[1998 environment survey--initial results].
In close connection with the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998, a third round of the German Environmental Survey (GerES III) was carried out using a random subsample of about 4,500 subjects, which are representative for the German population aged 18 to 69 years. The GerES was carried out by the Federal Environmental Agency on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety. The participants had to undergo an examination in human-biomonitoring. An environmental questionnaire was used to get exposure-related information. Preliminary results indicate a reduction of the body burden with metals in 1998 compared with 1990/92. However, some individuals showed elevated values. For those people health effects are possible or cannot be excluded with sufficient certainty. Using the results of GerES III it will be possible for the first time to establish reference values for organochlorine compounds on a representative data basis. The examination of the tap water used in the subjects households shows that the limit and guideline values of the German Drinking Water Ordinance have not always been met in 1998. This holds especially for lead, copper, and zinc which are being used as pipe-material for domestic plumbing.
Schulz
C
C
Umweltbundesamt, Berlin.
Becker
K
K
Helm
D
D
Krause
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged