Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM)

Taking an Exposure History
What Instructions Should Be Given to Patients?

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this section, you will be able to

• explain to the patients why they need to provide all the detailed information about their past and current exposures from their jobs and homes.

Introduction

It is important for health care provider to know what exposures to potentially hazardous materials your patients have had in their life. To do this your patients need to tell about workplace exposures, exposures at home, and others they may have had.

Why Is an Exposure History Important

Unless an exposure history is pursued by the clinician, the etiologic diagnosis might be missed, treatment therefore may be inappropriate, and exposure can continue.

What to Ask Your Patients

Be sure to ask information about all past jobs, and chemicals and other exposures they may have had in those jobs. Also share information about household and neighborhood exposures.

Where Can Your Patients Get Information About Their Exposures?

There are many sources of information about materials to which your patients have been exposed, or to which your patients are currently exposed. There are many Federal government agencies with such information including ATSDR, NIOSH, OSHA and EPA. Universities and poison control centers may also be able to supply information about potential health hazards.

Key Points

• Patients need to understand why an exposure history is important.

Progress Check