2005 National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses 3.6% of all
Canadian nurses experienced chemical sensitivities

MCS commonly overlaps with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and
fibromyalgia (FM)

Statistics Canada - January 2007

• In 2003, 5% of Canadians (1.2 million people) have been diagnosed with at least one of these disorders.

• Of the 5% of Canadians diagnosed 2.4% reported MCS, 1.5% FM and 1.3% CFS.
• Among these individuals, at least 14% had two of the three conditions.
• Overall incidence rose with age from 1.6% at ages 12 to 24 to 6.9% at ages 45 to 64

Close to a million Canadians being diagnosed with MCS represents a
large, unnecessary and avoidable tragedy, as well as a drain on society
and the economy.

BURDEN TO SOCIETY MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY
• Significant differences were found in the capacity to function and health care usage between people in the general population with and without a diagnosis of MCS.
• Percentage of people with a MCS diagnosis who needed help with housework, preparing meals, errands, appointments - 22%

Medical Interventions - People with MCS who:
• Visited the family doctor more than 10 times - 17%
• Visited specialists - 43%
• Visited alternative practitioners in the previous year - 33%