INDUCTION OF DEPRESSION BY EXPOSURE TO DAMP ...

to 10-100 times greater than that found typically in damp buildings, they did not
significantly induce health effects. However, some studies do provide evidence that
suggest increased incidence of asthma following exposure to certain VOCs, such as
benzene, toluene (Rumchev et al., 2004), and formaldehyde. Whether this increase in
pulmonary inflammation can significantly raise inflammatory levels on a body-wide level
has yet to be determined.
In general, it has been concluded that VOCs at indoor concentrations, with
exception to a few species noted above and some others, do not induce inflammation in
the general population. However, several studies have presented convincing evidence
that some people who report symptoms of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) do
experience an increase in inflammatory markers when exposed to domestic levels of
VOCs. Such sensitivities appear to result from neural sensitization due to chemical
exposures, psychological stress, and/or neurogenic inflammation (Bell et al., 1999; Bell
et al., 1998). However, some researchers view MCS as a somatoform disease (Bailer et
al., 2007). One study observed that MCS patients experienced measurable levels of
neurogenic inflammation where cytokines released by nerves increased histamine levels
(Hajime, 2004). The study compared the levels of substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal
peptide (VIP), nerve growth factor (NGF), and histamine in normal controls, patients
with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS), and in patients with self-reported
MCS. Baseline plasma levels of SP, VIP, and NGF were elevated in MCS and AEDS
patients, but not in the control group. In addition, histamine was also elevated in AEDS
patients. All participants in the study were found to have normal T-cell levels and were
generally non-atopic, with the exception of the AEDS patients. Exposure to 3.13-3.42
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