Occupational Health and Safety From Communist to Capitalist Structures

This article focuses on individual effects of the transformation from communist to capitalist structures in the system of occupational health and safety (OHS). Despite basic similarities among the communist nations the systems of OHS differed immensely. The political changes during transformation additionally contributed to varying opportunities for the development of OHS systems. Changes affecting the living and working conditions are significant and are demonstrated by the development of new work structures and work biographies. This is reflected in changed attitudes to demands and contents of work. No differences, however, were found between the employed and unemployed when asked about these issues. Conclusions for OHS in postcommunist states are drawn.     

Occupational Medicine—Its Contribution to Protection and Promotion of Health at Work

This article deals with the special demands on occupational medicine due to the changes of work and of tasks at workplaces. Conclusions for research in occupational medicine are drawn from these processes. They are discussed on the basis on an analysis of literature from the years 1980–1998. Focus of future research in the field of occupational medicine is developed by taking international tendencies, the interdisciplinary setting of occupational medicine, and the close relations between science and practice into consideration.     

Arzneimittel, Diagnostika und Desinfektionsmittel in der Umwelt

Zusammenfassung  Ein Eintrag von Arzneimitteln, Diagnostika und Desinfektionsmitteln in die Umweltbereiche Wasser und Boden kann aus Krankenh?usern, anderen medizinischen Einrichtungen, Haushalten (Verschreibungen durch niedergelassene ?rzte) und der Tierhaltung bzw.-mast oder-zucht einschlie?lich der Aquakultur (Arzneimittel zur Therapie und Prophylaxe sowie Futtermittelzusatzstoffe) sowie durch den Gebrauch bei Heimtieren resultieren. Im Folgenden sollen grunds?tzliche Erw?gungen und übergeordnete Gesichtspunkte zum Eintrag von Pharmaka, Diagnostika und Desinfektionsmitteln ausführlicher er?rtert werden. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei neben den gesetzlichen Regelungen die Eigenschaften der Stoffe, ihr daraus abzuleitendes Umweltverhalten, die damit verbundene Risikoabsch?tzung sowie notwendige Ma?nahmen zur L?sung des Problemkreises ‘Arzneimittel in der Umwelt’. Neben den eigentlichen Arzneimitteln werden in der Human- und Tiermedizin eine Vielzahl weiterer Stoffe z.B. für die Diagnostik und aus hygienischen Gründen verwendet. Sie werden in die Betrachtungen eingeschlossen. Dieser Beitrag ist Prof. Dr. Fritz Frimmel zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Organic contaminants in the environment: Research progress and needs

An already large and rapidly increasing number of manmade organic contaminants is found to be present in environmental samples from around the world. However, the biological effects of many of these compounds are unknown. Traditional biological testing, albeit important, cannot be done on each chemical due to limitations of the available resources. Therefore, new avenues should be pursued to screen out the hazardous compounds for more intensive research. One of these avenues, quantitative structure-activity correlations, applies the existing knowledge to estimate the effects of other, structurally related compounds. In combination with a fast and cost-effective biological test, this method appears useful in solving both the existing backlog and future needs for information on the safety and environmental effects of new chemicals.     

A GAME THEORY APPROACH TO DECIDING WHO WILL SUPPLY INSTREAM FLOW WATER1

ABSTRACT: The resource management problem for the Middle Platte ecosystem is the insufficient water available to meet both instream ecological demands and out‐of‐stream economic needs. This problem of multiple interest groups competing for a limited resource is compounded by sharp disagreement in the scientific community over endangered species' needs for instream flows. In this study, game theory was used to address one dimension of this resource management problem. A sequential auction with repeated bidding was used to determine how much instream flow water each of three states — Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming — will provide and at what price. The results suggest that the use of auction mechanisms can improve the prospects for reaching a multi‐state agreement on who will supply instream flow water, if the auction is structured to discourage misrepresentation of costs and if political compensation is allowed.