Overview on data sources for modeling epidemiological effects of environmental pollution

We focus on German population based data, which are routinely available in German statistical databases for the evaluation of the human sex odds at birth in the vicinity of nuclear facilities as well as around chemical sites. In this respect we have to distinguish between the statistical offices of the German states (Bundesländer) and the Federal statistical office of the FRG (Federal Republic of Germany). A specific difficulty arising from the German reunification in 1991 concerns data availability and data formats from the former GDR (German Democratic Republic). These offices collect data on birth statistics which are the basis of our research on the effects of environmental pollutants on the development of the human sex odds at birth. The beginning of data collection as well as the date since when the data are available in electronic format differs a lot. We also collected birth statistics data in Switzerland and France. We use the geo-coding system Gauss-Krueger (GK), which is suitable for European countries. Furthermore, EUROSTAT and WHO population based health data are looked upon. We list possible data sources for enhanced investigations on epidemiological effects, and we consider bio-physical plausibility. Some initial effort has been put into the finding of data e.g. in Japan and in other countries.