ABSTRACT
To assist the physician in determining pollutant involvement in patients' ear, nose, and throat symptoms, this chapter examines the particular effects of pollutant injury on the nose and sinuses; the throat, larynx, and neck; and the ear. The area of the neck most commonly affected by swelling and pain is the lymph nodes. In chemically sensitive individuals, damage to the nerve supply of the nose and sinuses may result in reduced olfaction or in increased odor sensitivity. Large individual variations in anatomy characterize the structure of the olfactory region. The central olfactory apparatus is highly complex; thus, there are many areas in this region susceptible to pollutant injury. Many physicians find themselves frustrated by the lack of an apparent etiology for recurrent sinusitis, vasomotor rhinitis, or Meniere's disease. Patients seem to be more frequently seeking medical advice for nasal and sinus symptoms related to their jobs.
