| Agoraphobia |
Fear of open spaces
|
| ATSDR |
Agency for Toxicological Substances and Disease Registry (USA)
|
| Autonomic nervous system |
Nervous system which cannot be controlled by the mind
|
| C-fibre |
Special nerve fibre of the olfactory nerve in the nose
|
| Clinical ecologists |
Physicians who practice according to clinical/ecological guidelines (environmental physicians)
|
| Cognitive |
Refers to the intellectual functions of the brain: Perception and preparation of sense impressions
|
| Dysesthesia |
Psychogenic hypersensitivity to external impressions
|
ECU (Environmental Control Unit)
|
Climate chamber for exposure experiments |
| Environmental physicians |
American physicians who set up a holistically oriented disease model. Organised in the "American Academy of Environmental Medicine".
|
| EPA |
Environmental Protection Agency
|
| GWS |
Gulf War Syndrome
|
| Haemoglobin |
The substance giving blood cells their red colour
|
| Homeostasis |
The maintenance of a state of equilibrium, especially through physiological processes
|
| Hyper reactive bronchi |
Bronchi, which contract when cold air is inhaled
|
| Hyperventilation |
Exaggerated fast breathing during a longer period, which lowers the CO2 concentration in the blood, leading to changes in the blood circulation in the brain
|
| Iatrogenic |
Of or relating to illness caused by medical treatment
|
| Idiopathic disease |
Disease of unknown cause
|
| ILO |
International Labour Organisation
|
| Immune system |
Defence system of the body against external organisms and substances
|
| Interleukin |
Special substance which is released by nerve cells during stimulation
|
| MCS |
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
|
| Neuroendocrine system |
Interaction between the central nervous system and the regulation of the hormone balance
|
| NIEHS |
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (USA)
|
| NIH |
National Institute of Health (USA)
|
| NIOSH |
National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (USA)
|
| NRC |
National Research Council (USA)
|
| Nystagmus |
Spasmodic eye movements caused by the balance organ being affected (see vestibular test)
|
| Olfactory |
Having to do with the sense of smell
|
| Solvent poisoning |
Acute: Temporary complaints of malfunctioning of the brainChronic: Permanent symptoms of deteriorated cognitive brain function
|
| Peer review |
Quality assurance of scientific article in accordance with international rules and criteria for scientific research and documentation
|
Post-traumatic distress syndrome/disorder
|
Health complaints arising from a trauma |
| Somatic |
Of or relating to the body, physical
|
| T-cells |
Sub-group of white blood cells (lymphocytes)
|
| TILT |
Toxic-induced Loss of Tolerance
|
| Toxic encephalopathy |
Chronic solvent poisoning
|
| Trigger substance |
Chemical which elicits complaints in low concentrations
|
| UNEP |
United Nations Environmental Programme
|
| VDU |
Visual display unit
|
Vestibular auto-rotation
test (VAT)
|
Test of the balance organ in the inner ear |
| VOC |
Volatile organic compound
|
| WHO |
World Health Organization under the UN
|