Environmental Medicine and Risk Assessment

Public awareness of environmental problems has steadily increased during the past two decades. According to interviews in the Federal Republic of Germany and the EEC two thirds of the population consider it a political task of high priority that effective measures are taken in order to protect against environmental hazards. In this respect, air pollution by chemicals evoked the highest concern in 60 % of the subjects interviewed. As a consequence of this pronounced awareness of environmental health hazards, a more critical behaviour not only of consumers, but also of patients is developing. With increasing frequency people do not only inquire into possible adverse effects of therapeutic measures, but also express the suspicion that some of their health problems might be caused by exposure to chemicals from the environment. Hence, physicians find themselves more and more confronted with environmental issues.