Associate professor, Dr
Eva Millqvist
MD, PhD
This website aims to present scientific facts in a
popular way to persons who suffer from – or know someone who suffers from airway hyperreactivity to cold air or
sensitivity to chemical substances. During the last decade, increasing research activity in
Sweden has been devoted to patients with asthma- and allergy-like airway symptoms triggered
by fragrances and other chemical substances. These studies have been reported in
reviewed international scientific journals. The facts, conclusions and theories from the
research are presented at this website in several abstracts. The full text papers can be
ordered from the Journals, as they have the copyrights.
There are also a minor books in english to be
downloaded. "In The Air – Be Aware" is a summary from my research after 1996. It is
written to a non-expert who suffers from - or knows
someone who suffers from - airway problems caused by strong fragrances and irritating chemical
substances. It has an extensive reference list. It is also available in a
three-pages introductory information.
On this website you can find recent medical research
and a theoretical background to what may happen in patients with airway sensitivity to
chemical irritants like strong scents, exhausts, perfume and other toiletries,
solvents, some flowers, sick buildings and cigarette smoke. We have described an objective method to diagnose these symptoms. A capsaicin inhalation cough test is
currently under development; and will hopefully be a good aid in the future.
Hypersensitivity to chemical irritants in the airways
may resemble asthma and allergy in many ways though the asthma and allergy work up is normal. This can lead to
wrong diagnosis and incorrect use of medications. Hypersensitivity to chemical
irritants is not a minor problem in the western world. Several studies show that more than 30% of
a population, in some degree, suffers from airways problems caused by strong
fragrances and irritating chemical substances. Another study shows that quality of life is
significantly reduced for these patients regarding leisure, hobbies, social life, and
household work. In general, there is an over-representation of women regarding scensitivity to
odors and scents.
Our use of scented products is rising. We do not longer
experience many of the natural smells that surrounded us a century ago. Only few of us still enjoy the smell of
the barn or the scent of new-mown hay. Contrary, the habit of scenting various products
by all kinds of chemicals is increasing and done routinely. Unlike flavouring in food,
for which the ingredients must be declared, there are no requirements for declaring scent
additives. New shoes should smell like leather, and are thereby scented with the smell of
leather and so on and on. Other products are scented to hide a smell that may be perceived
as unpleasant, including plastic goods and sanitary products, like CDs and diapers.
Scenting public environments is another area to be gaining in popularity; recently the
daily press mentioned that the Paris Metro and London Underground would be scented with
perfume to enhance the atmosphere.
More research is under way and as soon as further
understandings and knowledge are gained, we will present these findings on this website. For the moment we are
trying to find underlying mechanisms of airway hyperreactivity to chemical irritants. Next
step will be to find effective treatments according to the mechanisms. But
until then, the best way to handle the problems is to reduce the amount of chemicals in the daily
environment and to avoid scented products as much as possible. When patients feel ready to bring up
the problems with those around them, much have been won. Often letting others know
about these problems goes better than expected. A person who is hypersensitive to
scents must dare to speak about these problems and what triggers them with the family,
friends and colleagues.
The purpose of the site is not commercial, but my intent is to inform as many
people as possible in an easy way about new scientific findings. Welcome to my website where you will get a chance to learn more about your
airway problems caused by cold air, fragrances and irritating chemical
substances.
With best regards,