Abstract

Data of all patients involved in evident or presumed indoor air pollution, who were included in the study, are presented. During a period of five years (1985-1989) a hundred separate cases were investigated. By far, most requests for medical advice regarding this issue are made by general practitioners. Most requests concern the presumed relation between complaints and/or symptoms and exposure to evident or presumed indoor air pollution. However, in many cases no relation could be established between the complaints and potential exposure to toxic compounds in the indoor environment. If there were any effects, these were clinically of little importance, except for carbon monoxide poisoning. In the discussion and enclosure suggestions are made regarding how to handle a situation in which health complaints and health effects might have been caused by indoor air pollution. If instructions how do handle this issue are considerd, the medical professionals who are facing this problem in the first place such as general practitioners and health service officers are the most important target groups. Public information on health aspects with regard to indoor air pollution might prevent medicalization of this issue.

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