Development of multiple chemical sensitivity after an outbreak of sick-building syndrome

Investigation of this outbreak raises some important points for future research. Although for various reasons the case ascertainment for MCS was not complete, the three MCS patients described here all had preexisting conditions that may have put them at risk. In addition, one person among the 20 described had chronic fatigue syndrome but did not develop MCS. Many of the persons described here continue to have ongoing complaints that are not MCS. Significant exacerbation of preexisting allergic disease and new onset of asthma occurred among those patients. As a group, they did not recover completely after the outbreak; several are no longer working in the building but in alternative work spaces. An important distinction should be made between individuals who met the definition used here for MCS and others who had significant exacerbation of some better-defined illness brought on by building conditions. New onset of MCS was a partial but not complete explanation of the clinical course for this group of 20 persons.