[Environment and environmental medicine--an analysis of the population's need for advice]

Over a period of 6 months all inquiries related to environmental issues and environmental human health problems were recorded by the city administration (city phone, n = 71), the public health office (n = 123) and by pharmacies (n = 94). There was an institutional difference in the spectrum of the questions. Waste problems predominated at the city phone, questions related to nutrition at the pharmacies. More questions were raised by women, questioners were younger than the average population. The questions were based on own experience and on media reports to about the same extent. A relation to health complaints was presumed in 30% of the city phone calls, to about 50% at the pharmacies. Quality of the consultation was assessed by the advisors themselves.