Approaching environmental medicine
Case, B.W.
Pennsylvania Medicine 93(9): 52-55
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-4595 PMID: 2216514 Document Number: 3801
Environmental health science/medicine is a difficult field which attempts to relate specific exposures to specific diseases or symptoms. Since neither comes in a neat package- real exposures are always mixed, not only with other environmental influences but also with smoking, socioeconomic effects, etc.- the science is an ambiguous one to begin with. Artificial separation by federal and state agencies of "environment" and "health" contribute further to this ambiguity. The physician faced with a patient with a complaint which could be related to an environmental exposure is thus in an unenviable position. But by applying a few simple rules, and especially by learning where to look for help and consultation, the physician can make these difficulties less burdensome.
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