Multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (MCS) is a chronic disorder characterized by multiple recurrent non-specific symptoms triggered or exacerbated by exposure to odours present in the environment at low concentrations—concentrations tolerated by most people.
People who are the most severely affected suffer from a chronic impairment that prevents them from functioning normally in their social and professional lives.
Various epidemiological studies have found different levels of prevalence of MCS in the general population, ranging from 0,5% to 3% for cases diagnosed by a doctor. This figure can be as high as 32% when selfdiagnosed cases are included.
In Canada, the number of annual medical consultations for individuals suffering from MCS greatly exceeds that of a comparable control population.
Against this backdrop, Québec’s ministry of health and social services, Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS), entrusted Québec’s public health…