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The biological control procedure for carbon disulphide (CS2), the determination of free and bound CS2 in urine--a procedure already applied to hygienic surveillance--were modified by using gas chromatography and sulphide selective detection (FPD). The results obtained by the changed biological monitoring test in workplace and environmental surveillance are present and discussed. For CS2 concentrations at workplaces in the range of 8-54 mg/m3 a correlation coefficient of r = 0.56 (n = 11, p less than 0.07) was calculated for the mathematical connection of CS2 shift exposure and CS2 content in urine. For environmental exposures in the range of the CS2 immision short term threshold value (MIKK) of 0.03 mg/m3 the procedure may discriminate significantly exposure load from naturally occurring CS2 background.

Construction, function, and quality of parameters of a newly developed passive dosimeter for carbon disulphide are described. CS2 adsorbed on chromosorb 101 is thermically desorbed and then dosed to a gas chromatograph via a gas sampling valve and finally determined by flame photometric detection (FPD). The dosimeter allows 24-hr immission and indoor measurements, respectively, and is also suitable as a personal dosimeter for the environmental concentration range. First practical measurement results are discussed.

In the framework of an epidemiological cross sectional study on the medical effects of environmental carbon disulphide loads a specific exposure analysis has been developed concerning this harmful substance. The main point of this analysis is the determination of the individual exposure by personal sampling and biological monitoring, respectively, in addition to emission and in-door measurements. The non-metabolised and acid labile CS2 in urine is determined as the specific biological marker. For characterizing the additional exposure the drinking water, soil, and settlement structure were investigated. Since 1987 this expensive analysis is performed parallel to a specific medical examination programme.

For investigating the effect of emissions of the cellulose and rayon silk production on the health state of selected groups of the population as part of an epidemiological cross sectional study on 9-year old school children a medical examination programme with emphasis to the following 5 points--psychological examination, clinical-chemical investigations, lung function analysis, actual state, anamnestic inquiry--has been developed. The programme has been successfully tested in 660 specifically exposed and non-exposed children, respectively. Hitherto performed part evaluations of the mentioned 5 points confirm the correctness of the broadly constructed study.

Cases of treatment because of acutely occurring states of pain were analysed in a big-city dental outpatients department. The one-year examination covered about 4,000 cases of the total number of 40,000 consultations. As for the diagnoses considered in the examination, it concerned primarily dental caries, acute apical periodontitis and pulpitis. It was to find out if here is a relation between "toothache" and airhygienic influences. This was done with reference to an examination using the same method which was performed as early as in 1982/83. Apparently, there is no immediate correlation.

Some 65,000 requests for visits by Emergency Aid (SMH) at First-Aid Station Berlin (capital of the GDR) had been noticed in winter 1981/82. About 25,000 requests for visits were only because of cardio-circulatory and respiratory system-symptoms. The number of these requests for visits increased continuously from January to March, especially during days of epidemic situations (acute respiratory diseases--ARD), but also after a period of time with high temperature, humidity and after föhn-weather. Anyfurther increase of requests for visits by Emergency Aid during the extraordinary immission situation (Smog) in January 1982 were not reported.

Any increase of daily requests for care at a hospital emergency room in Berlin (capital of the GDR) were not reported during the days of extraordinary immission situation (Smog) in January 1982 and 1985. But a special attention is necessary for people over 75 years. The information is based on the analysis of 13,000 acute internal affections from 1981 to 1985 recorded in a hospital emergency room.