[Detection of viruses in raw water as a basic tool for risk assessment].

Human pathogenic viruses may end up in surface waters by fecal contamination. However, the German drinking water ordinance requests that pathogens in drinking water should not be present in concentrations constituting a potential danger to human health. Since many viruses do have a very low dose of infection, they have to be sufficiently eliminated in the process of drinking water purification.

Chemical and microbiological parameters as possible indicators for human enteric viruses in surface water.

There are still conflicting results on the suitability of chemical and microbiological parameters as indicators for the viral contamination of surface waters. In this study, conducted over 20 months, the abundance of human adenovirus, human polyomavirus, enterovirus, group A rotavirus and norovirus was determined in Ruhr and Rhine rivers, Germany. Additionally, prevalence of different possible indicators such as somatic coliphages, E.

[Surveillance of drinking water supply systems on markets and in vehicles].

The new German Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV 2001) demands that the requirements of water intended for human consumption be met up to the intrinsic tap, at which the water is used. This also applies to water supply systems for food trade aboard non-stationary facilities and in vehicles for commercial purposes. In contrast to stationary units for drinking water supply, the nonstationary units relocate and the responsibility changes with each public health authority agent.

[Evaluating guidelines for "selection and training of staff for odor analysis"--a 7-year longitudinal study].

During a 7 years longitudinal study on a representative group the guideline "selection and schooling of personal for odour analysis" was reexamined. It could be shown that the selection in two steps is well suited to recognize anosmia and hyposmia, respectively and that normal osmia is well to be characterized by smell scores of 30-42. A statistical significant training effect could be shown with the qualitative test for training of the odour memory as well as the articulation in describing of smell impressions.