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A wide variety of occupations has been associated with prostate cancer in previous retrospective studies. Most attention has been paid to farming, metal working, and the rubber industry. Today, these results cannot be affirmed with confidence, because many associations could be influenced by recall bias, have been inconsistent, or have not been confirmed satisfactory in subsequent studies. This study was conducted to investigate and confirm these important associations in a large prospective cohort study. The authors conducted a prospective cohort study among 58,279 men. In September 1986, the cohort members (55-69 years) completed a self-administered questionnaire on potential cancer risk factors, including job history. Related job codes were clustered in professional groups. These predefined clusters were investigated in 3 time windows: 1) profession ever performed, 2) longest profession ever held, and 3) last profession held at baseline. Follow up for incident prostate cancer was established by linkage to cancer registries until December 1993. A case-cohort approach was used based on 830 cases and 1525 subcohort members. To minimize false-positive results, 99% confidence intervals (99% CI) were calculated. Although moderately decreased prostate cancer risks were found for electricians, farmers, firefighters, woodworkers, textile workers, butchers, salesmen, teachers, and clerical workers, none of the relative risks (RR) were found to be statistically significant. For road transporters, metal workers, and managers, no association with prostate cancer risk was found. Although the RR for railway workers, mechanics, welders, chemists, painters, and cooks was moderately increased, these estimates were not statistically significant. For men who reported to have ever worked in the rubber industry, we found a substantially increased prostate cancer risk, but not statistically significant (RR, 4.18; 99% CI = 0.22-80.45). For policemen, we found a substantial and marginally statistically significant increased prostate cancer risk, especially for those who reported working as a policeman for most of their occupational life (RR, 3.91; 99% CI = 1.14-13.42) or as the last profession held at baseline (RR, 4.00; 99% CI = 1.19-13.37). Most of the previously investigated associations between occupation and prostate cancer risk could not be confirmed with confidence in this prospective study. The lack of statistical significance for rubber workers could be caused by the scarcity of rubber workers in this cohort and subsequent lack of power. The results for policemen were substantial and statistically significant, although a conservative value for significance level was used.

Since its formal founding in 1996, the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) has become one of leading European institutions in the field of Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) in Europe and can be characterised as an informal network consisting of national occupational health and safety institutes, as well as public health, health promotion, and statutory social insurance institutes. A continuous increase in the number of member states has taken place since the ENWHP was established. Particularly the increasing relevance of Eastern European countries had already been recognized before they joined the EU. The ENWHP is currently made up of 29 members with so-called National Contact Offices (NCO), an Associated Member (Canada) and Network Partners (permanent partners and other partners). In April 2006, the seventh trans-European initiative of the ENWHP, the “Move Europe” project, was started. Under the leadership of the NCO from Italy (ISPESL/University of Perugia), a total of 25 member countries participated in the three-year campaign aimed at the dissemination of good practices in the field of lifestyle-oriented WHP. The relevance of the presented issues are clear in the face of the worldwide increase in prevalence rates of chronic diseases. Thus, the WHO estimates that without specially aimed measures, the number of deaths related to chronic diseases will increase worldwide by 17 percent between 2005 and 2015.

Since its formal founding in 1996, the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP) has become one of leading European institutions in the field of Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) in Europe and can be characterised as an informal network consisting of national occupational health and safety institutes, as well as public health, health promotion, and statutory social insurance institutes. A continuous increase in the number of member states has taken place since the ENWHP was established. Particularly the increasing relevance of Eastern European countries had already been recognized before they joined the EU. The ENWHP is currently made up of 29 members with so-called National Contact Offices (NCO), an Associated Member (Canada) and Network Partners (permanent partners and other partners). In April 2006, the seventh trans-European initiative of the ENWHP, the “Move Europe” project, was started. Under the leadership of the NCO from Italy (ISPESL/University of Perugia), a total of 25 member countries participated in the three-year campaign aimed at the dissemination of good practices in the field of lifestyle-oriented WHP. The relevance of the presented issues are clear in the face of the worldwide increase in prevalence rates of chronic diseases. Thus, the WHO estimates that without specially aimed measures, the number of deaths related to chronic diseases will increase worldwide by 17 percent between 2005 and 2015.

As a further step towards the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (DPAS), WHO and the World Economic Forum organized a Joint Event (Dalian, China, September 2007) on the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the workplace through healthy diets and physical activity. This paper provided the background and discussion basis for the Joint Event. It aims to gain insight into the current state of knowledge with regard to best practice methods of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of worksite health promotion programs (WHPPs) that address healthy diets and physical activity (PA). Specific objectives were first to give an overview of frequently used indicators and measures in M&E, second, to comment on the feasibility of using these methods for M&E of nonscientific WHPPs, and third, to formulate recommendations on M&E of WHPPs. The following indicators were identified and evaluated: -Self-reported dietary intake; -Objective measures of diet; -Self-reported PA outcome; -Objective PA measurement; -Measuring the environment; -Determinants of PA or dietary behaviour; -Biological disease risk indicators; -Process indicators. It is recommended, among other things, that in correspondence with program components and objectives a relatively small set of feasible and less expensive biological indicators (i.e. finger stick cholesterol, fitness or strength tests and/or body weight and length) might be sufficient in M&E of WHPPs in practice.

As a further step towards the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (DPAS), WHO and the World Economic Forum organized a Joint Event (Dalian, China, September 2007) on the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the workplace through healthy diets and physical activity. This paper provided the background and discussion basis for the Joint Event. It aims to gain insight into the current state of knowledge with regard to best practice methods of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of worksite health promotion programs (WHPPs) that address healthy diets and physical activity (PA). Specific objectives were first to give an overview of frequently used indicators and measures in M&E, second, to comment on the feasibility of using these methods for M&E of nonscientific WHPPs, and third, to formulate recommendations on M&E of WHPPs. The following indicators were identified and evaluated: -Self-reported dietary intake; -Objective measures of diet; -Self-reported PA outcome; -Objective PA measurement; -Measuring the environment; -Determinants of PA or dietary behaviour; -Biological disease risk indicators; -Process indicators. It is recommended, among other things, that in correspondence with program components and objectives a relatively small set of feasible and less expensive biological indicators (i.e. finger stick cholesterol, fitness or strength tests and/or body weight and length) might be sufficient in M&E of WHPPs in practice.

As a further step towards the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (DPAS), WHO and the World Economic Forum organized a Joint Event (Dalian, China, September 2007) on the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the workplace through healthy diets and physical activity. This paper provided the background and discussion basis for the Joint Event. It aims to gain insight into the current state of knowledge with regard to best practice methods of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of worksite health promotion programs (WHPPs) that address healthy diets and physical activity (PA). Specific objectives were first to give an overview of frequently used indicators and measures in M&E, second, to comment on the feasibility of using these methods for M&E of nonscientific WHPPs, and third, to formulate recommendations on M&E of WHPPs. The following indicators were identified and evaluated: -Self-reported dietary intake; -Objective measures of diet; -Self-reported PA outcome; -Objective PA measurement; -Measuring the environment; -Determinants of PA or dietary behaviour; -Biological disease risk indicators; -Process indicators. It is recommended, among other things, that in correspondence with program components and objectives a relatively small set of feasible and less expensive biological indicators (i.e. finger stick cholesterol, fitness or strength tests and/or body weight and length) might be sufficient in M&E of WHPPs in practice.

The development of analytical methods, suitable for the detection and quantification of GMO contents in agricultural commodities and processed products is essential to support the control of compliance with regulatory provisions concerning the use of GMO and GMO-derived material for the production of food and feed. DNA-based assays for the detection of GMO within the food and feed chain must cope with a number of challenges that are linked either to the background of the genetic modification and the genetic composition of the GMO, or to adverse effects of technological parameters and manufacturing practices on the availability of target sequences. Among the latter, limitations are mainly given by the complexity of food composition and by the degradation/elimination of analytes during manufacturing processes. In the presented studies the effects of food processing on the quantification of GMO contents were investigated. In addition to the assessment of established PCR-based technologies for the quantification of DNA sequences, an alternative ligation-dependent modular system for the qualitative and quantitative detection of GMO in composed and processed food products was developed. Die Entwicklung analytischer Methoden zur Detektion und Quantifizierung gentechnisch veränderter Organismen (GVO) in landwirtschaftlichen Rohstoffen und ihren Verarbeitungsprodukten ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil von Maßnahmen zur Kontrolle der Kennzeichnung von Lebens- und Futtermitteln, die unter Verwendung von GVO oder daraus hergestellten Materialien gewonnen wurden. DNA-basierende Methoden zum Nachweis von GVO in der Lebens- und Futtermittelkette müssen eine Reihe analytischer Herausforderungen erfüllen; diese können sich sowohl aus den Hintergründen der gentechnischen Veränderung und der genetischen Zusammensetzung unterschiedlicher GVO-Linien als auch aus negativen Effekten lebensmitteltechnologischer Prozesse auf die Verfügbarkeit von DNA ergeben. Limitierungen im Hinblick auf die Analytik prozessierter Lebens- und Futtermittel ergeben sich hauptsächlich durch die Komplexität der Produktzusammensetzungen sowie durch die Degradierung/Eliminierung von Analyten im Laufe unterschiedlicher Verarbeitungsprozesse. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden Effekte lebensmitteltechnologischer Verfahren auf die Bestimmung von GVO-Anteilen untersucht. Dabei wurden zunächst etablierte PCR-Technologien zur Quantifizierung von DNA Sequenzen eingesetzt. Darüber hinaus wurde ein alternatives System auf der Basis einer modularen ligationsabhängigen Reaktion entwickelt, welches für den qualitativen und quantitativen Nachweis von GVO in zusammengesetzten und prozessierten Lebensmitteln eingesetzt werden kann.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a worksite health promotion programme by individual counselling on sick leave. Three municipal services of Enschede, the Netherlands, participated in this trial. A total of 299 civil servants were measured at baseline and were randomised by cluster into the intervention (n = 131) or the control group (n = 168). During nine months, subjects in the intervention group received a total of seven consultations, particularly aimed at increasing their physical activity level and improving their dietary habits. Both the intervention and the control subjects received written information as to several lifestyle factors. Sick leave data regarding the nine month intervention period (from May until January) were collected from each municipal service's personnel department. In addition, sick leave data concerning the nine month period pre- and post-intervention were collected. Results showed no significant effect of individual counselling on sick leave. Continued research investigating the effectiveness of this individual counselling programme on several health related outcomes is useful to clarify the trend observed in sick leave.

A wide variety of occupations has been associated with prostate cancer in previous retrospective studies. Most attention has been paid to farming, metal working, and the rubber industry. Today, these results cannot be affirmed with confidence, because many associations could be influenced by recall bias, have been inconsistent, or have not been confirmed satisfactory in subsequent studies. This study was conducted to investigate and confirm these important associations in a large prospective cohort study. The authors conducted a prospective cohort study among 58,279 men. In September 1986, the cohort members (55-69 years) completed a self-administered questionnaire on potential cancer risk factors, including job history. Related job codes were clustered in professional groups. These predefined clusters were investigated in 3 time windows: 1) profession ever performed, 2) longest profession ever held, and 3) last profession held at baseline. Follow up for incident prostate cancer was established by linkage to cancer registries until December 1993. A case-cohort approach was used based on 830 cases and 1525 subcohort members. To minimize false-positive results, 99% confidence intervals (99% CI) were calculated. Although moderately decreased prostate cancer risks were found for electricians, farmers, firefighters, woodworkers, textile workers, butchers, salesmen, teachers, and clerical workers, none of the relative risks (RR) were found to be statistically significant. For road transporters, metal workers, and managers, no association with prostate cancer risk was found. Although the RR for railway workers, mechanics, welders, chemists, painters, and cooks was moderately increased, these estimates were not statistically significant. For men who reported to have ever worked in the rubber industry, we found a substantially increased prostate cancer risk, but not statistically significant (RR, 4.18; 99% CI = 0.22-80.45). For policemen, we found a substantial and marginally statistically significant increased prostate cancer risk, especially for those who reported working as a policeman for most of their occupational life (RR, 3.91; 99% CI = 1.14-3.42) or as the last profession held at baseline (RR, 4.00; 99% CI = 1.19-13.37). Most of the previously investigated associations between occupation and prostate cancer risk could not be confirmed with confidence in this prospective study. The lack of statistical significance for rubber workers could be caused by the scarcity of rubber workers in this cohort and subsequent lack of power. The results for policemen were substantial and statistically significant, although a conservative value for significance level was used.

Background: Physical inactivity and obesity are major public health problems. Our objective was to investigate the effectiveness of an individual counseling intervention at the workplace on physical activity fitness and health. Counseling content derived from the Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise and Nutrition (PACE) program. Methods: A total of 299 employees of three municipal services in the Dutch town of Enschede were randomly allocated into intervention (n =131) and control group (n =168). Over a 9-month period, intervention group subjects were offered seven counseling sessions. Counseling was based on the individual's stage of behavioral change using PACE physical activity and nutrition protocols. Subjects in both the intervention and control group received written information about several lifestyle factors. Primary outcome measures were physical activity (total energy expenditure, during sports activities, during physical activity leisure time other than sports, and meeting the moderate-intensity public health recommendations); cardiorespiratory fitness; and prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Secondary outcome measures were body composition (body mass index [BMI], and percentage of body fat measured via skinfold thicknesses); blood pressure; and blood cholesterol. Results: There were significant positive effects on total energy expenditure, physical activity during sports, cardiorespiratory fitness, percentage of body fat, and blood cholesterol. No effects were found for the proportion of subjects meeting the public health recommendation of moderate-intensity physical activity, physical activity during leisure time other than sports, prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, body mass index, and blood pressure. Conclusions: Individual face-to-face counseling at the workplace based on PACE protocols positively influenced physical activity levels and some components of physical fitness. The implementation of workplace counseling programs for individuals should therefore be promoted. © 2003 American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Background: Physical inactivity and obesity are major public health problems. Our objective was to investigate the effectiveness of an individual counseling intervention at the workplace on physical activity fitness and health. Counseling content derived from the Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise and Nutrition (PACE) program. Methods: A total of 299 employees of three municipal services in the Dutch town of Enschede were randomly allocated into intervention (n =131) and control group (n =168). Over a 9-month period, intervention group subjects were offered seven counseling sessions. Counseling was based on the individual's stage of behavioral change using PACE physical activity and nutrition protocols. Subjects in both the intervention and control group received written information about several lifestyle factors. Primary outcome measures were physical activity (total energy expenditure, during sports activities, during physical activity leisure time other than sports, and meeting the moderate-intensity public health recommendations); cardiorespiratory fitness; and prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Secondary outcome measures were body composition (body mass index [BMI], and percentage of body fat measured via skinfold thicknesses); blood pressure; and blood cholesterol. Results: There were significant positive effects on total energy expenditure, physical activity during sports, cardiorespiratory fitness, percentage of body fat, and blood cholesterol. No effects were found for the proportion of subjects meeting the public health recommendation of moderate-intensity physical activity, physical activity during leisure time other than sports, prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, body mass index, and blood pressure. Conclusions: Individual face-to-face counseling at the workplace based on PACE protocols positively influenced physical activity levels and some components of physical fitness. The implementation of workplace counseling programs for individuals should therefore be promoted. © 2003 American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

During the period 1998-1999 data collection was carried out in the EU Member States in order to collect and publish up-to-date information on future occupational safety and health research needs and priorities to improve collaboration and to guide occupational safety and health research over the next decade. National reports included the viewpoints of social partners and of all relevant research institutions. Psychosocial issues (stress at work), ergonomics (manual handling/work postures) and chemical risk factors (toxic/dangerous) emerged overall as the top priority areas for future research. In the area of safety, the most prominence was given to human factors risks, in the area of physical agents to the risk of noise. Issues relating to small and medium-sized enterprises were also ranked highly both under risk management and as a group requiring attention. Groups such as ageing workers and people with reduced working ability are of particular interest to Member States. Teleworking emerged as important areas for future research.

This methodology has been developed to help organisations increase their level of health activity in a planned and systematic way. There are many good reasons for undertaking health improvement actions in the workplace, not all of them related to the benefits of improved health. Research undertaken throughout Europe reveals that this kind of action is undertaken for a variety of reasons, and that most organisations have multiple reasons for doing so. Firstly, some organisations have as part of their mission statements, a philosophy to care for the health and welfare of their employees in the wide sense of the term. A second reason relates to current or ongoing problems which a company may have, where the company views health improvement actions as having a role to play in solving them. Finally, companies may undertake health actions because of the benefits they expect to gain from doing so. A number of important features are embodied in this manual such as employee participation in the programme, marketing of health improvement actions, communications and feedback, and a focus on the whole health of the employee.

This methodology has been developed to help organisations increase their level of health activity in a planned and systematic way. There are many good reasons for undertaking health improvement actions in the workplace, not all of them related to the benefits of improved health. Research undertaken throughout Europe reveals that this kind of action is undertaken for a variety of reasons, and that most organisations have multiple reasons for doing so. Firstly, some organisations have as part of their mission statements, a philosophy to care for the health and welfare of their employees in the wide sense of the term. A second reason relates to current or ongoing problems which a company may have, where the company views health improvement actions as having a role to play in solving them. Finally, companies may undertake health actions because of the benefits they expect to gain from doing so. A number of important features are embodied in this manual such as employee participation in the programme, marketing of health improvement actions, communications and feedback, and a focus on the whole health of the employee.