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Biomedical subjects

P Höppe

Publications and source records attributed to P Höppe.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

[Prevalence of weather sensitivity in Germany].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: As epidemiological data on prevalence of weather-related health effects were lacking we conducted a weather sensitivity (WS) survey in Germany. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 1064 citizens (age > 16) representative of the population in Germany were interviewed in January 2001. RESULTS: The results show that 19.2% of the population believe that weather influences their health to a "high degree", 35.3% that weather has "some influence on their health". The highest prevalence of WS (high + some influence) is found in the age group of > 60 years, in 68% of the subjects. The highest frequencies of weather-related symptoms are reported for stormy weather (30%) and when it gets colder (29%). The most frequent symptoms reported by weather-sensitive subjects are headaches/migraine (61%), lethargy (47%), sleep disturbances (46%), fatigue (42%), joint pain (40%), irritation (31%), depression (27%), vertigo (26%), concentration problems (26%) and scar pain (23%). 32% of the weather-sensitive subjects have been incapable to do their regular work because of weather-related symptoms at least once last year, 22% even several times. Co-morbidity was significantly higher in weather-sensitive subjects. CONSEQUENCE: On the basis of these data we are planning studies on causal factors of weather-related health effects.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1999

The physiological equivalent temperature - a universal index for the biometeorological assessment of the thermal environment.

With considerably increased coverage of weather information in the news media in recent years in many countries, there is also more demand for data that are applicable and useful for everyday life. Both the perception of the thermal component of weather as well as the appropriate clothing for thermal comfort result from the integral effects of all meteorological parameters relevant for heat exchange between the body and its environment. Regulatory physiological processes can affect the relative importance of meteorological parameters, e.g. wind velocity becomes more important when the body is sweating. In order to take into account all these factors, it is necessary to use a heat-balance model of the human body. The physiological equivalent temperature (PET) is based on the Munich Energy-balance Model for Individuals (MEMI), which models the thermal conditions of the human body in a physiologically relevant way. PET is defined as the air temperature at which, in a typical indoor setting (without wind and solar radiation), the heat budget of the human body is balanced with the same core and skin temperature as under the complex outdoor conditions to be assessed. This way PET enables a layperson to compare the integral effects of complex thermal conditions outside with his or her own experience indoors. On hot summer days, for example, with direct solar irradiation the PET value may be more than 20 K higher than the air temperature, on a windy day in winter up to 15 K lower.

Body Temperature↗
PubMed1998

Indoor climate and air quality. Review of current and future topics in the field of ISB study group 10.

In industrialized countries about 90% of the time is spent indoors. The ambient parameters affecting indoor thermal comfort are air temperature and humidity, air velocity, and radiant heat exchange within an enclosure. In assessing the thermal environment, one needs to consider all ambient parameters, the insulating properties of the occupants' clothing, and the activity level of the occupants by means of heat balance models of the human body. Apart from thermal parameters, air quality (measured and perceived) is also of importance for well-being and health in indoor environments. Pollutant levels are influenced by both outdoor concentrations and by indoor emissions. Indoor levels can thus be lower (e.g. in the case of ozone and SO2) or higher (e.g. for CO2 and formaldehyde) than outdoor levels. Emissions from cooking play an important role, especially in developing countries. The humidity of the ambient air has a wide range of effects on the energy and water balance of the body as well as on elasticity, air quality perception, build-up of electrostatic charge and the formation or mould. However, its effect on the indoor climate is often overestimated. While air-handling systems are commonly used for achieving comfortable indoor climates, their use has also been linked to a variety of problems, some of which have received attention within the context of "sick building syndrome".

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed1997

Aspects of human biometeorology in past, present and future.

Human biometeorology is quite an old science: during the times of Hippokrates in ancient Greece the influence of weather changes on physiological processes in the human body were considered to exist. However, not until the progress in modern statistics, physics and physiology in the course of this century provided quantitative methods did human-biometeorology become an acknowledged natural science. In the first half of this century primarily the explanation of the phenomena of reactions of the body to weather changes was the general objective. In the second half of this century quantitative descriptions of thermal interchanges between the human body and the environment by means of energy balance models of the human body have gained increasing importance. The methods of modern human biometeorology increasingly are acknowledged by workers in disciplines of potential application, such as urban or regional planners or air conditioning engineers. Human biometeorology tries to assess all atmospheric influences in its entirety, including the air pollution pattern. The discipline considers itself as branch of science which is tied closely to environmental meteorology and environmental medicine.

Body Temperature Regulation↗
PubMed1995

Environmental ozone field study on pulmonary and subjective responses of assumed risk groups.

Lung function parameters (measured with a body plethysmograph) and subjective votes on irritations of eyes or airways were taken from subjects belonging to four assumed ozone risk groups and one control group (40 subjects each: senior citizens, juvenile asthmatics, forestry workers, athletes, and clerks). Every subject was examined on 8 days both in the morning and in the afternoon. The intention was to obtain an equal distribution of measuring days with elevated and low ozone concentrations, respectively, for each subject. On average the ozone concentrations reached 0.070 ppm on "ozone days" [maximum concentration 0.112 ppm for clerks (outdoors), 0.100 ppm for senior citizens, 0.091 for juvenile asthmatics, 0.086 ppm for athletes, and 0.077 ppm for forestry workers] and 0.028 ppm on "control days" (minimum 0.001 ppm). The results show no relevant ozone effect for the group with the lowest ventilation rate (senior citizens) and only marginal reductions of respiratory flows and volumes for athletes. Pulmonary decrements of juvenile asthmatics on ozone days were small but larger than those documented in the literature for healthy children. Forestry workers and clerks had significantly higher airway resistances on ozone days, although having been exposed to the lowest ozone concentrations of all groups. Thus, on days with moderately elevated levels of ozone in the environment it is assumed that ozone itself has a minor influence on pulmonary responses compared to that of other constituents of the air in certain locations like in forests or indoors on these days. These could be reaction products of ozone with motor tool exhausts in the case of forestry workers or substances originating from ozone deposition on the surfaces of the offices.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Effects of environmental ozone on the lung function of senior citizens.

Measurements with a body plethysmograph of lung function parameters and reports of unusual complaints or irritations were taken from 41 senior citizens in the situations where they usually spend their daytime hours. The subjects belonged to a group commonly assumed to be at risk from ozone. Each subject was examined on 8 days both in the morning and in the afternoon. The object was to obtain for every subject an equal distribution of measuring days between those with elevated ozone concentrations (maximum 0.5 h mean values between 1.00 and 4.00 p.m. of at least 0.050 ppm) and those with low ozone concentrations (maximum 0.5 h mean values between 1.00 and 4.00 p.m. of at most 0.040 ppm). The results showed no relevant ozone related effects on the lung function parameters or the subjective reports of irritations. Thus there was no indication that senior citizens represent a group at particular risk with respect to moderately elevated concentrations of environmental ozone, as occur in central Europe.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Lung function and prevalence of irritation of eyes and respiratory airways on days with elevated ozone concentrations].

In order to evaluate potential health effects on days with elevated ozone concentrations, lung function parameters and subjective votes on irritations of eyes and airways were taken repeatedly from subjects belonging to four assumed ozone risk groups and one control group (at least 40 subjects each) - senior citizens, juvenile asthmatics, forestry workers, athletes and clerks - in comparison of days with elevated (at least 100 micrograms/m3) and low ozone concentrations (at most 80 micrograms/m3). The results show no relevant ozone effects for the groups, "senior citizens" and "athletes", only minor pulmonary effects for "juvenile asthmatics", but significantly higher airway resistances on "ozone days" for "forestry workers" (by 21%) and "clerks" (by 16%). On days with moderately elevated levels of ozone in the environment it is assumed that ozone itself has minor influence on pulmonary responses compared to that of other constituents of the air in certain location like forest or indoors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Alterations in lung function due to mixtures of organic solvents used in floor laying.

To determine the short-term and long-term effects of organic solvents on the respiratory tract, 26 male floorlayers exposed to organic solvents were compared with 36 persons unexposed to such substances. The investigation primarily included a detailed history, determination of solvent concentration in the air inhaled by the workers, long-term ECG during the entire shift and lung-function test (vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, flow volume curve) as well as non-specific bronchial inhalation challenge using a 3% acetylcholine aerosol before and after the shift. The floorlayers were primarily subjected to inhalative exposure to adhesives containing mixtures of toluene, petroleum hydrocarbons, ethyl acetate, methanol and acetone or one of these substances alone. This frequently resulted in short-term value limit excesses, especially in the MAK value (standardised threshold concentration in Germany) for toluene, which is a prime component of neoprene glue. Of the 26 floorlayers, 6 complained of breathlessness and coughing, whereas 13 suffered from nasal discharge and blockage--symptoms closely related to work. The smokers in this group showed a decline in lung function during the shift--especially in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)--as compared with the non-smokers in this group and the persons in the control group. This probably due to the combination of noxious substances. A strong correlation between occupational age and changes in lung function was observed: the occupationally youngest workers demonstrated the highest decrease in values during the course of the shift. There was no evidence of either obstructive or restrictive respiratory disorders or of marked deviation from the European Community for Coal and Steel (ECCS) references.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adhesives↗