Bundesinstitut These are the biggest health concerns of the Germans

Which health risks we care the most

What worries the population in Germany most about their own health? Pollution, germs in food, microplastics, antibiotic resistance or pesticide residues: these are just a few of the health risks we face in our daily lives. But how threatening are the individual issues perceived by the population? The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) clarifies.

A recent survey by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) shows what Germans are most worried about when it comes to their own health. The food was quite positive. 77 percent of the population assess the food marketed in Germany as safe. In contrast, environmental pollution, even before the consequences of smoking and alcohol, is perceived as the greatest danger. The results of the survey can be viewed in the "BfR consumer monitor 08/2018".

Environmental pollution, smoking and the consequences of alcohol consumption are perceived as the greatest health burden in Germany. But there is also a growing concern about new potential threats such as microplastics and antibiotic resistance. (Image: Ralf Geithe / fotolia.com)

Pollution, smoking and alcohol

The three biggest problem children of the Germans are the consequences of pollution, smoking and alcohol consumption. 17 percent of those polled consider environmental pollution as the most threatening factor for their health. A team of scientists found in a major international study that every sixth death in the world is caused by pollution. 15 percent consider the consequences of smoking as the greatest danger. According to a report by the World Health Organization WHO, one in seven Germans dies of the deadly consequences of smoking. Eleven percent saw drinking alcohol as the biggest threat. Lack of exercise, on the other hand, was considered a surprisingly low health risk. Only six percent of participants saw a lack of exercise as a major health risk.

New protagonists

The population sees the greatest increase in health hazard potential in the pollution by microplastics. At the last risk assessment six months ago, 45 percent of respondents said they saw a health hazard in microplastic pollution. In the current survey, 56 percent were already worried. According to the BfR, this increase of 11 percentage points is the biggest change compared to the last risk analysis.

What are the dangers of microplastics??

There is already microplastic in the air, in drinking water and in food. This is shown by the current consortium study Mikroplastik, which was recently published by the Fraunhofer Institute. The consequences for the health are largely unknown. "To assess the actual risk of microplastics in the food chain, we need more reliable data," explains BfR President Professor Dr. med. Dr. Andreas Hensel in a press release to the survey. The BfR is currently conducting studies on the uptake of microplastic particles and their possible health effects.

Many questions about microplastics

"From the studies so far it can not be deduced how many microplastic particles consumers actually absorb, for example by eating fish," writes the BfR. Microplastic has been detected primarily in the gastrointestinal tract of fish. This is usually not consumed.

Antibiotic resistance, salmonella and genetic engineering

Overall, 68 percent of participants saw the threat of increasing antibiotic resistance as a threat. According to the BfR, people in Germany are also worried about remnants of pesticides (54 percent), salmonella in food (53 percent) and genetically modified food (50 percent).

Takes our food quality off?

Although 77 percent of the respondents generally regard food in Germany as safe, almost half of all participants stated that the overall food quality is rather decreasing. Only 13 percent felt that the quality of food is increasing.

The consequences of genome editing largely unknown

The least threatening of the risks surveyed was the so-called genome editing, that is, the targeted modification of the genetic material of plants, animals and humans. Only five percent saw in it a threat to health. However, 87 percent of the participants said that they had not heard or knew anything about it. (Vb)