[Clinical environmental medicine. An examination of a case load from a 2-year project]

In a two year experimental project, 38 persons were referred to clinical examination at a clinic for occupational medicine. Admission was based upon suspicion of health damage caused by environmental factors outside the occupational setting. Twentyseven persons were suspected of indoor exposure with unspecified dust as the dominating factor. In the general environment, suspected exposure from polluted soil was the main reason for admission of 11 patients. In 22 cases, a causal relation between complaints and exposure to environmental factors was considered likely and recommendations to eliminate exposure or to effectuate further investigations of exposure were made. It is concluded that there is a need for an arrangement whereby patients can be examined by doctors experienced in assessing relations between exposure from environmental factors and disease. Since only few patients are expected, the examinations can be carried out in clinics for occupational medicine within existing resources.