Ethical evaluation of compulsory measles immunisation as a benchmark for good health management in the European Union.

The results of the study Benchmarking Regional Health Management II suggest that compulsory measles immunisation is a good practice in public health management. Yet, the potential achievement of the desired health outcome alone is not a sufficient reason to make the immunisation obligatory. Rather, compulsory measles immunisation is a morally challenging measure.

Levels of PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs in the blood of the non-occupationally exposed residents living in the vicinity of a chemical plant in the Czech Republic.

In 2003, concentrations of altogether 17 PCDD/Fs congeners and 12 non-ortho and mono-ortho dioxin-like PCBs were measured in the blood of 60 randomly selected adults who lived in three settlements surrounding a chemical plant that had been producing chlorinated herbicides (mainly HCHs, HCB, pentachlorophenole, 2,4,5-T) in the 1960's; subjects consuming home-produced animal foods were chosen. Twenty blood donors with similar characteristics from the locality with about 80 km distance were used as control subjects. The factors that influenced the dioxin levels were investigated on the basis of a questionnaire.

Reference frameworks for the health management of measles, breast cancer and diabetes (type II).

This paper presents reference frameworks which order effective and feasible policies and interventions for the health management of measles, breast cancer and diabetes (type II). These reference frameworks can be used to rapidly appraise regional health policy documents and existing health management systems. Furthermore, the reference frameworks can serve health policy makers for the planning of health management measures.

Effects of occupational exposure to diesel exhaust on porphyrin metabolism in lymphocytes of workers employed at black coal and oil-shale mines.

Background: This pilot study was conducted to investigate biochemical effects of exposure to diesel engine exhaust at two mines. For this purpose, heme biosynthesis, and PP association with DNA (PP/DNA) in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust were determined.

Methods: The pilot study was carried out at a black coal mine in Czech Republic, and at an oil-shale mine in Estonia.