[Sentinel public health offices--a new approach to determining public health relevant data by the public health service].

The discipline of environment-related health protection lacks continuously recorded data. Therefore, a three-year pilot project "Sentinel Public Health Offices" was initiated by the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Welfare of Baden-Württemberg in 1992. Selected public health offices were instructed to conduct a series of three cross-sectional surveys of biological and effect monitoring among children attending the fourth grade of primary schools. The surveys were coordinated by the Provincial Public Health Office. During the pilot project the system of " Sentinel Public Health Offices" has proved successful not only in the continuous recording of data relevant to health. Its continuation as a permanent institution is contemplated.