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International audience; During the Late Pleistocene, an ice cap temporarily rested on the highest summit of the Black Forest, Feldberg, and on the surrounding region. Moraines inside the last glaciation maximum ice extent document subsequent glacial standstills and/or re-advances, but the chronology of the deglaciation remains largely unknown. In Sankt Wilhelmer Tal, moraines were mapped, and suitable moraine boulders were sampled for 10 Be cosmic ray exposure (CRE) dating. Equilibrium line altitudes (ELAs) during moraine formation were reconstructed to evaluate whether these can be used for local stratigraphical correlations. Geomorphological mapping revealed numerous icemarginal positions in the main valley and in two tributary valleys. CRE ages and ELAs indicate two discrete phases of glacial standstills and/or re-advances by 17-16 ka at the latest and no later than 14 ka, respectively. Differing ELAs across the study area preclude the use of ELAs for local stratigraphical correlations. Recalculated 10 Be CRE ages from other localities in Central Europe indicate similar periods of moraine formation, thus raising the question of a common climatic forcing. Additional sets of CRE ages are needed to answer this question. In addition, future studies should concentrate on determining the age of the last glaciation maximum in the Black Forest.

Cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) dating of boulders on terminal moraines has become a well-established technique to reconstruct glacier chronologies. If topographic obstructions are present in the surroundings of sampling sites, CRE ages need to be corrected for topographic shielding. In recent years, geographical information system (GIS)-based approaches have been developed to compute shielding factors with elevation data, particularly two toolboxes for the ESRI ArcGIS software. So far, the output of the most recent toolbox (Li, 2018) has only been validated with a limited number of field-data-based shielding factors. Additionally, it has not been systematically evaluated how the spatial resolution of the input elevation data affects the output of the toolbox and whether a correction for vegetation leads to considerably more precise shielding factors. This paper addresses these issues by assessing the output of the toolbox with an extensive set of field-data-based shielding factors. Commonly used elevation data with different spatial resolutions were tested as input. To assess the impact of the different methods on CRE ages, ages of boulders with different 10Be concentrations at sites with varying topography and 10Be production rates were first recalculated with GIS-based shielding factors and then with field-data-based shielding factors. For sampling sites in forested low mountainous areas and in high Alpine settings, the shielding factors were independent of the spatial resolution of the input elevation data. Vegetation-corrected elevation data allowed more precise shielding factors to be computed for sites in a forested low mountainous area. In most cases, recalculating CRE ages of the same sampling sites with different shielding factors led to age shifts between 0 % and 2 %. Only one age changed by 5 %. It is shown that the use of elevation data with a very high resolution requires precise x and y coordinates of sampling sites and that there is otherwise a risk that small-scale objects in the vicinity of sampling sites will be misinterpreted as topographic barriers. Overall, the toolbox provides an interesting avenue for the determination of shielding factors. Together with the guidelines presented here, it should be more widely used.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Seit 2011 müssen dem Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) nach dem Infektionsschutzgesetz (IfSG) regelhaft nur noch labordiagnostisch bestätigte Norovirus (NoV)-Gastroenteritisfälle, nicht aber z. B. klinisch- epidemiologische gemeldet werden, weshalb sich die ohnehin schon bestehende Untererfassung von NoV-Fällen in Deutschland deutlich verstärkt haben dürfte. Fragestellung Um das Ausmaß der Untererfassung zu diskutieren, wird in diesem Beitrag fallbeispielhaft dargestellt, inwieweit bei Gastroenteritisausbrüchen in Krankenhäusern und Gemeinschaftseinrichtungen überhaupt labordiagnostische Nachweise zur Klärung des Infektionsauslösers erfolgen. Interessant für die Abschätzung der arbeitsmedizinischen Bedeutung von NoV-Gastroenteritis ist auch der Anteil des erkrankten Personals. Material und Methoden Von allen pseudonymisierten Gastroenteritis-Ausbruchsdaten, die 2 lokalen Gesundheitsämtern zwischen 2011 und 2015 gemeldet wurden, wurde retrospektiv der Anteil labor-diagnostisch bestätigter NoV-Ausbrüche und -Fälle einschließlich gemeldeter Beschäftigter in Krankenhäusern und Gemeinschaftseinrichtungen (Altenpflegeheime, Kindertagesstätten, Schulen) errechnet. Ergebnisse Es wurde nur bei wenigen Gastroenteritisausbrüchen in Kindertagesstätten eine ätiologische Erregerabklärung durchgeführt, weshalb nur 6% und weniger als NoV-Ausbrüche klassifiziert werden konnten. In Altenpflegeheimen wurde rund die Hälfte der Ausbrüche NoV-klassifiziert, in Krankenhäusern fast alle. Beschäftigte machten bei NoV-Ausbrüchen bis zu 23% der Erkrankten aus. Schlussfolgerungen Der geringe Umfang labordiagnostischer Untersuchungen bei Gastroenteritisausbrüchen in Kindertagesstätten und Schulen impliziert eine erhebliche Anzahl an versteckten NoV-Fällen. Aufgrund des Anteils infizierter Beschäftigter in Ausbrüchen sollten NoV auch als arbeitsmedizinische Fragestellung stärker in den Fokus gerückt werden. Weitere, größer angelegte Prospektivstudien sind erforderlich, um diese ersten Erkenntnisse empirisch zu untermauern.

International audience

During the last glaciation maximum, an ice cap and its more than 20 kilometres-long outlet glaciers covered the highest summit of the Black Forest, the Feldberg (1493 m above sea-level), and the surrounding region (Hofmann et al., 2020). This event is tentatively correlated with the global last glacial maximum (at ca. 22-19 ka). However, this hypothesis has never been tested by applying up-to-date geochronological techniques to glacial deposits or landforms. Due to the lack of significant topographic control, the climate probably mainly controlled the mass balance of the ice cap. Dating its last maximum extent may thus have important implications for the reconstruction of atmospheric circulations patterns during the Pleistocene. A last glaciation maximum out of phase with the Alps would strengthen the hypothesis that a meridional atmospheric circulation prevailed over Europe during the last glaciation maximum in the Alps (at ca. 25 ka).We aim at filling this gap by re-investigating a well-preserved multi-ridged terminal moraine complex several kilometres north-west of the Feldberg. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, this landform is undisputedly assigned to the last glaciation maximum. As units of sorted sediments occur in two sections on one ridge of the terminal moraine complex, luminescence dating was deemed a suitable technique to infer the age of the landform.Luminescence dating was applied to both feldspar and quartz for suitable comparison, as these dosimeters have different drawbacks. Since quartz from crystalline source areas often shows no or only a relatively weak luminescence signal, we anticipated that this also applies to the sampled sediments from the crystalline part of the Black Forest. Optically-stimulated luminescence (OSL) measurements revealed a bright signal in quartz as well as equivalent doses in the order of 200 Gy considerably below the saturation level. We did not observe any obvious signs for partial bleaching, but this possibility has to be confirmed via further OSL measurements, since the sampled sediments were not transported over large distances. Component analysis will also be performed.Infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL) measurements on feldspar revealed higher preliminary luminescence ages. It is expected that anomalous fading and partial bleaching will be two major future challenges. To overcome the first problem, post-infrared IRSL dating will be applied. As resetting of this signal is more difficult when compared to IRSL and OSL signals, problems associated with incomplete bleaching may arise in future work.Our preliminary quartz OSL ages tentatively suggest that the last glaciation maximum in the southern Black Forest preceded the last glaciation maxima in other formerly glaciated uplands in Central Europe and the global last glacial maximum. This result needs to be evaluated by luminescence dating of other ice-marginal landforms correlative with the last glaciation maximum. Other geochronological techniques, such as 10Be cosmic-ray exposure dating, will also be applied to reveal their age. ReferenceHofmann, F. M., Rauscher, F., McCreary, W., Bischoff, J.-P., and Preusser, F.: Revisiting Late Pleistocene glacier dynamics north-west of the Feldberg, southern Black Forest, Germany, E&G Quaternary Science Journal, 69, 61–87, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-61-2020, 2020.

Chronological evidence from the southern part of the Alps (Monegato et al. 2017) indicates an earlier last glacial maximum of the Alpine glaciers relative to the Eurasian Ice Sheet maximum extent. This asynchronicity is probably due to the expansion of the North American Ice Sheet causing a southward shift of the North Atlantic jet stream and the establishment of a meridional atmospheric circulation over Europe (Luetscher et al. 2015). The advection of humid air masses from the Mediterranean Sea caused the Alpine glaciers to reach their maximum extent prior to the Eurasian ice sheet. Hence, the ice cap of the southern Black Forest must have been in a lee position with respect to the Alpine glaciers. This suggests that the last glacial maximum in the Black Forest was out of phase with the Alps. Since the lack of chronological data from the southern Black Forest prevents this hypothesis to be tested, a glacier chronology is crucially needed. As a first step towards such a framework, glacial landforms in the southern Black Forest are mapped based on both the analysis of highresolution LiDAR (Light detecting and ranging) data and its derivates as well as field mapping. Geomorphological mapping of a key site resulted in the identification of 18 ice-marginal positions in a single valley, whereby a significant number of moraines has been mapped for the first time. These findings reinforce the idea of a dynamic Lateglacial in the southern Black Forest interrupted by multiple periods of moraine stabilisation. Additional geomorphological and sedimentological investigations will be carried out to provide a solid base for the application of up-to-date geochronological methods (10Be exposure dating of boulders on moraines and optically stimulated luminescence dating) with particular emphasis on supposed last local glacial maximum moraines. Geomorphological, sedimentological and geochronological evidence will then be combined for palaeoglacier modelling. The determination of equilibrium line altitudes will ultimately enable the determination of palaeo-precipitation and –temperature during the last local glacial maximum and the subsequent Lateglacial. This palaeoclimatic reconstruction will be supported by data from the lake Bergsee record (southernmost Black Forest) spanning the 45-14.7 ka period (Duprat-Oualid et al. 2017).ReferencesDuprat-Oualid F., Rius D., Bégeot C., Magny M., Millet L., Wulf S., Appelt O. 2017. Vegetation response to abrupt climate changes in Western Europe from 45 to 14.7 k cal a BP: the Bergsee lacustrine record (Black Forest, Germany). J. Quaternary Sci. 32, 1008-1021.Luetscher M., Boch R., Sodemann H., Spötl C., Cheng H., Edwards R.L., Frisia S., Hof F., Müller W. 2015. North Atlantic storm track changes during the Last Glacial Maximum recorded by Alpine speleothems. Nat. Commun. 6, 6344.Monegato G., Scardia G., Hajdas I., Rizzini F., Piccin A. 2017. The Alpine LGM in the boreal ice-sheets game. Sci. Rep-UK 7, 2078.

Only laboratory-confirmed norovirus (NoV) cases have to be notified to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) since 2011, but not other, e. g. clinical-epidemiological cases. It can be assumed that the extent of underreporting of NoV cases in Germany has significantly increased since then.To discuss the extent of underreporting, we wanted to find out how many laboratory tests were carried out during gastroenteritis outbreaks. Furthermore, the significance of NoV outbreaks in occupational health is discussed.Of all pseudonymized gastroenteritis outbreak data reported to 2 local health authorities between 2011 and 2015, the proportion of NoV outbreaks and reported cases of infection among employees in hospitals and community facilities (nursing homes for the elderly, day-care centers, schools) confirmed by laboratory tests was calculated retrospectively.Only a few gastroenteritis outbreaks in day-care centers were etiologically diagnosed, so that only 6% and less could be classified as NoV outbreaks. In nursing homes for the elderly, about half of the outbreaks were classified as NoV, in hospitals almost all of them. Employees accounted for up to 23% of those affected in NoV outbreaks.The low level of laboratory diagnostics carried out during gastroenteritis outbreaks in day-care centers suggests a considerable number of hidden NoV cases. The significant proportion of staff relative to the total number of infected persons during the outbreaks highlights the importance of the burden of NoV outbreaks as a topic in occupational health. Further, large-scale prospective studies are needed to empirically substantiate these initial findings.Seit 2011 müssen dem Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) nach dem Infektionsschutzgesetz (IfSG) regelhaft nur noch labordiagnostisch bestätigte Norovirus (NoV)-Gastroenteritisfälle, nicht aber z. B. klinisch- epidemiologische gemeldet werden, weshalb sich die ohnehin schon bestehende Untererfassung von NoV-Fällen in Deutschland deutlich verstärkt haben dürfte. Fragestellung Um das Ausmaß der Untererfassung zu diskutieren, wird in diesem Beitrag fallbeispielhaft dargestellt, inwieweit bei Gastroenteritisausbrüchen in Krankenhäusern und Gemeinschaftseinrichtungen überhaupt labordiagnostische Nachweise zur Klärung des Infektionsauslösers erfolgen. Interessant für die Abschätzung der arbeitsmedizinischen Bedeutung von NoV-Gastroenteritis ist auch der Anteil des erkrankten Personals.Von allen pseudonymisierten Gastroenteritis-Ausbruchsdaten, die 2 lokalen Gesundheitsämtern zwischen 2011 und 2015 gemeldet wurden, wurde retrospektiv der Anteil labor-diagnostisch bestätigter NoV-Ausbrüche und -Fälle einschließlich gemeldeter Beschäftigter in Krankenhäusern und Gemeinschaftseinrichtungen (Altenpflegeheime, Kindertagesstätten, Schulen) errechnet.Es wurde nur bei wenigen Gastroenteritisausbrüchen in Kindertagesstätten eine ätiologische Erregerabklärung durchgeführt, weshalb nur 6% und weniger als NoV-Ausbrüche klassifiziert werden konnten. In Altenpflegeheimen wurde rund die Hälfte der Ausbrüche NoV-klassifiziert, in Krankenhäusern fast alle. Beschäftigte machten bei NoV-Ausbrüchen bis zu 23% der Erkrankten aus.Der geringe Umfang labordiagnostischer Untersuchungen bei Gastroenteritisausbrüchen in Kindertagesstätten und Schulen impliziert eine erhebliche Anzahl an versteckten NoV-Fällen. Aufgrund des Anteils infizierter Beschäftigter in Ausbrüchen sollten NoV auch als arbeitsmedizinische Fragestellung stärker in den Fokus gerückt werden. Weitere, größer angelegte Prospektivstudien sind erforderlich, um diese ersten Erkenntnisse empirisch zu untermauern.

Objectives Globally, norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of gastroenteritis infection among all ages. The development of prevention strategies in the field of occupational health requires a detailed knowledge about the impact of the disease on employees. This review article aims not only at evaluating the burden of NoV outbreaks on staff but also at discussing implications for future prevention strategies. Methods Published NoV outbreaks in Central and Northern Europe were identified via a systematic literature search. Additionally, published NoV outbreaks in Germany were detected via a manual literature search. Key epidemiological data, as the number of symptomatic staff, was then extracted. The proportion of affected employees was calculated for each dataset (single NoV outbreaks or aggregated data of multiple outbreaks). Results Overall, 116 datasets were extracted from 72 relevant articles. 144,852 persons were affected by NoV gastroenteritis, 25,408 out of them (17.5%) were employees. 23,874 (94.0%) of them fell sick during outbreaks in hospitals and related settings. NoV cases among personnel in food establishments were reported only sporadically (mean ratio: 0.01). Conclusions Employees in hospitals and community facilities seem quantitatively to be most vulnerable towards NoV epidemics. Therefore, high quality of prevention measures in these settings, respective compliance with prevention strategies should have the highest priority. The disease can be considered as an occupational disease, even regularly without long-term consequences. Following work safety rules, a vaccination for vulnerable groups should be recommended if the vaccine development turns out to be successful.

(1) Background: Hazardous substances in surgical smoke that is generated during laser or electrosurgery pose a potential health hazard. In Germany, the Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances (TRGS 525) have included recommendations for appropriate protective measures since 2014. Up to now, no empirical data has been available on the extent to which recommendations have been implemented in practice. (2) Methods: In 2018, 7089 surgeons in hospitals and outpatient practices were invited by email to participate in an online survey. In addition, 219 technical assistants were interviewed. The questionnaire dealt with knowledge of, and attitudes toward, the hazard potential of surgical smoke, as well as the availability and actual use of protective measures. Furthermore, manufacturers and distributors of smoke extraction devices were asked to give their assessment of the development of prevention in recent years. (3) Results: The survey response rate was 5% (surgeons) and 65% (technical assistant staff). Half of all surgeons assumed that there were high health hazards of surgical smoke without taking protective measures. Operating room nurses were more often concerned (88%). Only a few felt properly informed about the topic. The TRGS recommendations had been read by a minority of the respondents. In total, 52% of hospital respondents and 65% of the respondents in outpatient facilities reported any type of special suction system to capture surgical smoke. One-fifth of respondents from hospitals reported that technical measures had improved since the introduction of the TRGS 525. Fifty-one percent of the surgeons in hospitals and 70% of the surgeons in outpatient facilities &ldquo, mostly&rdquo, or &ldquo, always&rdquo, paid attention to avoiding surgical smoke. The most important reason for non-compliance with recommendations was a lack of problem awareness or thoughtlessness. Twelve industrial interviewees who assessed the situation and the development of prevention in practice largely confirmed the prevention gaps observed, only slight developments were observed in recent years. (4) Conclusions: The low response rate among surgeons and the survey results both indicate a major lack of interest and knowledge. Among other measures, team interventions with advanced training are needed in the future.

Les fluctuations glaciaires dans le bassin versant amont du Drac Blanc (massif des Écrins, Alpes françaises) n’ont pas encore fait l’objet d’une étude détaillée. Pour combler cette lacune, nous proposons une chronologie relative des dépôts morainiques du glacier du Drac Blanc. Notre étude se base sur l’observation morphométrique des dépôts morainiques dans le vallon de Rougnoux. Nous avons réalisé un modèle numérique de terrain en appliquant l’approche « Structure-from-motion ». Le modèle numérique de terrain a permis de préciser la chronologie relative. De plus, il a rendu possible un calcul du volume potentiel du glacier à partir de l’équation établie par BAHR et al. (1997). Grâce à l’analyse des dépôts d’origine glaciaire et du modèle numérique de terrain, nous avons identifié quatre stades et un sous-stade morainiques dans le vallon de Rougnoux. Glacier fluctuations in the Drac Blanc catchment (Massif des Écrins, French Alps) are not well understood. To fill this gap, we propose a relative chronology of the Drac Blanc glacier's retreat. Our study is based on a morphometric investigation of the glacial deposits in the Rougnoux valley. We developed a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the Rougnoux valley using over 20 aerial photographs based on the 'Structure from motion' approach. The DEM enabled us to improve the relative chronology and estimate the glacier's volume based on a power law established by BAHR et al. (1997). In the Rougnoux valley, we identified four moraine stages and one sub-stage through the interpretation of the DEM and the morphometric investigation of the glacial deposits.