SEMINAR: Study of Germ Cell Tumours in the Automobile Industry � Exposure Assessment and First Results

This large study was instigated because of the finding of a “cluster” of testicular cancer in a large automobile manufacturing company. One of the possible causes was endocrine disrupting chemicals used at the company. The assessment of possible causes of the “cluster” was complicated and detailed and Thomas will outline what was done, and give some early results.

Thomas Behrens, M.D., PhD, MPH acquired a medical degree at Göttingen University in 1999 and completed his medical doctoral thesis during the same year. Postgraduate studies in Public Health followed from 1999-2002. During employments at Munster University and the Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine (BIPS) he focussed on the epidemiology of asthma, cardiovascular epidemiology and, most recently, methods of exposure quantification and etiological research in occupational epi. Since 2008 he is responsible for the Research Unit 'Occupation and Environment' at BIPS. In 2010 Dr. Behrens completed his formal qualification required in Germany to be eligible for a professorship.