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W Bödeker

Publications and source records attributed to W Bödeker.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Water quality objectives for mixtures of toxic chemicals: problems and perspectives.

The need to develop water quality objectives not only for single substances but also for mixtures of chemicals seems evident. For that purpose, the conceptual basis could be the use of the two existing biometric models: concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA), which is also called response addition. Both may allow calculation of the toxicity of mixtures of chemicals with similar modes of action (CA) or dissimilar modes of action (IA), respectively. The joint research project Prediction and Assessment of the Aquatic Toxicity of Mixtures of Chemicals (PREDICT) within the framework of the IVth Environment and Climate Programme of the European Commission, provided the opportunity to address (a) chemometric and QSAR criteria to classify substances as supposedly similarly or dissimilarly acting; (b) the predictive values of both models for the toxicity of mixtures at low, statistically nonsignificant effect concentrations of the individual components; and (c) the predictability of mixture toxicity at higher levels of biological complexity. In this article, the general outline, methodological approach, and some preliminary findings of PREDICT are presented. A procedure for classifying chemicals in relation to their structural and toxicological similarities has been developed. The predictive capabilities of CA and IA models have been demonstrated for single species and, to some extent, for multispecies testing. The role of very low effect concentrations in multiple mixtures has been evaluated. Problems and perspectives concerning the development of water quality objectives for mixtures are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Effect of occupationally related stress on diagnosis-specific work incapacity].

Sickness absence data of approx. 50,000 employees were gathered from the health insurance funds of five companies from the metal processing and retail trade. According to the job characteristics the employees were grouped in 83 different job types. Each job type was accessed with respect to the occurrence of risk factors (70 items). Finally, adjusted relative risks for disease-specific sickness absence were calculated. With respect to all diseases studied "low job control" turned out to be the risk factor highest associated with sickness absence. E.g., for back disorders a relative risk of 4.7 was seen for employees whose jobs were highest characterised by "low job control" compared to employees without. In contrast, relative risks concerning "high job demands" were well below one. In general, associations between physical work bad (e.g. heavy work, vibrations) and sickness absence from various diseases were observed also, but those of psychosocial factors were more consistent and dominant.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2000

[Routine documentation based on disability data of the legal health insurance].

Data on sickness absence of employees are routinely used for health reporting and the analysis of work-related morbidity by institutions of the German health insurance. Since the insurance system comprises several different branches, these health reports differ in respect of objectives, data selection, methods of analysis, and presentation of results. A further lack of comparability is caused by the heterogeneous populations, since membership in a certain health insurance depends on social status and job requirements. Aim of this paper was to review the methods and characteristics of health reports as they are routinely published in Germany. By evaluating these reports recommendations should be derived to improve comparability. The review showed that at least four different kinds of health reports should be differentiated: company-based health reports, health reports for business branches, morbidity statistics, and reports from research projects. Such reports have different objectives and therefore require different methods of data analysis. However, group-specific and common standards could be set up and it is suggested that health insurance institutions should work out report guidelines based on the recommendations given in this review.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1999

[Linking survey data with routine health and accident insurance data].

Data of the social security institutions, although gathered for administrative purposes, provide important information on work-related morbidity. The validity of the data can be improved by linking several data sources and data from questionnaires or medical examinations. Hence, within the framework of the "Cooperative Programme Occupation and Health" (KOPAG) a specific procedure for data linkage was developed. Data linkage was effected via an anonymous social security number on the one hand, and on the other hand a constructed short number using informations on birthday, sex, and the first letter of the surname of the employees. By means of this short number an average 62% of the questionnaires could be linked to the health insurance sickness leave data. Data linkage was particularly successful (85%) under specific advantageous conditions. Data linkage failed in 25% of all cases because the information necessary to construct the short number was obviously wrong. In general, this procedure to link survey data to routine data of the social security proves suitable for use in routine health reporting.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of the isobologram method for the assessment of mixtures of chemicals. Combination effect studies with pesticides in algal biotests.

The aim of this paper is an evaluation of isobolograms, a method proposed for the assessment of combined effects of chemicals. In order to examine potentials and shortcomings of this approach for ecotoxicological purposes, algal biotests with selected pesticidal compounds were performed. Additivity, as defined by the model, is demonstrated for the combination of atrazine and metribuzin for different combination ratios, response levels, and parameters. Subadditivity is shown for amitrole and glufosinate-ammonium. The results and inherent biometrical features are discussed in terms of criteria considered suitable for comparative evaluation of biometrical models for the assessment of mixtures of chemicals.

Aminobutyrates↗