The impact of allergy and immunology on our expanding industrial environment

In summary, allergists and clinical immunologists have assumed a primary role related to the diagnosis and pathophysiology of a wide range of environmental and occupational diseases associated with our increasingly industrialized environment. Prevention, rather than therapy, is the primary goal in managing many of these conditions. With all such diseases, it is most important to take into account the patient's environment and to record a thorough occupational and environmental history. The concept of environmental agents as causative factors of disease in man dates to antiquity but has assumed considerably greater significance in recent years. In this context, it should be remembered that Hippocrates and Socrates both emphasized that a good physician should strongly consider the patient's environment as an aid in diagnosis. Of equal importance was the recommendation by Bernardo Ramazzini in 1713, that, "in addition to the questions and recommendations of Hippocrates," a careful inquiry into the patient's occupation should be made.