Anthropometric and lifestyle correlates of serum lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels among normal non-smoking men and women.

The relationship between serologic predictors of coronary risk and anthropometric as well as lifestyle characteristics was investigated in 61 men (37.5 +/- 8.5 yrs) and 33 women (40.1 +/- 9.0 yrs). All subjects were healthy non-smokers, mostly middle-class bank employees. In bivariate analysis, among both genders the ratio of waist-to-hip circumference (WHR) was the single best predictor of levels of serum LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, VLDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (positive association) as well as HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I (inverse association). In men, body fat as estimated from bioelectrical impedance measurement was the second best predictor of lipoprotein and apoprotein concentrations, whereas in women it was the body mass index (BMI). The additional independent predictive power of WHR and body fat for the lipid profile was tested in multivariate analysis by adding WHR and body fat sequentially to regression models containing already BMI, endurance capacity, exercise, alcohol consumption and age. For example, explained variance of triglyceride distribution rose from 26.3 to 35.1% (P = 0.01 for increase) when body fat was entered into the regression equation, or inclusion of WHR into a model already containing age, the behavioral variables, BMI, and body fat increased the explained variance of LDL/HDL-cholesterol ratio from 20.9 to 27.6% (P = 0.04 for increase). In women, the same regression models were even slightly more predictive for the serum lipid profile. Endurance capacity was related to a low atherogenic risk lipid profile in bivariate analysis but lost much of its predictive power in multivariate analysis, which confirms that the effect of fitness on lipid levels is probably mediated in part by a low body fat content. It is concluded from this cross-sectional investigation that studies which focus on associations between lifestyle and serologic predictors of atherogenic risk should possibly include the WHR and a measure of body fat, since the latter two appear to be closer correlates of serum lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels than BMI or single behavioral factors, at least among male non-smokers.

Effects of long-term, self-monitored exercise on the serum lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profile in middle-aged men.

To study the effects of long-term, self-monitored exercise on the serum lipid profile and body composition of middle-aged non-smoking males, a controlled study was conducted in 61 sedentary, middle-class Swiss men. Thirty-nine men were randomly allocated to jog 2 h/wk for 4 months on an individually prescribed, heart rate-controlled basis, whereas 22 men served as controls. Despite varying adherence to the exercise regimen, the following 4-month net changes (effect in exercise group minus effect in control group) in lipids were seen: HDL cholesterol (C) +0.12 mmol/l (95% CI 0.02, 0.22; P = 0.028), LDL-C +0.08 mmol/l (ns), VLDL-C -0.26 mmol/l (-0.45, -0.07; P = 0.009), total triglycerides (TT) -0.21 mmol/l (ns), HDL-C/total C +0.02 (0.001, 0.05; P = 0.047). The net changes in endurance capacity and resting heart rate in favour of exercisers were significant as well, whereas no significant changes in apolipoprotein levels were seen. Exploratory analyses revealed, for example, associations of the increase in total physical activity with an increase in the HDL-C/total C ratio (r = 0.46; P less than 0.001), and of the change in estimated body fat content with an opposed change in the HDL-C/total C ratio (r = -0.40; P less than 0.001), or an inverse relationship of the change in subcutaneous fat with a change in the HDL2-C level (r = -0.39; P less than 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis suggested that much of the effect of jogging on HDL-C was apparently mediated through a decrease in body fat content. A change in the waist/hip ratio was unrelated to lipoprotein changes but was related to the change of TT level (r = 0.22; P less than 0.05). This study confirms that individually prescribed, unsupervised jogging can increase HDL-C levels and improve the serum lipoprotein profile in self-selected nonsmoking males. Although the effect is modest, it may be relevant to preventive cardiology, given the evidence for a reduction in cardiovascular risk even after apparently small decreases in risk factor levels.

Particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) and fine particles less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5): relationships between indoor, outdoor and personal concentrations.

Among 17 homes in Switzerland, the relationship between indoor and outdoor levels for particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10), particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and NO2 was investigated. In 10 homes, the inhabitants also participated in conducting personal measurements. All homes were naturally ventilated. In homes without any indoor sources and where human activity was low, PM10 I/O ratios amounted to approximately 0.7. Of the indoor sources, smoking had the highest influence on I/O ratios (> 1.8). In homes not containing any apparent source, 'human activity' was an important factor accounting for high indoor levels. However, this factor is difficult to quantify. Personal exposure was in most cases higher than the indoor and the corresponding home outdoor levels. For NO2, gas-cooking was found to have the strongest influence on elevated I/O ratios (> 1.2) whilst for other homes, the I/O ratio was less than 1.

[Extent and evaluation of air pollution in Switzerland]. / Ausmass und Bewertung der Luftverschmutzung in der Schweiz.

The measurements of atmospheric pollution carried out in Switzerland during the last years revealed that high concentrations are not only found in city centers but in suburbs as well. The emission limits which should be respected in order to protect health and environment are very often exceeded. The pollution through nitrogen dioxide is specially crucial as well as that of sulfur dioxide during the winter months. Ozone concentrations are remarkably high in summer--ozone being formed by photochemical reactions of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons--and can be transported far away, even in rural areas. It is urgent to take the necessary steps now to reduce the atmospheric pollution in order to protect the population against possible health damages.

[Annoyance due to street traffic and aircraft noise]. / Belástigungen durch den Strassenverkehrs- und fluglärm.

Annoyance is an important criterion to assess the health-impairing effects of noise. Affected are especially communications, due to speech interference, as well as relaxation and sleep. The extent of annoyance increases with rising noise load in the street traffic as well as in the air traffic. Air-traffic noise in residential areas should lie below NNI-values of 35; values of above 45 NNI result in a heavy noise load and require sound-protection measures. Street-traffic noise in residential areas should not surpass an Leq value of 60 dB(A) in daytime and 50 dB(A) at night; Leq values of more than 65 dB(A) are qualified as considerable annoyance and are thus critical. In recreation areas the threshold limits should be 5 dB(A) below these values, whereas for shops and offices at main thoroughfares values higher by 5 dB(A) can be tolerated. The noise load should first of all be diminished by stricter regulations for vehicles as well as by measures regarding traffic organization. Furthermore, noise-conscious driving is recommended. Very great traffic noise also requires sound protection measures.

[Air quality in residences and places of work]. / Luftqualität in Wohn- und Arbeitsräumen.

The air quality inside of buildings depends on the contaminaton of the air outside as well as on the air pollution inside the room. The human being contaminates the air through carbon dioxide, odors, vapors and particulates. The most important sources of pollution are tobacco smoke (especially particulate matter, aldehydes and carbon monoxide), consumer materials (organic solvents), building materials and furniture fittings (Formaldehyd), as well as the use of gas for cooking and heating purposes (nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide). More importance has to be attributed to the injurious effects of the various contaminants because of the reduced ventilation rate in order to save energy. When estimating the possible health damages and annoyances, the long-term effects have to be considered, thereby the increased sensibility of children, of ill and old people have to be taken into account. The health aspects are therefore a decisive criterium for guidelines concerning construction and minimum ventilation rates.

[Air pollution in Switzerland--sources and extent]. / Luftverunreinigung in der Schweiz--Quellen und Ausmass

The immediate source of air pollution is the fuel consumption that goes on in domestic heating (about 50%), in motor vehicles (about 25%), and in industry (about 25%). Immissions in towns and agglomerations do not only depend on the number and size of these issuing sources but also on the location and meteorological conditions. The average sulphur dioxide content in various towns amounts to 0.03-0.06 ppm in winter and in summer to 0.01-0.03 ppm. In weather conditions with little exchangeability, as is often the case in Zurich, particulate matter and sulphur dioxide concentrations frequently lie above threshold limits applied abroad. In the area of heavy traffic for instance, daily averages of carbon monoxide of up to 20 ppm, and maximum hourly averages of up to 50 ppm are measured--concentrations which lie also considerably above threshold limits. For nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and lead too, concentrations such as are measured in large foreign cities occur. In the future, coordinated time measurements will have to be carried out more frequently in Switzerland--especially in places with strong emitting sources and unfavorable meteorological conditions.

[Pollutants of indoor air--danger to health and preventive measures]. / Raumluftverunreinigungen--Gesundheitliche Gefährdungen und Massnahmen.

In a project of the International Energy Agency (IEA) called 'Minimum Ventilation Rates', factors relevant for indoor air quality are described. Based on these factors, recommendations to control indoor air Pollution are made.

[Irtitation by smell in the neighborhood of a garbage burning plant]. / Geruchsbelästigung in der Umgebung einer Kehrichtverbrennungsanlage.

Dilution threshold values were measured using sensory methods for an evaluation of odorous emissions of an incineration plant. The dispersion of odours was estimated based on recording of the local wind. The level of public annoyance in the neighbouring residential areas will be assessed by special questionnaires.

[Sources and importance of indoor air pollution]. / Source et importance de la pollution de l'air à l'intérieur des bâtiments

Indoor air quality affects a person's performance and well-being. This justifies the study of indoor air pollution for the development of comfortable and safe environments. A simultaneous indoor/outdoor sampling programme was carried out at three sites in Zurich. Parameters included CO, NO, NO2, and HCHO.

[Pollution of room air by building materials]. / Verunreinigung der Raumluft durch Materialien.

Due to better insulation and airtight windows and doors, the supply of fresh air is reduced. Therefore the pollutants which are continuously emitted from different materials into the room air are considerably increased. Measurements of the formaldehyde concentrations in new buildings have shown that after a year the admissible limits are still exceeded. Stricter regulations are necessary to limit the emissions of building- and insulation materials.

[Room air quality and ventilation]. / Raumluftqualität und Lüftung.

In a test chamber of 30 m3 the air pollutants caused by man were measured. Variables were: number of persons and their activities and the rate of the air change. During test sessions of two hours the temperature, the relative humidity, the carbon dioxide and the intensity of odors were measured. There was a significant correlation between the odor intensities and the concentrations of carbon dioxide-independent of the number of persons and the air change rate. At air change rates of 12-15 m3 per person and per hour, the carbon dioxide concentration was not higher than 0.15% and the odor intensity was evaluated only as a slight annoyance. Further experiments were performed with physical activity and smoking.

[Measure of lead exposure in a group of young girls]. / Mesure de l'exposition au plomb dans un collectif de jeunes filles.

In January--February 1976 blood analyses were performed for two groups (rural and urban) of young girls aged 11--16 years. The following parameters were measured: PbB, ALAD, FEP, haemoglobin and hematocrit. Results indicate only low blood lead levels (PbB less than or equal to 20 microgram/100 ml: ALAD by European method greater than or equal to 33 U/1. A small but statistically significant difference was observed in case of rural/urban ALAD values.

[Effect of ozone on physical performance capacity]. / Die Wirkung von Ozon auf die körperliche Leistungsfähigkeit.

Twelve healthy women and twelve healthy men were tested on an exercise bicycle until exhaustion in a climate chamber at ozone levels of 0, 0.06 and 0.12 ppm. Under high ozone, a clear decrease of performance was seen at maximal efforts as well as a shift of the anaerobic threshold to somewhat lower performance values. These changes are probably caused by increasingly difficult breathing due to a reflex bronchial constriction. At high ozone concentrations, further symptoms were recognized: itching in throat and neck region, thirst, fatigue and itching eyes.

[Burdens due to noise and air pollution in residents of areas near streets with heavy traffic]. / Die Belästigung der Anwohner verkehrsreicher Strassen durch Lärm und Luftverunreinigungen.

The residents of different streets with varying traffic density and building density were questioned about annoyance due to traffic noise and air pollution. Frequency and extent of annoyance felt, effects of immissions on such living aspects as recreation, or communication, and also the reactions to the disturbance felt (such as closing windows and taking sleeping pills) were investigated. Noise levels as well as particulate matter and gaseous air pollutant concentrations were measured along the streets under investigation. The evaluation of 1300 questionaires showed that reactions to noise were different in different quarters although noise levels were the same. In general, about 40% of residents were heavily disturbed during daytime when the noise level Leq was around 65 dB(A); while for the same noise level at night about 55% reported to be heavily disturbed. Strong correlations were also obtained between annoyance due to noise and that due to air pollution. The results show that annoyance felt is dependent not only on the measured noise levels and/or air pollution concentrations, but that there do exist interactions between the residential quarters and annoyance. These interactions should be considered while fixing the limits and standards.

[Suspense-dust-, lead- and benzpyrene emissions in the city of Zurich]. / Schwebestaub-, Blei- und Benzpyrenimmissionen in der Stadt Zürich.

Levels of particulate matter, lead and benzo(a)pyrene were measured during 1971--1976 at different monitoring stations in Zurich. Annual averages in city proper ranged between 90 and 180 microgram/m3 for particulate matter, 2 and 3 microgram/m3 for lead and between 6 and 7 ng/m3 for benzo(a)pyrene. Corresponding values for the suburbs as well as for the village of Netstal were about 1/3 to 1/2. Winter levels were higher than the summer ones at all the sites. These differences were more obvious in case of calms. Ambient concentrations of particulate matter and lead measured in the city center were similar to those measured in german cities and were in the same range as air quality standards. Primary attention should be paid to the reduction of emissions, as surveillance of space heating and incineration equipment, and the reduction of lead in fossil fuels.

[Disturbance due to traffic noise at night]. / Belästigung durch Strassenverkehrslärm in der Nacht.

In order to obtain bases for the establishment of threshold values in the new environmental law, a random sample survey with 1600 persons in urban and rural areas has been made on the degree of disturbance by street traffic noice in the night.

[Air pollution in the vicinity of streets]. / Luftverunreinigung in der Umgebund von Strassen

Air samples were collected in plastic bags simultaneously at various measuring points in the close range of streets. When examining the various bag materials, Teflon bags showed the smallest deviations in direct analyses and in analyses of up to two hours after the drawing of samples. The following methods were used for the analysis of the air samples collected in the bags: coulometry for CO and SO2, chemiluminescence for NO/NO2, chromotrophic acid for CH2O and flame ionization for hydrocarbons. The various components were measured close to a highway and near streets in residential and business areas. The simultaneously drawn samples showed a marked dependence on traffic frequency, type of built-up area along the streets as well as meteorological conditions. An opinion survey among adjacent residents on annoyance caused by air pollution and noise resulted in distinct differences between the sections with different traffic intensity.

[Perception of traffic noise emission in Basel City canton in comparison to actually measured noise levels]. / Die Wahrnehmung der Verkehrslärmimmissionen im Kanton Basel-Stadt im Vergleich zu den erhobenen Lärmmesswerten.

The objective of this study was to assess to what extent the subjective annoyance is influenced by the actually measured or calculated street traffic noise and by sociodemographic factors. In the study on air pollution and health in Basle a representative sample of 1033 families with children up to five years were asked how they perceived street traffic noise. The extent of annoyance was assessed with a scale from 0 (no annoyance) to 10 (unbearably annoyed). The actual noise levels were taken from the official noise-register. Nearly 30% of the families were exposed to > 65 dB(A) in daytime. Immigrant families as well as participants with low education more frequently lived in streets with higher noise levels than Swiss families or participants with higher education. 16.4% considered themselves heavily annoyed by traffic noise (scale 8-10). The proportion of heavily annoyed participants was positively correlated with the actual noise levels, the slope was steepest at a noise level between 60-65 dB(A). By means of a multiple regression it could be shown that, adjusting for education level and city district, the actual noise level was the best predictor of subjective annoyance.

[Teaching social and preventive medicine to pharmacy students]. / Unterricht in Sozial- und Präventivmedizin für Studenten der Pharmazie.

The new Swiss reglementation for the final examination of students in pharmaceutics make social and preventive medicine a mandatory part of the curriculum. The number of hours attributed to the new subject differ markedly between the various schools of pharmacy. They are influenced by the attitude of the institutes and faculties (schools), professional societies but also by the students involved. The experiences of the first year are briefly discussed. Most important is to use the opportunity to improve the collaboration between the different partners in health care.