The Unit of Environmental Epidemiology investigates the influence of several environmental factors on the etiology of various cancer types: One major focus lies on the investigation of the protective effects of physical activity on cancer risks and prognosis. As modifiable lifestyle factor physical activity could be a major player in the battle against cancer, along with further beneficial effects on several other emerging diseases in the developed world. Etiologic large-scale projects on primary preventive effects have been performed or are ongoing for postmenopausal breast cancer, for colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, renal cell cancer and lung cancer. Most of these investigations are based on national and international collaborations. Furthermore, possible biological mechanisms which are discussed to underlie the protective effects of physical activity are studied, such as the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-family as well as endogenous sex hormones. As the improvement of physical activity assessment tools is needed, we also perform methodological research on physical activity assessment instruments and validation methods. This expertise will be used and extended in contributing to the Helmholtz cohort initiative where physical activity may be a major focus. In addition to primary cancer prevention, clinical epidemiological studies (observational and randomized controlled intervention studies) are ongoing or ready to start to also investigate beneficial effects on cancer- and therapy-related fatigue and quality of life of cancer survivors.

Another major focus of the unit is on exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields, especially on the use of cell phones and their influence on the development of brain tumors and other diseases, e.g. neuro-degenerative diseases. The unit has been involved in several national and international studies, which contribute to public health issues important to the general population and, therefore, to public health decision makers. Most emphasis has been given to the two largest international case-control studies in this field, the INTERPHONE Study and the INTEROCC-Study, a sub-study of INTERPHONE. The German part of these studies consists of three study centers: the Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI) of the University Mainz, the Unit of Epidemiology and International Public Health of the University Bielefeld, and our unit. Data collected in frame of these studies allowed also to investigate other possible risk factors discussed for brain tumor development, like specific diseases, exposure to diagnostic or therapeutic ionizing radiation or specific occupational exposures. A further actual field discussed in brain tumor epidemiology is the inverse association between atopic diseases (asthma, hay fever and atopic dermatitis) and, especially, glioma, which has been observed in several retrospective studies. At the moment, no conclusive biological mechanism is known. We analyzed questionnaire data and measured specific IgE levels in sera collected from the EPIC study. This investigation allows us to validate the results from retrospective studies by a prospective approach using two different levels, questionnaire data and biomarkers.

The population-based Birth Registry Mainz Model actively registers all live births, stillbirths, induced and spontaneous abortions in the region of Rheinhessen covering about 400,000 inhabitants. Since 1990 more than 63,000 newborns (approximately 3,500 per year) have been screened. This allows the investigation of prenatal morphogenetic defects or malformations and possible etiological factors. A special study of the Mainz Model was to investigate a possible association of major malformations of newborn in the vicinity of German nuclear power plants. Additionally, the annual standard evaluations are routinely performed.
Various members of the unit participate in the graduate program in Epidemiology (DFG-GK793), take over teaching obligations in various curricula, and are active in different positions in scientific associations.