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Biological pollution of indoor air can consist of viruses, bacteria, fungi, fungal spores, mites, dander and metabolic products from the microorganisms. The occurrence of such pollution can occasionally cause building-related adverse health effects. Allergens produced by house dust mites and in the dander of furred domestic animals are generally regarded to be among the most important causes of disease episodes in atopic individuals. Bacteria and fungi as such cause building-related disease more rarely. An exception is respiratory infections caused by Legionella bacteria. Other possible health effects of biological indoor air pollution have been suggested, but the data are inconclusive.

Studies on cells in vitro and animal experiments show that paracetamol may bind covalently to DNA, inhibit DNA-replication and DNA-repair synthesis, and cause chromosomal aberrations in somatic cells. In two studies a higher level of chromosomal aberrations was found in lymphocytes after exposure of human volunteers to therapeutic doses of paracetamol, but in a third study the results were negative. Genotoxic effects of paracetamol have been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo at or near therapeutic concentrations. Overall, the data indicate that paracetamol-use may contribute to an increase in the total burden of DNA-damage in man. Higher risk of cancer after exposure to paracetamol has not been demonstrated in epidemiological studies, nor has increased risk of cancer been unequivocally documented from animal experiments. It is generally accepted, however, that exposure that may cause DNA-damage in man should be reduced and if possible avoided. The therapeutic benefit of using paracetamol should therefore be carefully evaluated, taking into consideration its potential for inducing acute and chronic and genotoxic effects.