[The emission of heavy metals with dust suspensions at 33 selected measuring points in the former East Germany (time period 1983-1988)]. / Untersuchung der Immission von Schwermetallen mit dem Schwebstaub an 33 ausgewählten Messpunkten in der ehemaligen DDR (Zeitraum 1983-1988).

2200 weekly samples of airborne particulate matter from 33 measuring sites have been obtained by 12 district institutes of hygiene (Gera, Chemnitz, Leipzig, Dresden, Erfurt, Frankfurt, Magdeburg, Neubrandenburg, Rostock, Cottbus, and Berlin). After pressure digestion of the impacted membrane filters the concentrations of 15 elements (Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Be, Fe, Al, Ti, Cr, Mn, V, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd) were analysed by ICP-Spectrometry. The Immissions were calculated using the air sample volumes. Measuring points with very high immissions are: steel plant Riesa, district Dresden (nonferrous and ferrous metals), Drübeck, near to the copper plant Ilsenburg (nonferrous metals), Lead paint plant Ohrdruf, district Erfurt (highest Pb-Immission: 3137 ng/m3), Special glass plant Weisswasser, district Cottbus (Ba, Pb and Cd), Leipzig (dust and all other elements). Four groups of measuring site with different characteristic types of immissions could be distinguished by means of factor and cluster analysis. The separation of these groups by discriminant analysis was significant (P greater than 0.95). The seasonal trends showed maximal values in winter and minimal values in summer.

[Concentrations of heavy metals in dust precipitation and estimate of the load status in the GDR. Results of a nation-wide study of 144 measuring points (1983-1988)]. / Konzentrationen von Schwermetallen im Staubniederschlag und Einschätzung der Belastungssituation der DDR. Ergebnisse einer landesweiten Untersuchung an 144 Messpunkten (1983-1988).

The concentration of 17 elements in dust sediments from impacted and background regions of the GDR had been analysed by ICP. Measuring points with concentrations of Cadmium, Lead, Zinc, Copper, Chromium, or Vanadium above the 84.1-percentile of all measuring points are listed and ranked under public health aspects.

[Study of heavy metal immission with dust sedimentation in various regions of the GDR. Results of a nationwide study of 144 measuring points (1983-1988)]. / Untersuchung der Immission von Schwermetallen mit dem Staubniederschlag in verschiedenen Regionen der DDR. Ergebnisse einer landesweiten Untersuchung an 144 Messpunkten (1983-1988).

Dust sediment samples had been taken continuously from 1983 to 1988 in the environment of trace element emitting industrial plants, in industrial centers, in urban regions without specific deposits, and in background regions of the GDR. After wet digestion the concentrations of 17 elements (Ca, Fe, Al, Mg, Na, P, Zn, Mn, Ti, Ba, Pb, Sr, Cu, Cr, Cd, V, Be) have been determined by atomic emission spectrometry (ICP) and calculated as element fallout (mg/m2 x 30 d). More than 60,000 data underlie statistical analysis. Measuring points with geometrical averaged immissions of significant elements (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Be, Cr, V) above the 84-percentile of all measuring points are listed separately. Very heavy sources of all analysed elements are steel plants more than nonferrous metal plants. The northern territories of the GDR are comparatively slightly impacted.

[Formaldehyde chamber disinfection: not suitable for respirators and anesthesia equipment]. / Formaldehyd-Kammerdesinfektion: für Beatmungs-und Narkosegeräte nicht geeignet.

After formaldehyde-chamber-disinfection of respirators considerable quantities of formaldehyde deposit (presumably deep adsorption) within the devices. When the apparatuses are re-employed the respired air contains more than 1,000 (in individual cases more than 4,000) micrograms/m3. Thus all limits are exceeded by far. The liberation of the formaldehyde deposited in considerable amounts comes off according to an exponential equation dependent on the time of employment slowly, that with following chamber disinfections the quantities of formaldehyde in the apparatuses are still increased and still higher loadings of the respired gas occur. Even after employing them for a long time either non-stop or intermittently "saturated" respirators can not be used again. The disinfection according to the principle of the Aseptor-chamber or its imitations has to be refused for respirators and similar medical technical devices, e.g. incubators.