Is the diagnosis of mass hysteria an excuse for incomplete investigation of low-level environmental contamination

Journal Article · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1980 · JOM, J. Occup. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-198101000-00013· OSTI ID:5875794

Faust, H S; Brilliant, L B

Mass hysteria is an epidemic diagnostic term used to characterize unexplained outbreaks of syncope among women. A syncope outbreak among women in a meeting in a rural area of Michigan prompted an intense investigation to etiology. Low levels of ozone, carbon monoxide, and pentane were found associated with the outbreak. These levels were too low by themselves to explain the symptoms. A sociometric scale of intensity of illness was devised and found to be highly correlated (r = -.094) with the weight of those who fainted. It is argued that mass hysteria may be the result of interactions of low levels of toxicants and may not be a result of the hysterical behavior in women at all.

• OSTI ID: 5875794
• Journal Information: JOM, J. Occup. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: JOM, J. Occup. Med.; (United States) Vol. 23:1; ISSN JJOMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ALKANES
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
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FEMALES
GREAT LAKES REGION
HYDROCARBONS
MAMMALS
MAN
MICHIGAN
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PENTANE
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
USA
VERTEBRATES
WEIGHT
WOMEN