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Occupation has a large impact on health in Europe. In order to prevent and recognize occupational diseases, medical students and physicians should know about the potentially causal relationship between profession and diseases as well as the basic legal aspects of occupational medicine (OM). However, the opportunity of bedside teaching, the students’ most favoured way of teaching, is limited. One possibility to complete and improve traditional training in OM is computer-oriented case-based learning. Using the authoring system “CASUS” (INSTRUCT AG) cases can be created and handled without knowledge in computer sciences. So far, 19 cases have been created and evaluated by students of German universities. Due to the great efforts arising from the creation of such multimedia cases it is desirable and cost-effective to use the existing cases at several medical universities. Therefore, the Net-based Training in Work-Related Medicine (NetWoRM) project shares cases on an international base. In February and April 2005, 13 case-authors from 12 centres were trained in the basics of case creation during a 3 week programme in Munich. The overall evaluation of the participants indicated that this way of teaching case creation is very efficient. Up to now, nine cases were translated into English and five into Spanish. First implementation of the cases in Spain and Finland showed a good acceptance by the students but more evaluation has still to be done. Based on these results we conclude that exchange of case-based e-learning in OM is feasible and rewarding on an international base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Published data obtained from outdoor stationary sampling stations cannot be applied directly to the exposure situation in vehicles. The aim of this study, therefore, was to assess the dust exposure relevant to passengers and drivers in public buses and trams. Method: In the years 1993 to 1996, PM10 samples were taken during 201 journeys of typically 4 h duration on 14 routes (nine bus routes, five tramways) which were representative for the overall Munich transportation system with respect to area characteristics and traffic density. The concentrations of the samples were compared with those collected at the same time at sampling stations of the Bavarian State Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). Dust exposure was continuously and synchronously recorded by means of a tyndallometric device. Traffic and passenger density, weather conditions, special events, etc. were noted by our personnel, travelling on every journey. Results: The average PM10 dust concentration for all rides was 155 μg/m3 (single journey max. 686 μg/m3, min. 13 μg/m3). Interior concentrations were 1.7 to 4.0 times above those collected at the static outdoor stations. We found only minor associations between dust concentrations and traffic density or time of day. During several journeys continuous recording disclosed anomalies, dependence on weather conditions and cyclic track characteristics. Conclusions: Interior PM10 particulate concentrations were comparable to those found elsewhere in truck drivers' cabs and are in the region of German regulative limits established for the general population's long term outdoor exposure. Indoor concentrations were well above the values found at stationary outdoor stations. Additional continuous recording of dust concentrations proved to be helpful in unveiling anomalies and dependencies on external effectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]