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 |