Systematic review: progression of beryllium sensitization to chronic beryllium disease

BACKGROUND The relevance of beryllium sensitization testing for occupational health practice and prevention is unclear. AIMS To analyse the natural course of beryllium sensitization and clarify the prognosis following cessation of exposure among sensitized workers. METHODS An electronic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Toxline and Cochrane databases supplemented by a manual search. Data abstraction and study quality assessment with adapted guideline checklists were performed independently by three reviewers. Seven studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review; however, six of the seven studies were of low methodological quality. RESULTS A …

Occupational UV-Exposure is a Major Risk Factor for Basal Cell Carcinoma

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of occupational and nonoccupational ultraviolet (UV)-exposure concerning the development of basal cell carcinoma (BCC).We undertook a population-based multicenter case-control study. Patients with first incident BCC (n = 836) were propensity score matched by age and sex to controls without skin cancer (n = 836). Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and lifetime UV-exposure were assessed by trained investigators. The differential estimation of occupational and nonoccupational UV-exposure dosages was based on validated instruments and established reference values. Associations were assessed using multivariable-adjusted c…

mRNA Induction and Cytokine Release of Inflammatory Mediators During In Vitro Exposure of Human Nasal Respiratory Epithelia to Acetaldehyde

Acetaldehyde has been shown to be cytotoxic and carcinogenic to the upper respiratory tract epithelium of rodents following long-term exposure. Most animal studies have concentrated on carcinogenicity and DNA-protein cross-link formation, while less is known about potential dose- and time-dependent induction of aldehyde-induced rhinitis in humans. In this in vitro study, 22 primary cell cultures established from inferior turbinate tissue of healthy individuals were exposed to acetaldehyde concentrations of 50 (German MAK value) or 500 ppm for 4 or 24 h. mRNA expression and protein levels of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators were quantified at the end of the 4- and 24-h exposures. C…

Arbeitssituation und Gesundheit von Hausärzten in Rheinland-Pfalz: Erste Ergebnisse einer landesweiten Befragung,

Die vorliegende Studie sollte das Ausmas von arbeitsbedingter Belastung und Stress sowie die gesundheitliche Situation deutscher Hausarzte mittels standardisierter und validierter Instrumente erfassen. Daruber hinaus sollten Moglichkeiten der systematischen Stresspravention in der Zielpopulation eruiert werden. Das Institut fur Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin der Universitatsmedizin Mainz fuhrte in den Monaten Juni und Juli 2009 eine landesweite anonyme Befragung aller in Rheinland-Pfalz niedergelassenen Facharzte fur Allgemeinmedizin, praktischen Arzte und Arzte ohne Facharztausbildung auf postalischem Weg durch (Querschnittsdesign, N=2 092). 808 Arzte nahmen teil (Rucklaufquote 38,6%)…

S3-Leitlinie Gesundheitsüberwachung bei Beryllium-Exposition und diagnostisches Vorgehen bei berylliumassoziierter Erkrankung

Internal exposure of firefighting instructors to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) during live fire training

Firefighting instructors in live fire training are inevitably exposed to emissions containing, carcinogenic PAH. The study investigated PAH uptake in a group of firefighting instructors during short-term exposure in live fire training by urinary biomonitoring. Six firefighting instructors (non-smokers) completed five 2 h-training sessions each in a carbonaceous-fired simulation unit using self-containing breathing apparatuses (SCBA). Complying with a minimum time interval of six days between the individual training sessions, the participants provided urine samples before and immediately after, as well as 1, 3, 6, 9, 11, and 18 h after each training session. Samples were analyzed for 10 mono…

An acute exposure to ozone impairs human olfactory functioning

Ozone is a ubiquitous and irritant gas. We questioned whether an acute exposure to 0.2 ppm ozone impaired olfactory functioning.Healthy, normosmic subjects were exposed according to a parallel group design either to 0.2 ppm ozone (n = 15) or to sham (n = 13) in an exposure chamber for two hours. Possible irritating effects were assessed by questionnaire (range 0-5). The detection threshold of n-butanol was measured with the Sniffin' Sticks test before and after exposure. Olfactory thresholds were logarithmized and a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements was carried out to test the effects of exposure (ozone vs. sham) and time (before vs. after exposure). Additional…

Diagnostic significance of cold provocation test at 12°C

In Germany, vibration-induced white finger (VWF) disease is accepted as an occupational disease (BK No. 2104 BKV), for which compensation may be paid provided that the sociolegal requirements are met in accordance with the list of occupational diseases that is valid at the time. A cold provocation test (thermometry, infrared thermography) is helpful in the diagnosis of VWF and we believe that it could contribute to the standardization of vascular assessment methods. In Germany, the approved degree of the decrease in earning power is downgraded as disease symptoms improve with time; therefore, insured individuals suffering from VWF are regularly reassessed every 1–3 years. In the context of …

Acute exposure to 50ppm toluene does not increase sleepiness

Abstract The Pupillographic Sleepiness Test (PST) is a new neurophysiological method to assess sleepiness. In an exposure study to a constant exposure level of 50 ppm toluene on 20 healthy men, our aim was to find out, if increased sleepiness could be seen with PST. PST was performed before and after 4.5 h of exposure. General complaints were assessed with the Swedish Performance Evaluation System (SPES) self-assessment questionnaire, once before and during exposure. Values obtained during exposure were related to pre-exposure values. Parametric cross-over analysis of logarithmic Pupillary Unrest Index (PUI) values did not show an effect of toluene exposure. In a nonparametric cross-over an…

Fehlinformationen zu Zuzahlungen bei Leistungen der Gesetzlichen Krankenkassen am Beispiel der Zahnvorsorge – Aspekte der Bewältigung ungleicher Gesundheitschancen bei Armut und Schulden

Zur Bewaltigung von Schulden, insbesondere von uberschuldung, sind physische und psychische Gesundheit wichtige Faktoren. Das Abtragen von Schulden oder auch die Einleitung eines Insolvenzverfahrens mit moglicher Restschuldbefreiung gelingt am besten bei voller Handlungskapazitat. Die wichtige Ressource Gesundheit ist jedoch nicht gleich verteilt.

Study-Related Work and Commuting Accidents among Students at the University of Mainz from 12/2012 to 12/2018: Identification of Potential Risk Groups and Implications for Prevention

Background: Universities represent an important setting of everyday life for health promotion. The aim of the present study was to assess whether university students of specific disciplines might have an increased risk for having a study-related work accident and to analyze what types of study-related work accidents occur most frequently. Furthermore, knowledge regarding study-related commuting accidents will be provided by identifying places where study-related commuting accidents might occur most frequently and on potential types of commuting (walking vs. biking) which might be associated with an increased risk for having a study-related commuting accident. Methods: Retrospective analyses…

13 Thesen der Arbeitsmedizin zu Stand und Entwicklungsbedarf von betrieblicher Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung in Deutschland

The “Mainzer EMF-Wachhund”: results from a watchdog project on self-reported health complaints attributed to exposure to electromagnetic fields

The "Mainzer EMF-Wachhund," a watchdog project, offered a system of self-notification of health complaints attributed to exposures to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) to a population of a part of Germany with about 4 million inhabitants. By using a self-administered questionnaire, which was provided online and for download from the Internet, 192 persons reported such health complaints in the period from October 2003 to March 2005. Of these, 56% classified themselves as electromagnetic hypersensitive (EH). Predictors of this self classification were being affected by all kinds of EMF rather than single EMF sources and being female. On average, EH subjects reported a high degree of suffering, 77…

Acute effects of an exposure to 100 ppm 1-methoxypropanol-2 on the upper airways of human subjects.

Abstract The German MAK value of 1-methoxypropanol-2 has been fixed at 100 ppm. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible acute effects of an exposure to 100 ppm 1-methoxypropanol-2 on the upper airways of human subjects. Twenty subjects were exposed in a crossover design to 100 ppm 1-methoxypropanol-2 and to air in an exposure chamber for 4 h. Subjective symptoms were assessed by questionnaire. Olfactory thresholds for n-butanol and mucociliary transport time were measured before and after exposure. Concentrations of interleukin 1β and interleukin 8 were determined in nasal secretions taken after exposure. mRNA levels of interleukins 1β, 6 and 8, tumor necrosis factor α, granulocyte-m…

Comparison of subjective olfaction ratings in patients with and without olfactory disorders

AbstractObjective:Olfactory dysfunction is common. The reliability of self-assessment tools for smell testing is still controversial. This study aimed to provide new data about the accuracy of olfactory self-assessment compared with a standardised smell test.Design:Prospective, controlled, cohort study of patients with olfactory disorders and healthy controls.Subjects:Ninety-six patients with a smell deficit and 71 controls were asked to rate their sense of smell on a visual analogue scale. Their olfactory abilities were also evaluated with the Sniffin' Sticks tests.Results:The whole cohort showed a significant correlation between visual analogue scale smell scores and Sniffin' Sticks total…

Sterben in Rheinland-Pfalz: Gewünschter und tatsächlicher Sterbeort

In Deutschland existieren bisher keine offiziellen Statistiken, die Angaben zu den Sterbeorten enthalten. Das Ziel der Studie bestand darin, den tatsachlichen und den gewunschten Sterbeort von Menschen, die im Jahr 2008 in Rheinland-Pfalz gestorben waren, deskriptiv zu bestimmen. Daruber hinaus sollten Einflussfaktoren fur einen Tod zu Hause vs. Tod in einer Institution identifiziert werden. Die Querschnittstudie basierte auf einer Zufallsstichprobe von 5 000 Einwohnern in Rheinland-Pfalz, die zwischen Mai und August 2008 verstarben. Die Hinterbliebenen dieser Verstorbenen erhielten einen Fragebogen, der sowohl soziodemografische wie gesundheitsspezifische Aspekte behandelte. Nach Entfernun…

Risk assessment of Bundeswehr (German Federal Armed Forces) permethrin-impregnated battle dress uniforms (BDU).

In an age when vector-borne diseases are emerging worldwide, personal protective measures are essential for shielding soldiers and other exposed persons from arthropod attack. The development of permethrin-impregnated clothing has been one recent advance in protecting persons at-risk. However, to date risk assessment has not been performed related to wearing permethrin-impregnated clothing over longer time periods. Therefore, this paper describes relevant toxicological aspects of permethrin and estimates the extent of dermal permethrin uptake by soldiers wearing impregnated uniforms by determining urine metabolites of permethrin. The exposure monitoring conducted in wearers of untreated uni…

mRNA-induction and cytokine release during in vitro exposure of human nasal respiratory epithelia to methyl methacrylate

Abstract Background Methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been reported to cause histopathological changes in rodent nasal epithelium after inhalation challenges. Data in humans are lacking. Methods In this in vitro design 22 primary cell cultures taken from inferior turbinate tissue of healthy individuals were exposed to MMA concentrations of 50 ppm (German MAK-value) and 200 ppm. mRNA expression and cytokine release of inflammatory mediators were quantified after 4 h and after 24 h. Controls were exposed to synthetic air. Q-PCR analysis was performed for TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, GMCSF, Cox-1 and Cox-2. ELISA assays were performed from culture supernatants for TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MCP…

Preference for place of death in Germany.

Dying in the preferred place is considered a key requirement for a "good death." The aims of our study were to explore preferred places of death of deceased people and their bereaved relatives in Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany). We further wanted to assess the congruence between preferred and actual place of death.The cross-sectional study was based on a random sample of 5000 inhabitants of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) who died between May 25 and August 24, 2008. Relatives of these deceased persons were interviewed by a written survey.After removing duplicates, 4967 questionnaires were sent out, 3832 delivered, and 1378 completed, yielding a response rate of 36.0%. Regarding the deceased, …

Commuting Accidents in the German Chemical Industry

Due to accident severity and the extent of claim payments commuting accidents are a significant expense factor in the German industry. Therefore the aim of the present study was the identification of risk factors for commuting accidents in a German chemical company. A retrospective analysis of commuting accidents recorded between 1990 and 2003 was conducted in a major chemical company in Germany. A logistic regression-model was calculated in order to determine factors influencing the duration of work inability as a result of commuting accidents. The analysed data included 5,484 employees with commuting accidents. Cars (33.1%) and bicycles (30.5%) were the most common types of vehicles used …

Palliativversorgung in Deutschland aus Sicht von Pflegekräften der spezialisierten Palliativversorgung. Ergebnisse einer bundesweiten Studie

A Systematic Umbrella Review on the Epidemiology of Modifiable Health Influencing Factors and on Health Promoting Interventions Among University Students

Background: Universities represent an important setting for health promotion. The unique collective of university students is of particular relevance since they are the leaders, decision-makers, and parents of tomorrow. In this context, modifiable health influencing factors as well as interventions to prevent these, play a crucial role. Therefore, the present umbrella review aims to (i) provide an overview of review articles addressing epidemiological issues (prevalence and determinants) of modifiable health influencing factors in university students and (ii) to provide an overview of review articles addressing the evidence of interventions to promote/enhance modifiable health influencing f…

Health Information Seeking Among University Students Before and During the Corona Crisis—Findings From Germany

Health information-seeking behavior is the process of gathering information about health and disease and can be influential for health-related perception and behavior. University students are an important target group for prevention and health promotion and largely belong to an age group that is considered to play a leading role in propagating the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Germany. The paper deals with students' health information-seeking behavior before and during the corona crisis, aiming to give insights into its determinants and implications. Using the example of a large German comprehensive university and based on two cross-sectional surveys in the summer of 2019 (n = 4,351) and 2020 (n =…

Quantitative sensory testing compared to conventional neurological diagnostics in patients with vibration induced vasospastic syndrome

Uptake and elimination of permethrin related to the use of permethrin treated clothing for forestry workers

Wearing of permethrin treated clothing usually implicates an uptake of permethrin by the user. Aim of our study was to examine the kinetics of internal permethrin exposure in volunteers during and after a single 8h-use of treated clothing as well as factors potentially influencing permethrin uptake. 28 male volunteers (age: 20-34 years) were equipped with permethrin treated jackets and pants from two different suppliers. The clothing was worn for 8h, simulating differing external conditions, including comfort conditions as well as conditions of increased temperature and humidity without and with additional physical workload. Internal permethrin exposure was monitored by determination of per…

Comparing SARS-CoV-2 case rates between pupils, teachers and the general population: results from Germany

Given the inconsistent state of research regarding the role of pupils and teachers during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Germany, statewide and nationwide data of infection case rates were analyzed to contribute to the discourse. Infection data from official sources ranging from mid to late 2020 were collected, prepared and analyzed to answer the question if pupils, teachers and general population differ in infection case rates or not. Statewide and nationwide data showed that pupils and teachers infection case rates exceeded those of the general population. However, present data do not necessarily indicate that SARS-CoV-2 cases of pupils and teachers infections took place at schools. Actually,…

Sickness presenteeism of German teachers: prevalence and influencing factors

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to investigate teachers’ sickness presenteeism (SP). We examined the prevalence of SP in a sample of teachers as well as work-related and health-related influencing factors of teachers’ SP. We used a cross-sectional study design. Teachers working at different types of schools in Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) participated in an online survey. We used Pearson’s Chi-squared test (in case of categorical variables) or Mann–Whitney-U-test (in case of continuous variables) to test for differences between SP and sociodemographic/work-related/health-related factors. Factors influencing SP were identified using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Nine…

Kupfer und seine anorganischen Verbindungen [BAT Value Documentation in German language, 2017]

Soziale Integration in der Überschuldung – Wie bedeutsam ist dies für die Gesundheit?

Soziale Beziehungen und soziale Zugehorigkeiten haben entscheidende Effekte auf die physische und psychische Gesundheit eines Menschen. Bereits im 19. Jahrhundert hatte der franzosische Soziologe Emile Durkheim (1885-1917) in seinem Werk „Le Sucide“ (1897, dt. der Selbstmord) den Einfluss von sozialen Faktoren auf die Selbstmordwahrscheinlichkeit dargestellt, wobei er dem Level der sozialen Integration einer Gruppe die groste Bedeutung zuspricht. Soziale Kontrolle und Normen wirken deregulierend auf die Extremhandlung des Selbstmordes. Umso mehr diese Erkenntnis der strukturellen Deprivation auf die finale Extremsituation eines Menschen aufbaut, sind sie von herausragender Bedeutung fur die…

Belastungsfaktoren von Pflegekräften in der spezialisierten Palliativversorgung – Ergebnisse einer qualitativen Studie

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Für Deutschland liegen keine Studien und kein Erhebungsinstrument vor, welches die Belastungen von Pflegekräften in der spezialisierten Palliativversorgung auf Palliativstationen, Hospizen und der spezialisierten ambulanten Palliativversorgung (SAPV) vergleichend erhebt. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, die gemeinsamen Belastungen dieser Pflegekräfte zu explorieren. Methode Es wurden 10 Interviews mit Fachleuten unterschiedlicher Disziplinen in der Palliativversorgung durchgeführt und mittels qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse ausgewertet. Ergebnisse Es wurden Belastungen, die aufgrund einer mangelhaften flächendeckenden Versorgung der SAPV in Rheinland-Pfalz entste…

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A and B and vaccination status in staff at German schools for the handicapped

This study aims to assess serostatus and vaccination status of hepatitis A and B among staff at schools for the handicapped. We also wanted to investigate factors associated with serostatus, number of infections with hepatitis A/hepatitis B at work, and factors influencing being vaccinated or not. The cross-sectional study was carried out between August 2010 and August 2012 at 13 German schools for severely handicapped. Data were analyzed using blood samples, vaccination documents, and questionnaires. A total of 395 persons participated in our study (response: 59.7%), information on 367 could be used for analysis. Two respondents have been infected with HAV at work, 53.4% were anti-HAV sero…

Psychische Erkrankung und Überschuldung

In Germany, over-indebtedness of private households has been steadily increasing and is currently estimated to affect about 3 million private households. It is almost unknown in the German-speaking part, to what extent financial strain due to excessive debts is accompanied by mental health problems in affected persons. A cross-sectional study including over-indebted persons was conducted between July 2006 and March 2007 in Rhineland-Palatinate by an anonymously filled-in questionnaire of clients of debt counselling services. Altogether 666 persons (51% women) aged between 18-79 years took part (participation rate: 35.5%). 40% of the collective reported a current mental disorder. Especially …

Raynaud-Phänomen bei einer beruflichen Vibrationsbelastung

Anamnese und klinischer Befund: Eine 34-jahrige Steinmetzin wurde mit der Fragestellung eines vibrationsbedingten vasospastischen Syndroms (VVS) begutachtet. Ihre Hande waren langjahrig gegenuber den hochfrequenten Schwingungen verschiedener Werkzeuge exponiert gewesen. Die Patientin berichtete uber Weisfingeranfalle an den Langfingern, die bei Kalte aufgetreten waren. Der korperliche Befund war zu diesem Zeitpunkt regelrecht. Untersuchungen: Der Kaltwasserprovokationstest zeigte an den Langfingern der rechten Hand eine leicht verzogerte Wiedererwarmung; die Kapillarmikroskopie der Finger war regelrecht. Diagnose und Verlauf: Das leichtgradige Raynaud-Phanomen wurde als Berufskrankheit der …

Identification of possible risk factors for alcohol use disorders among general practitioners in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY Research on alcohol use disorders among physicians has been scarce in Germany. The aim of our study was to identify possible risk factors for alcohol use disorders among general practitioners (GPs) working in the outpatient sector in the federal German state of Rhineland-Palatinate (RP). METHODS An anonymous survey was carried out between June and July 2009. 2,092 practice-based GPs in the federal German state of RP were asked to take part in the cross-sectional study via postal mail. The CAGE screening tool was used in its German version (CAGE-G) to screen for alcohol use disorders (AUD). Moreover, possible risk factors such as work stress (effort-reward imbalance), s…

Bewältigungsstrategien und Ressourcen von Pflegekräften in der Palliativversorgung in Rheinland-Pfalz: eine qualitative Studie

Probleme der Erfassung von Überschuldungsgründen am Beispiel der Ursachen „unwirtschaftliche Haushaltsführung“ und „Krankheit“

Das Phanomen der Uberschuldung von privaten Haushalten hat in Deutschland eine relevante Verbreitung und beeinflusst die Lebenslage der Betroffenen enorm. Leider sind zuverlassige aktuelle Zahlen zur Verbreitung des Phanomens nicht vorhanden. Eine Schatzung der Pravalenz wird u.a. jahrlich durch Creditreform Wirtschaftsforschung (2013: 3f) durchgefuhrt. Dort wird der Anteil der Uberschuldeten an der Gesamtbevolkerung in den Jahren 2004-2013 auf 9,1 % bis 10,9 % geschatzt.

Zielgruppenorientierte Präventionsangebote am Standort Schuldner- und Insolvenzberatung als neuer Weg der Stärkung gesundheitlicher Teilhabe überschuldeter Menschen

In Deutschland stellt Uberschuldung von privaten Haushalten ein weitverbreitetes Phanomen dar. So gehen Schatzungen fur das Jahr 2010 davon aus, dass nahezu jeder zehnte Volljahrige in Deutschland von Uberschuldung betroffen ist. Dies entspricht etwa drei Millionen Privathaushalten (Creditreform 2010: 4). Uberschuldung bedeutet hierbei, nicht in der Lage zu sein, mit dem Einkommen die eingegangen Zahlungsverpflichtungen nach Abzug der notwendigen – und oft bereits drastisch zuruckgeschraubten – Lebenshaltungskosten zu erfullen (European Commission 2008: 33–37) Es liegt eine akute Zahlungsunfahigkeit vor. Trotz sinkender Arbeitslosenzahlen (Bundesagentur fur Arbeit, 2011: 16ff) und Einfuhrun…

Hand-arm vibration syndrome: clinical characteristics, conventional electrophysiology and quantitative sensory testing.

Abstract Objective Workers exposed to vibrating tools may develop hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). We assessed the somatosensory phenotype using quantitative sensory testing (QST) in comparison to electrophysiology to characterize (1) the most sensitive QST parameter for detecting sensory loss, (2) the correlation of QST and electrophysiology, and (3) the frequency of a carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in HAVS. Methods QST, cold provocation tests, fine motor skills, and median nerve neurography were used. QST included thermal and mechanical detection and pain thresholds. Results Thirty-two patients were examined (54 ± 11 years, 91% men) at the more affected hand compared to 16 matched contro…

Addendum zu Aluminium [BAT Value Documentation in German language, 2018]

Phase 2 Trial of the Continuous IV Administration of Interferon-? in Patients With Disseminated Malignant Melanoma

BACKGROUND Interferons have been reported to significantly contribute to tumor suppression via both induction of p53 gene expression and inhibition of angiogenesis. OBJECTIVE The assessment of treatment toxicity and antitumoral effectiveness of continuous IV administration of interferon-beta based on an overall evaluation of laboratory, radiographic, and clinical parameters observed during the trial. METHODS The authors treated patients with advanced malignant melanoma with continuous IV infusions of 1 x 10(6) IU interferon-beta daily ( approximately 0.6 x 10(6) IU interferon-beta/m2 daily). RESULTS Continuous IV administration of interferon-beta had no significant effect on overall patient…

The Mental Health of Primary Care Physicians in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Physicians are subject to intense occupational stress (e1– e3), and long-term stress harms their well-being. Health impairments such as high blood pressure (e4), burnout syndrome (e5, e6), depression (1– 3), and substance dependencies (e2, e7) have been linked to occupational stress. One established approach to the assessment of occupational stress is the so-called occupational gratification crisis model (4, 5), according to which stress arises when persistent hard work (effort) does not yield a corresponding gratification (reward). Another important component of this model is a personality-based tendency to devote excessive effort to work, to the individual’s own detriment (“overcommitment…

Betreuung von Angehörigen – eine unterschätzte Belastung für Pflegekräfte der spezialisierten Palliativversorgung?

Was trägt zur Verbesserung der gesundheitlichen Situation von Lehrkräften (LK) am Arbeitsplatz Schwerpunktgrundschule (SPGS) bei? Ein Mixed-Methods-Ansatz

Zusammenfassung Ziel Für SPGS wurde inhaltsanalytisch und unter Berücksichtigung personen- bzw. tätigkeitsbezogener Belastungs- und Beanspruchungsmerkmale erfasst, welche Maßnahmen aus Sicht von LK zur Verbesserung der gesundheitlichen Situation am Arbeitsplatz beitragen können. Methodik Die Daten stammen aus einer vom Institut für Lehrergesundheit (IFL) von August 2013 bis April 2015 an 14 SPGS in Rheinland-Pfalz durchgeführten schriftlichen Querschnittserhebung. Die Teilnahmequote liegt bei 46,3% (143/309 LK). Antworten auf die offene Frage „Welche konkreten berufsbezogenen Maßnahmen würden zu einer Verbesserung Ihres Wohlbefindens oder Ihrer gesundheitlichen Situation am Arbeitsplatz bei…

Sind gehörlose Patienten in Deutschland über ihren gesetzlichen Dolmetscheranspruch informiert?

Gehorlose Burgerinnen und Burger stosen in einer von Horenden gestalteten gesundheitlichen Versorgung auf Barrieren. Der Gesetzgeber hat daher die Finanzierung von Gebardensprachdolmetschern zulasten der Krankenversicherungen vorgesehen. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht erstmals, inwieweit Gehorlose daruber informiert sind und Gebrauch von Dolmetschern machen. Herkommliche Erhebungen basieren auf Laut- und Schriftsprache und sind fur die Zielgruppe eher ungeeignet. Daher wurde eine Online-Querschnittsstudie durchgefuhrt, die mittels Gebardensprachvideos und visuell ausgerichteten Antwortmoglichkeiten eine barrierefreie Teilnahme ermoglichte. Mit einer multivariaten Analyse wurden Faktoren …

P165 Workplace and commuting accidents of german teachers: an analysis of accident reports

Introduction Since 2011 the Institute for Teachers’ Health (IfL) is responsible for the occupational health of more than 40.000 German teachers. Analysing teachers’ accidents is an important part of everyday work. The aim of the study was to describe accident black spots and type of injuries. We further wanted to identify factors influencing accident severity. Methods We included accident reports of teachers between August 2011 and July 2014 (three school-years) which occurred at schools in Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany). In case of an accident, teachers fill out an accident report which is forwarded either to the statutory accident insurance or to the IfL. For the present analysis, anonymi…

Exposure to nitroaromatic explosives and health effects during disposal of military waste.

To investigate the exposure to dinitrotoluene (DNT) and trinitrotoluene (TNT) and the resulting effects in workers which occur during the disposal of military waste.Eighty two employees from a mechanical plant in Germany were studied, of whom 51 were regularly exposed to ammunition containing TNT and DNT, 19 occasionally, and 12 not at all.Air analyses yielded maximum concentrations of 20 micro g/m(3) for 2,4-DNT and 3250 micro g/m(3) for 2,4,6-TNT, respectively. The maximum concentrations in the urine of workers regularly exposed amounted to 5.0 micro g/l of 2,4,6-TNT, 1464.0 micro g/l of 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene, 6693.0 of micro g/l 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene, 2.1 micro g/l of 2,4-DNT, …

Selbstverständnis der Arbeitsmedizin in den zukunftsorientierten Systemen des Arbeitsschutzes und des Gesundheitsversorgungssystems

Ausgehend von den gegenwartigen und zukunftigen Veranderungen in den Beziehungen Mensch — Arbeit — Gesundheit wird die Rolle der Arbeitsmedizin herausgearbeitet und begrundet. Die veranderte Definition und damit das Selbstverstandnis der Arbeitsmedizin, das sich aus diesen Entwicklungen ergibt, werden begrundet. Es wird der unverwechselbare Beitrag der Arbeitsmedizin im interdisziplinaren Feld Arbeit und Gesundheit erlautert. Auf dieser Grundlage werden Thesen der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Arbeitsmedizin und Umweltmedizin e. V. zu Stand und Entwicklungsbedarf von betrieblicher Pravention und Gesundheitsforderung und deren Schnittstellen zum Arbeits- und Gesundheitsschutz wie zum Gesundheit…

Biological monitoring of welders exposed to aluminium

To evaluate an adequate strategy for biological monitoring of aluminium (Al), a group of 62 Al welders (age in 1999: 23-51 years, median 35 years) was surveyed annually from 1999 to 2003 by determination of pre- and post-shift Al in urine and plasma. Biomonitoring was supplemented by personal air measurements of the total dust concentration. The welders' internal exposure was compared to the exposure of 60 non-exposed assembly workers (age in 1999: 21-51 years, median: 36 years) who were surveyed in 1999, 2001 and 2003. Having a nearly constant dust exposure, median concentrations of Al in urine (Al in plasma) of the welders decreased from 40.1 microg/g to 19.8 microg/g creatinine (8.7 to 4…

Biomonitoring and evaluation of permethrin uptake in forestry workers using permethrin-treated tick-proof pants.

We conducted a randomized case-control trial to analyze uptake of the insecticide/arcaricide permethrin in wearers of permethrin-impregnated and non-impregnated pants in German forestry. Eighty-two male workers were each equipped for a 16-week period with permethrin-treated (test group) or with non-treated work pants (control group). Pants with or without lining to protect against cuts, obtained from two different distributors, were worn in each group. Urinary permethrin metabolite levels were measured by GC-MS/MS before, during and after wearing of the pants. Permethrin uptake was calculated using additional questionnaire data. In the control group, metabolite levels in the range of enviro…

Further development of a commercial driving simulation for research in occupational medicine

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to refine a commercial car driving simulation for occupational research. As the effects of ethanol on driving behavior are well established, we choose alcohol as a test compound to investigate the performance of subjects during simulation. Materials and Methods: We programmed a night driving scenario consisting of monotonous highway and a rural road on a Foerst F10-P driving simulator. Twenty healthy men, 19-30 years, participated in a pilot study. Subjects were screened for simulator sickness, followed by training on the simulator one hour in total. Experiments were performed in the morning on a separate day. Participants were randomized into eithe…

The Candy Smell Test in Clinical Routine

Background The “Candy Smell Test” (CST) has been introduced as a new testing method for the evaluation of the human sense of smell. In contrast to other established orthonasal smell tests, the CST addresses the retronasal application of odors, typical for food aroma effects during mastication and swallowing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CST in a clinical setting in patients with olfactory dysfunction and normal controls against the Sniffin’ Sticks test. Furthermore, cutoff points for normal and pathological results in the CST should be determined. Methods The olfactory performance of 96 patients presenting with olfactory disorders and 71 healthy controls was evaluated with the …

Biomonitoring in wearers of permethrin impregnated battle dress uniforms in Afghanistan and Germany.

Objectives To analyse differences in uptake of the insecticide permethrin in wearers of non-impregnated and permethrin impregnated battle dress uniforms (BDU) in Afghanistan and Germany. Methods In two separate studies, in April 2003–January 2004 (study I, n=549) and in February–April 2005 (study II, n=195), healthy female and male members of the German Federal Armed Forces were equipped with permethrin impregnated BDU (two sub-cohorts in Germany and one in Afghanistan) while members equipped with non-impregnated uniforms served as a control group. Human biomonitoring was conducted before, during and after wearing the uniforms by measuring permethrin metabolites in urine samples via GC–MS. …

Analgesics use in competitive triathletes: its relationship to doping and on predicting its usage

The two major objectives of this study were (i) to assess variables that predict the use of analgesics in competitive athletes and (ii) to test whether the use of analgesics is associated with the use of doping. A questionnaire primarily addressing the use of analgesics and doping was distributed among 2,997 triathletes. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to predict the use of analgesics. Moreover, the randomised response technique (RRT) was used to estimate the prevalence of doping in order to assess whether users of analgesics have a higher potential risk for doping than non-users. Statistical power analyses were performed to determine sample size. The bootstrap method was …

Is ultraviolet exposure acquired at work the most important risk factor for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma? Results of the population-based case-control study FB-181

Background Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is among the most frequent types of cancer constituting a significant public health burden. Prevention strategies focus on limiting UV-exposure during leisure time. However, the relative impact of occupational and non-occupational UV-exposure for SCC occurrence is unclear. Objectives To investigate the association between occupational and non-occupational UV-exposure with SCC in a multicenter population-based case-control study hypothesizing that high occupational UV-exposure increases the risk for SCC. Methods Consecutive patients with incident SCC (n=632) were recruited from a German national dermatology network. Population-based controls (n=996) w…

Early stress response of human nasal respiratory epithelia after exposure to 1-methoxypropanol-2

To evaluate the impact of 1-methoxypropanol-2 (MEP) for the stimulation of an inflammatory response in human respiratory mucosa, we exposed 22 primary cell cultures of nasal respiratory epithelia of healthy individuals to MEP concentrations at the level of the German MAK-value (100 ppm) and to the 10-fold concentration (1000 ppm). After 4 and 24h we analyzed the transcription of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, GMCSF, Cox-1 and Cox-2 by quantitative PCR as well as the release of the respective cytokines by ELISA. At both MEP concentrations we observed a significant increase of TNF-alpha-, IL-1beta-, IL-6- and Cox-2-transcripts after 4h. After 24h cytokine transcription of TNF-alpha, …

Krankheit als Auslöser einer Überschuldungssituation von Privatpersonen – Ursachen-Wirkungsbeziehung von Krankheit und Schuldenkrise

Uberschuldung von Privatpersonen kann durch verschiedene Grunde ausgelost werden. Die Auswertungen des Statistischen Bundesamtes zeigen auf, dass die drei haufigsten Hauptgrunde der Uberschuldung die Arbeitslosigkeit (29%), gefolgt von Trennung, Scheidung, Tod des Partners (13%), sowie Erkrankung, Sucht oder Unfall (10%), sind. Wahrend in der Altersgruppe der unter 25-Jahrigen der krankheitsbezogene Hauptgrund bei 6,4% der Uberschuldeten ursachlich fur die Schuldenkrise verantwortlich gemacht wird, sind es bei den 55 bis unter 65-Jahrigen 14,2% der Uberschuldeten, die aufgrund von Erkrankung, Sucht oder Unfall in die finanzielle Ausgabenarmut geraten (s. Abb 1).

Longitudinal study examining the neurotoxicity of occupational exposure to aluminium-containing welding fumes

The neurotoxicity of occupational exposure to aluminium (Al)-containing welding fumes has been discussed with controversial results. The aim of the longitudinal study was to examine a group of Al welders for significant central nervous changes in comparison with a non-exposed cohort.A group of 98 Al welders (mean age 37 years) in the car-body construction industry, with a median of 6 years of occupational exposure to Al welding fumes, and an education-matched, gender-matched, age-matched control group of 50 car-production workers (mean age 36 years) at the same plant, were included in this longitudinal study. Two cross-sectional studies were done in 1999 and 2001. In the second cross-sectio…

Dying With Dementia

Advanced dementia is increasingly being regarded as a terminal disease (1, 2). Studies in English-speaking countries have led to the conclusion that the palliative care of patients with dementia at the end of their lives is now inadequately adapted to their special needs, not only for those dying at home, but also for those dying in hospitals and nursing homes (3, 4). Insufficient symptom control, failure to recognize that the patient is dying, and unnecessary and stressful interventions such as artificial nutrition or physical restraints are common (5, 6). Most of the pertinent studies in Germany have looked only at the symptom burden of persons dying of cancer in palliative care facilitie…

Belastungen von Pflegekräften in Alten-/Pflegeheimen unter Berücksichtigung palliativpflegerischer Aspekte – Ergebnisse einer bundesweiten Befragung zur Arbeitssituation von Pflegekräften in der allgemeinen Palliativversorgung

Uptake of permethrin from impregnated clothing.

In order to examine exposure and health risks which can arise from permethrin-impregnated clothing, a controlled trial was conducted. In a study group consisting of 187 volunteers in total, a subgroup of 86 persons was equipped with permethrin-impregnated battle dress uniforms (BDU) for 28 days. One hundred and one persons served as a control group, wearing non-impregnated BDUs throughout the entire study period of 56 days. Internal exposure of all participants was assessed by determination of urinary permethrin metabolites (cis-DCCA, trans-DCCA and 3-PBA) on day 0, 14 and 28 of the wearing period and 28 days after termination of wearing. Exposure levels in the control group ranged within b…

Urinary excretion of heptanones, heptanoles and 2,5-heptanedione after controlled acute exposure of volunteers to n-heptane.

A lack of well-established parameters and assessment values currently impairs biomonitoring of n-heptane exposure. Using controlled inhalation experiments, we collected information on urinary n-heptane metabolite concentrations and the time course of metabolite excretion. Relationships between external and internal exposure were analysed to investigate the suitability of selected metabolites to reflect n-heptane uptake. Twenty healthy, non-smoking males (aged 19-38 years, median 25.5) were exposed for 3 h to 167, 333 and 500 ppm n-heptane, each. Spot urine samples of the volunteers, collected before exposure and during the following 24 h, were analysed for heptane-2-one, 3-one, 4-one, 2,5-d…

Berufskrankheiten heute - was muss der Nicht-Arbeitsmediziner wissen?

Application of headspace solid phase dynamic extraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPDE-GC/MS) for biomonitoring of n-heptane and its metabolites in blood.

Abstract Solid phase dynamic extraction (SPDE) is an innovative sample preparation and enrichment technique in connection with gas chromatography (GC). Using SPDE, we developed a method for simultaneous determination of n-heptane and its mono-oxygenated metabolites heptane-4-one, 3-one, 2-one, 4-ol, 3-ol, 2-ol, and 1-ol in blood. After adjustment of various extraction and desorption parameters, method validation resulted in limits of detection (LOD) between 0.006 (heptane-4-one) and 0.021 mg/L (heptane-1-ol). Intra-assay coefficients of variation ranged between 4.8% and 20.8% while relative recovery ranged between 100% and 117% (spiked concentration 0.128 mg/L, n  = 8). The method was appli…

Intoxication with a tropenol ester.

BACKGROUND While the effects of medicinal products are investigated in depth before approval, often very little is known about the intermediates occurring during synthesis. The pharmacological properties of these intermediates can differ substantially from those of the end product. AIMS To describe a work accident involving intoxication with such an intermediate, tropenol ester. CASE REPORT A healthy 40-year-old chemical-technical operative erroneously used a scrubbing brush that had just been used to clear up tropenol ester, contaminating his work clothes. Presumably, contact was made with his skin when removing his work clothes later. Shortly thereafter, he developed signs of anticholiner…

Zur Belastung von Augen und Gehör am Arbeitsplatz und in der Umwelt

Sowohl im Erwerbsleben als auch in der Freizeit sind Augen und Gehor die am haufigsten beanspruchten Sinnesorgane. Eine ungunstige Gestaltung der Arbeits- bzw. Umweltbedingungen fuhrt haufig zu negativen Belastungen nicht nur der entsprechenden Sinnesorgane, sondern meist auch des gesamten Organismus. Zur Minimierung einer unphysiologischen Belastung ist eine entsprechende Arbeits- und Umweltgestaltung prioritar. The visual and auditive systems are the most commonly used senses at work and in leisure time. Unfavourable featured workplaces and environments frequently lead to stresses and strain not only the sense organs but also the entire organism. To minimize unphysiological squeals an opt…

Occupational injuries of teachers and educational staff at special schools with multiple and severely handicapped children in Rhineland‐Palatinate (Germany): results of a cross‐sectional study

Occupational injuries of teachers and educational staff at special schools with multiple and severely handicapped children in Rhineland‐Palatinate (Germany): results of a cross‐sectional study: Matthias Claus, et al. Institute for Teachers’ Health at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to describe the prevalence, type, and influencing factors of occupational injuries of staff working at special schools with multiple and severely handicapped pupils in Southwestern Germany. METHODS: This cross‐sectional study was carried out between August 2010 and August 2012 at 13 special schools with focus on motoric and/or…

Challenge Accepted! a Critical Reflection on How to Perform a Health Survey Among University Students—An Example of the Healthy Campus Mainz Project

Background: Universities represent an important setting of everyday life for health promotion. The Healthy Campus Mainz project aims to develop an evidence-based and comprehensive student health management program covering physical, mental, and social health promotion. Hence, an initial health survey was performed in order to identify the students' health concerns and resources. Up until now, it remains unclear which topics to choose in a health survey among university students and which strategies can be recommended to receive an acceptable response rate or representative student sample within a university setting. The present paper contributes to the call for the present research topic “P…

Hypothenar hammer syndrome: A multicenter case-control study

Background The rarely diagnosed hypothenar hammer syndrome (HHS) is due to vascular damage to the distal part of the ulnar artery probably caused by acute or repetitive blunt trauma to the hypothenar region. To date, mainly case reports have been published, while epidemiological data are almost absent. Aim To identify potential risk factors for HHS. Method An interview-based multicenter case–control study of 71 patients with HHS and 105 matched controls was conducted with standardized questions regarding disease specific variables, occupation, exposure of the hands to different types of trauma in occupational and leisure context. Medical data were verified from individual medical records. R…

External and internal exposure of wine growers spraying methyl parathion.

Organophosphates, used in agriculture, are readily absorbed through the skin. We investigated the relationship between dermal and inhalative methyl parathion exposure and the plasma levels. Twenty-three healthy wine growers sprayed the insecticide for 50 min. Fluorescent brilliant sulfoflavin was added to the spraying fluids and filter papers were fixed on the subjects. The filter papers were used to evaluate the amount of brilliant sulfoflavine on the unprotected skin fluorometrically. Inhalative exposure was measured with personal air sampler. Plasma concentrations of methyl parathion and its metabolite methyl paraoxon were determined with gas chromatography. Cholinesterase activity in se…

Codierung der Tätigkeitsangaben im Basiskollektiv der Gutenberg-Gesundheitsstudie unter Anwendung der Klassifikation der Berufe KldB 2010 — Darstellung des Vorgehens und der Datenqualität

In der Basiserhebung der Gutenberg- Gesundheitsstudie Mainz wurden die Berufsbiografien von 15.010 Probanden erfasst. Um die Textangaben aus 67.389 einzelnen Tatigkeitsphasen fur epidemiologische Auswertungen nutzen zu konnen, wurde eine Codierung nach der deutschen Klassifikation der Berufe KldB 2010 durchgefuhrt. Ziel des Artikels ist, das methodische Vorgehen und die Qualitat der angewandten Berufscodierung darzustellen.

Schlafenszeiten, Fernseh- und Computergewohnheiten von Grundschulkindern in Deutschland

Background Pediatricians recommend daily sleep of at least ten hours for children aged 9 and 10 years. Sufficient sleep is necessary for maintaining the body's homeostasis, as well as for fixing memories and learning. Lack of sleep in children has been associated with a diminished school performance, reduced attention span, and obesity. Adulthood is influenced by childhood lifestyle habits. Data from 4th graders in 34 schools in Mainz and its surroundings were analysed in order to determine negative health lifestyle factors in German primary school children, such as lack of sleep and increased leisure time spent watching television and computer gaming. Methods Data from a cross-sectional st…

Überschuldung und Zuzahlungen im deutschen Gesundheitssystem – Benachteiligung bei Ausgabenarmut

Aim of the study In the past few years, the number of over-indebted private households in Germany has steadily increased and is currently estimated to have reached 3.13 million. Financial difficulties culminating in private insolvencies of the persons concerned may lead to a restrained usage of health-care services that require additional payment. For the first time ever this study has examined whether over-indebted individuals refrain from seeking medical treatment or from buying prescribed medicine because of their financial situation. Methods The cross-sectional study covered over-indebted persons in Rhineland-Palatinate and was conducted between July 2006 and March 2007. In cooperation …

Psychological Burdens among Teachers in Germany during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic-Subgroup Analysis from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Online Survey.

Background: Schools underwent massive changes during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic worldwide. Besides existing occupational health challenges, teachers had to deal with biological and psychological burdens that had the potential to impact their psychological well-being. The aim of the present study was to (i) assess the current state of psychological burdens in German teachers and (ii) identify highly burdened subgroups to derive and address interventions. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted among teachers at all school types in Germany in March 2021. Data on psychological strains were assessed using established (e.g., PHQ-4) and new—pandemic-specific—(e.…

The relationship between workload and burnout among nurses: The buffering role of personal, social and organisational resources

Workload in the nursing profession is high, which is associated with poor health. Thus, it is important to get a proper understanding of the working situation and to analyse factors which might be able to mitigate the negative effects of such a high workload. In Germany, many people with serious or life-threatening illnesses are treated in non-specialized palliative care settings such as nursing homes, hospitals and outpatient care. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the buffering role of resources on the relationship between workload and burnout among nurses. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was applied. The questionnaire included parts of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Qu…