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The purpose of the present study was to see if chemically sensitive individuals had aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents as part of their total body load. This was done by measuring blood levels from 85 chemically sensitive patients. These were measured by a purging trap method with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCC/MS) by the methods of Laseter. Thirteen patients had blood levels below the detection limit of less than 1 ppb and 72 were above the detection limit. An average of three solvents, out of seven measured, including n-pentane, 2,2-dimethylbutane, cyclopentane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, was found in 85% of the patients' blood on the 1 to 299 ppb range. The means were as follows: n-pentane 14.7 ppb, 2,2-dimethylbutane 2.5 ppb, cyclopentane 9.0 ppb, 2-methylpentane 16.7 ppb, 3-methylpentane 28.0 ppb, n-heptane 5.5 ppb. The most frequently found of the above solvents was 2-methylpentane (found in 68.1% of the patients), 3-methylpentane (62.5%), n-hexane (61.1%), and pentane (40.3%).

In this study, different modes of therapy for the removal of toxic chemicals from the human body have been assessed and compared. This consisted of: 1) thirteen inpatients in an environmentally controlled area in a hospital, 2) fourty-one outpatients with home environmental control and work area change, and 3) fifteen outpatients in a physical therapy/sauna program with a good environmental control. Attention to manipulation of food, food contaminants, water and air pollution as well as nutritional therapy was important in all groups. Each modality seemed efficacious in++ its own right; 100% inpatients, 80% sauna/physical therapy patients, and 70% outpatients improved their signs and symptoms. Inpatient therapy in a finally controlled environment was far superior to the other two modalities in clearing of symptoms, as well as in clearing of organic chemicals. Outpatient and sauna/physical therapy are efficacious for less ill patients.