Clinical ecology

Clinical ecology was the name given by proponents in the 1960s to a claim that exposure to low levels of certain chemical agents harm susceptible people, causing multiple chemical sensitivity and other disorders. Clinical ecologists are people that support and promote this offshoot of conventional medicine. They often have a background in the field of allergy or otorhinolaryngology, and the theoretical approach is derived in part from classic concepts of allergic responses, first articulated by Theron Randolph. Clinical ecologists support a cause-and-effect relationships for non-specific symptoms reported by some people after low dose exposure to chemical, biologic, or physical agents. This pattern of low dose reaction is not generally accepted by toxicologists. Although some of the mainstream medical community continue to reject these claims, the concept is gaining in recognition under the modern and more clearly articulated classification of environmental medicine.