[Environmental epidemiologic research as the basis for organizing health inspection].

In the practical work of hygiene guideline and limitation values derived from animal experiments are used. The necessity to verify their validity and applicability by environmental epidemiologic research is pointed out. The close relationship between epidemiological research and practice of hygiene in the GDR is demonstrated by examples.

[Epidemiological surveys of formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide levels in indoor air].

The influence of HCHO and NO2 on clinical, haematological, immunological, sensory and lung function parameters were tested in 129 children out of 3 classes. As part of a biological monitoring programme formic acid content in urine was determined. Concentration of the pollutants in indoor air was measured by means of passive samples.

[Epidemiologic study of indoor formaldehyde and nitric oxide pollution].

The authors report on some selected results of an 87-pilot study, by means of which has been started to analyse the influence of formaldehyde, nitrogenous oxide and tobacco smoke on school children visiting 3. classes in old and new buildings in their schools and dwellings.

[Epidemiologic studies of the effect of air pollution on children].

During a seven-year study investigations were carried out on school children from areas with varying concentrations of harmful substances. Psychodiagnostic, anthropometric, clinical, haematological and immunological results are presented and evaluated.

[The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant Aeromonas and Vibrio species in river water].

262 samples of river water had been analysed for the occurrence of antibiotic resistant Aeromonas and Vibrio strains. The bacteria were cultured on selective media containing the antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agents oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, ampicillin, kanamycin, gentamycin or trimethoprim. Although it was not possible to identify antibiotic resistant bacteria of the genus Vibrio, resistant strains of Aeromonas hydrophila with a wide variety of resistance patterns could be cultured in many cases.

Epidemiological studies regarding the effects of air pollution.

Studies on large samples of the population are an indispensable prerequisite for investigations into the validity and reliability of threshold levels stipulated for atmospheric pollutants purity under real conditions. Children represent suitable groups for such studies, also in the context of meaningful and effective prophylaxis. Epidemiological studies conducted over several years show that there are differences between the anthropometric, hematological and immunological parameters of subjects living in regions with major pollution loads and in so-called "clean air" regions.

[CSF diagnosis in syphilis].

Treponemal antibodies in CSF are often to be found by FTA-ABS and TPHA, also in cases without syphilis cerebrospinalis. The checking of the CSF barrier allows--together with the TPHA-index--the diagnostic of the syphilis cerebrospinalis. Antibodies against treponema pallidum have been proved in 15 patients at different stages of syphilis until 30 years after treatment, but the titres were low.