656). Questionnaire data comprised information used to delimit MCS and four additional types of FSS, as well as data on demographics, socioeconomics and lifestyle. MCS cases (n = 188) was stratified into subgroups; MCS only (n = 109) and MCS with comorbid FSS (n = 73). Information regarding FSS comorbidities were missing for six MCS cases. MCS subgroups and controls without FSS comorbidities (n = 7,791) were compared by means of logistic regression analyses, adjusted for age and sex. Results MCS was associated with female sex, not being in occupation and low social status, but not with age or education. MCS cases reported normal dietary intake and smoking habits and lower alcohol consumption. Additional associations were found between MCS and low rate of cohabitation, sedentarism, daily physically limitations, and poor quality of sleep. However, subgroup analysis revealed that these findings were primarily associated with MCS with comorbid FSS. Conclusions MCS was associated with lower socioeconomic status, physically inactivity and poor quality of sleep. Subgroup analysis revealed that several associations was explained by FSS comorbidity, i.e. MCS cases with no comorbid FSS showed normal rate of cohabitation and did not report physical limitations or difficulties sleeping. Overall, our findings emphasise the importance of screening MCS cases for FSS comorbidity both in epidemiological and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Meinertz Dantoft
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg & Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, Capital Region Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Steven Nordin
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Marie Weinreich Petersen
- The Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sine Skovbjerg
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Danish Center for Mindfulness, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Torben Jørgensen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg & Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, Capital Region Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Höglund P, Hakelind C, Nordin S. Severity and prevalence of various types of mental ill-health in a general adult population: age and sex differences. BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:209. [PMID: 32393209 PMCID: PMC7212684 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02557-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Taking a broad approach, the aim of this study was to better understand severity and prevalence of various types of mental ill-health across age and sex groups in the general adult population. A first objective was to determine symptom severity of anxiety, depression, insomnia, burnout and somatization in combinations of different age groups and sex. A second objective was to determine prevalence of caseness of these types of mental ill-health in both absolute and relative terms in the combinations of age groups and sex. METHODS Cross-sectional data based on validated questionnaire instruments were used from the Västerbotten Environmental Health Study in Sweden. In total, 3406 participants, aged 18 to 79 years, constituted a random sample stratified for age and sex. RESULTS Severity and prevalence of anxiety, insomnia and burnout were high in women, in particular young women, and lower in older age groups. The prevalence rates for insomnia, burnout and somatization were particularly high based on the used cut-off scores. Men aged 30-49 years had the highest prevalence of mental ill-health compared to other age groups among men. Men and women aged 60-69 years had generally the lowest symptom severity and caseness. The prevalence of depression was similar in men and women in all age groups, whereas sex-related differences in extent in general were largest in the youngest age group, and gradually decreased with age. CONCLUSION The results suggest that focus in primary healthcare regarding mental ill-health should to be directed more towards insomnia, burnout and somatization, in particular in young women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per Höglund
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Camilla Hakelind
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Psychology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Steven Nordin
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Department of Psychology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
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Nordin S. Mechanisms underlying nontoxic indoor air health problems: A review. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 226:113489. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Paulin J, Nordin M, Nyback MH, Nordin S. Associations between hyperacusis and psychosocial work factors in the general population. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2018; 92:59-65. [PMID: 30194539 PMCID: PMC6323093 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-018-1356-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Purpose We investigated the association between hyperacusis and aspects of psychosocial work environment in a general population. The objectives were to investigate (1) prevalence and characteristics (among age, sex, access to social support at home, education, smoking, physical exercise, and perceived general health) of hyperacusis in a general working population and (2) associations between hyperacusis and psychosocial factors in the work environment. The psychosocial work aspects included effort, reward, overcommitment, worry, and social and emotional support. Methods Using data from a sample stratified for age and sex from the Österbotten Environmental Health Study in Finland, currently employed participants with self-reported hyperacusis and referents were compared on questionnaire instruments quantifying six aspects of their psychosocial work environment. Results Among 856 currently employed participants, 47 constituted a hyperacusis group and 809 a reference group. The hyperacusis group scored significantly higher than the referents on worry at work, social support at work, and reward at work, but not on emotional support at work, work overcommitment, or effort at work. About 40% of the hyperacusis group scored on the upper quartile of the three former work environment factors, with odds ratios ranging from 1.91 to 2.56. Conclusions The results suggest that worrying about aspects at work, perceiving low social support, and not perceiving being rewarded at work are associated with hyperacusis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Paulin
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Maria Nordin
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Steven Nordin
- Department of Psychology, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
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Gibson PR. Introduction to the Special Issue on Environmental Sensitivities: Living on the Margins with Access Denied. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2017.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Reed Gibson
- Department of Psychology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia
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Parsaei H, Faraz M, Mortazavi SMJ. A Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network–Based Model for Predicting Subjective Health Symptoms in People Living in the Vicinity of Mobile Phone Base Stations. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2017.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Parsaei
- Medical Physics and Medical Engineering Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - M. Faraz
- Medical Physics and Medical Engineering Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - S. M. J. Mortazavi
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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