From Household Environmental Pollutants to Clinical Education: The Need to Incorporate Exposure History-Taking into Medical Education Curricula

Rezaei Borojerdi, Zahra; Khashi, Zahra

doi:10.22034/meb.2026.599165.1140

From Household Environmental Pollutants to Clinical Education: The Need to Incorporate Exposure History-Taking into Medical Education Curricula

Document Type : Letter to the Editor

Authors

Zahra Rezaei Borojerdi ¹

Zahra Khashi ²

¹ Medical Oncologist, Hematologist, and Stem Cell Transplantation Specialist, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

² Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Fir.C., Islamic Azad University, Firoozabad, Iran.

10.22034/meb.2026.599165.1140

Abstract

Household exposures to radon, secondhand tobacco smoke, combustion-related pollutants, and selected indoor chemicals may contribute to cancer and other chronic diseases. However, environmental exposure history-taking remains insufficiently integrated into medical education. This letter highlights the need to teach medical students and residents how to identify household exposures, distinguish hazards from risks, and provide appropriate preventive counselling. Structured checklists, problem-based learning, clinical simulation, and objective assessments may support the integration of environmental exposure history-taking into routine clinical practice.

Keywords

Curriculum Development

Environmental Exposure

Indoor Air Pollution

Medical Education

Preventive Oncology