German Environmental Surveys (GerESs)
German Environmental Surveys (GerESs)
Human HealthIntroduction
The German Environmental Surveys (GerESs) are representative population studies that have been carried out repeatedly in Germany since the mid-1980s by the German Federal Environment Agency. The Surveys' subjects were selected from regional registration offices with regard to age, gender and community size.
GerES I, GerES II and GerES III
The first survey on adults (GerES I) was carried out in 1985/1986 (West Germany) followed by GerES IIa in 1990/91 (West Germany) and GerES IIb in 1991/92 (East Germany). In GerES II also a limited number of children whose parents participated in GerES II were included. In 1998, the third GerES on adults was conducted in West Germany and East Germany (GerES III).
Current Status
The currently run survey 2003/2006 (GerES IV) is focusing exclusively on children. A one-year pilot study was conducted in 2001 to 2002. Its aim was to collect information on parameters influencing survey response rate, and to test the suitability of the different instruments to be used for the main study.
The main goal of the surveys is to analyze and document the extent, distribution and determinants of the exposure to environmental pollutants of the German general population. Additionally, surveys help to evaluate the contribution of different compartments (air, water, house dust, food) to the body burden.
Three main instruments of investigation were comprised in GerES: human biomonitoring, monitoring of the domestic environment, and questionnaires to collect information on exposure pathways and living conditions.
All GerESs have been conducted in close co-operation with the National Health Interview and Examination Surveys performed by the Robert Koch Institute, Berlin.
Further Reading
- German Environmental Survey (GerES), German Federal Environment Agency.
Citation
Christine Schulz (Lead Author);Sidney Draggan (Topic Editor) "German Environmental Surveys (GerESs)". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth April 7, 2007; Last revised Date April 7, 2007; Retrieved February 10, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/German_Environmental_Surveys_%28GerESs%29>
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