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Exposure of the general population to lead in the environment is mainly caused by motor traffic exhaust and by industrial pollution. The aim of the study in Greece was to assess lead exposure in children living in point source impacted areas (Lavrion and Aspropyrgos-Eleusis) using the biological monitoring parameter "blood lead concentration".In addition, workers of a lead smelter, a battery plant and an oil refinery were investigated in these areas at the same time.Five hundred and thirty-four children and 105 workers took part in this investigation.The highest blood lead levels (mean: 24.16 µg/100ml; range: 10.40-60.49 µg/100 ml) were found in children living in a 500m-area around the lead smelter at Lavrion. Blood lead decreases corresponded to the increasing distance from the emitter. Nevertheless the values of children living in a 1500 m distance to the smelter are significantly higher than those of children living next to other kinds of industrial lead sources.The mean values of the children living in the two industrial towns were manifold higher than those of the control group.The blood lead levels of the investigated workers did not exceed the German BAT-value (Biologischer Arbeitsstoff-Toleranzwert) of 70 µg/100ml.

According to the Protection against Infection Act (IfSG), schools have to identify their arrangements of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for hygienic conditions, and the public health departments are obliged to check the hygienic conditions in schools. Here, practical experience with these topics in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, is presented.Although all schools had been informed about their duties according to IfSG in 2001, only 44% (80/180 schools) of them were able to present their SOPs when requested to do so by the public health department in 2006. Complaints about bad sanitary hygiene in schools have to be confirmed, often even in recently redeveloped facilities, because of vandalism. The equipment of washing basins was improved very well during the influenza pandemic in 2009. In 2010, however, a tendency to deterioration had been observed. With data on high levels on indoor contamination (particles and CO2) in class rooms in 2006, the city increased the frequency of cleaning and launched a programme on proper ventilation in classrooms. However, a study on ventilation in 29 schools in 2009 resulted in very high levels of CO2; obviously the recommendation to ventilate the classrooms every break are neglected. Large studies on drinking water quality exhibited good data, with the exception of high Legionella contaminations in hot water systems supplying the showers in gymnasiums. Major redevelopment measures were necessary.Hygienic conditions in schools should be improved urgently. The public health departments should increase their consulting services as well as their control visits in schools - with the aim to improve hygiene in schools. Responsibility of the schools as well as of the individuals in the schools is demanded as well. More public attention to this topic seems mandatory, may be via a "signal light - red-yellow-green" for schools?

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Zusammenfassung Im Beitrag 1) wird das Konzept und die Methodik einer unter der Bezeichnung NORAH (Noise-Related Annoyance, Cognition, and Health) laufenden umfangreichen Studie zur Wirkung von Verkehrslärm (Flug-, Schienen-und Straßenverkehrslärm) vorgestellt. Die NORAH-Studie wurde anlässlich der Diskussionen um den Ausbau des Frankfurter Flughafens von der Gemeinnützigen Umwelthaus GmbH, Kelsterbach, einer 100%igen Tochter des Landes Hessen, nach europaweiter Ausschreibung im April 2011 an ein interdisziplinäres Forschungskonsortium, koordiniert von der Ruhr-Universität Bochum und der ZEUS GmbH, Hagen, vergeben. Die Untersuchung wird vornehmlich in der Rhein-Main-Region sowie darüber hinaus an den Flughäfen Berlin-Brandenburg, Köln-Bonn und Stuttgart durchgeführt. Die Studie umfasst Längs-und Querschnittsuntersuchungen und eine epidemiologische Fall-Kontroll-Studie, in denen ein Methodenmix, bestehend aus akustischen Berechnungen und Messungen der Verkehrslärmexposition, Befragungen, physiologischen Messungen, psychologischen Testverfahren sowie Sekundärdatenanalysen von Krankenkassendaten zum Einsatz kommt. NORAH (Noise-Related Annoyance, Cognition, and Health)-Concept of a study on effects of transportation noise on residents living in the vicinity of an airport Summary This article is a revised and extended version of the authors' contributions to ALD newsletter No. 9 and to the conference DAGA 2012 1). The concept and methods of NORAH (Noise-Related Annoyance, Cognition, and Health), a large-scale study about the effects of transportation noise, is presented. On the occasion of discussions among stakeholders about the extension of Frankfurt airport in April 2011, and after a European-wide call for proposals, a group of scientists coordinated by Ruhr-University Bochum and ZEUS GmbH, Hagen, was commissioned by the Hessian state-owned Environment & Community Center, Kelsterbach, to conduct the NORAH study. The study mainly takes place in the Rhine Main region in the vicinity of Frankfurt airport and in addition at the airports Berlin-Brandenburg, Cologne-Bonn, and Stuttgart. NORAH comprises longitudinal and cross-sectional sub-studies as well as an epidemiological case-control study. A multi-method approach including acoustical calculations and measurements, surveys, physiological measurements, psychological tests and secondary analysis on health insurance data is applied.