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Objectives: Asthma has significant occupational consequences. The objective of our study was to investigate the links between asthma and the career path, taking into account gender and age at asthma onset. Methods: Using cross-sectional data collected at inclusion in the French CONSTANCES cohort in 2013-2014, we studied the links between each career path indicator (number of job periods, total duration of employment, numbers of part-time jobs and work interruptions due to unemployment or health issues, employment status at inclusion) on the one hand, and current asthma and asthma symptom score in the last 12 months on the other hand, as reported by the participants. Multivariate analyses were performed separately for men and women using logistic and negative binomial regression models adjusted for age, smoking status, body mass index and educational level. Results: When the asthma symptom score was used, significant associations were observed with all of the career path indicators studied: a high symptom score was associated with a shorter total duration of employment as well as a greater number of job periods, part-time jobs and work interruptions due to unemployment or health issues. These associations were of similar magnitude in men and women. When current asthma was used, the associations were more pronounced in women for some career path indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People can be affected by various environmental factors (e. g., odor, noise) which can lead to medical complaints or illnesses. Few adequate contact points are available for patients with suspected environmental complaints in Germany. Illustrated by the outpatient clinics for environmental medicine in Hamburg and Munich, this report shows how patients with suspected environmental medical diseases are cared for in Germany. For the exemplary presentation, the data of the environmental medicine outpatient clinics of both the university hospitals from 01.01.2019 to 31.03.2021 are presented and compared. Overall, more female than male patients were treated at both facilities. Suspected exposure to "heavy metals" was most frequently mentioned by patients as the assumed reason for their complaints. Nonetheless, the suspected exposure or "intoxication" could be ruled out in the majority of cases by appropriate examination methods in accordance to current medical guidelines. The data provided by the environmental medicine outpatient clinics show that there is a continuous demand for environmental medical care. A close cooperation between the private practice sector and the outpatient clinics for environmental medicine providing medical care to patients should therefore be sought., Competing Interests: SH: Stellvertretende Leiterin des Landesinstitutes arbeits- und umweltbezogener Gesundheitsschutz und Produktsicherheit sowie Leiterin des Sachgebiets Arbeits- und umweltbezogener Gesundheitsschutz am Bayersichen Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit; Tätigkeit für das Institut und die Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin am Klinikum der Universität München. CH: Mitglied der Amtsleitung des Bayerischen Landesamtes für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit und dadurch entsprechend Kontakt mit Forschungsprojekten mit thematischem Bezug; Brückenprofessur Umweltbezogener Gesundheitsschutz Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität. DN: leitet eine universitäre umweltmedizinische Ambulanz für gesetztlich und privat Versicherte am Klinikum der Universität München., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Competing Interests: Erklärung zu finanziellen Interessen Forschungsförderung erhalten: nein; Honorar/geldwerten Vorteil für Referententätigkeit erhalten: nein; Bezahlter Berater/interner Schulungsreferent/Gehaltsempfänger: nein; Patent/Geschäftsanteile/Aktien (Autor/Partner, Ehepartner, Kinder) an im Bereich der Medizin aktiven Firma: nein; Patent/Geschäftsanteile/Aktien (Autor/Partner, Ehepartner, Kinder) an zu Sponsoren dieser Fortbildung bzw. durch die Fortbildung in ihren Geschäftsinteressen berührten Firma: nein Erklärung zu nichtfinanziellen Interessen Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Competing Interests: Erklärung zu finanziellen Interessen Forschungsförderung erhalten: nein; Honorar/geldwerten Vorteil für Referententätigkeit erhalten: nein; Bezahlter Berater/interner Schulungsreferent/Gehaltsempfänger: nein; Patent/Geschäftsanteile/Aktien (Autor/Partner, Ehepartner, Kinder) an im Bereich der Medizin aktiven Firma: nein; Patent/Geschäftsanteile/Aktien (Autor/Partner, Ehepartner, Kinder) an zu Sponsoren dieser Fortbildung bzw. durch die Fortbildung in ihren Geschäftsinteressen berührten Firma: nein Erklärung zu nichtfinanziellen Interessen Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

In order to maintain university teaching while observing the distance rules in accordance with the occupational health and safety standard of the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS), special regulations and measures must be observed under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic when students and teaching staff meet in large groups (lecture hall) and small teaching rooms (seminars, internships). The article gives detailed recommendations for the practical implementation of protective and preventive measures according to the STOP principle, which is customary in occupational health and safety: substitution, technical, organisational and personal protective measures. Responsibilities are named and also difficult situations where physical proximity is necessary (e.g. teaching medical examinations, joint laboratory work, sports and dance seminars) are analysed with regard to the necessary measures; recommendations are formulated., (© The Author(s) 2020.)