Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Climate | Energy, Waste | Resources, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

The Impact of Human Activities on Soil Organisms of the Maritime Antarctic and the Introduction of Non-Native Species in Antarctica

The present study aimed at determining the influence of human activities on Antarctic soil-organisms communities as well as the potential introduction of non-native species into Antarctic habitats. In the Antarctic summers of the years 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, soil organisms (plants and the soil fauna of the groups Nematoda, Tardigrada, Collembola, Actinedida, Oribatida and Gamasina) were collecte...read more

Chemicals

Investigation of two widely used nanomaterials (TiO2, Ag) for ecotoxicological long-term effects

Adaption of test guidelines

The nanoparticulate titanium dioxide NM-105 was investigated in two tests with Lumbriculus variegatus in a sediment-water system according to the OECD TG 225 [5]. The nominal test concentrations in the first test were 15; 23; 39; 63 and 100 mg/L NM-105 and 100 mg/L NM-105 in the second test. Chemical analysis of titanium concentrations in test media in the first test showed good agreement with nom...read more

Waste | Resources

Update of national and international resource use indicators

The study “Update of national and international resource use indicators” contains three main parts. In the first part central resource indicators for Germany such as Domestic Material Consumption (DMC) and Total Material Requirement (TMR) were updated until 2008. The final part of the study identifies further research questions that will need to be addressed in order to improve the quality of sele...read more

Waste | Resources, Soil | Land

Study of the Environmental Impacts of Packagings Made of Biodegradable Plastics

The market relevance and presence of packagings made of biodegradable plastics has increased over the past few years. They are primarily used as alternatives for conventional plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polystyrene terephthalate (PET).read more

Climate | Energy

Sustainable electricity for the future

Sustainable electricity supply calls for transition to a system using 100 percent renewable energy sources. Electricity supply based entirely on renewable energy sources is technically possible by 2050. In all ambitious expansion scenarios, electricity from wind and solar energy plays the central role. The costs of electricity generation from renewable sources have already fallen considerably – an...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

The current environmental situation and proposals for the management of the Fildes Peninsula Region

The Fildes Peninsula and neighbouring Ardley Island are part of the largest ice-free areas in the maritime Antarctic region. This region is characterised by its comparatively high biodiversity. At the same time, this area is home to the highest density of scientific stations used all year round in the whole of the Antarctic. Diverse activities in the fields of research and logistics, but also tour...read more

Air

Erstellung einer methoden-konsistenten Zeitreihe von Stoffeinträgen und Ihren Wirkungen in Deutschland

Teil 1

Within the MAPESI project (FKZ 3707 64 200) deposition flux maps are determined for Germany based on a combination of observations and model results. Wet deposition is based on an interpolation scheme of observed fluxes. For the determination of dry deposition, however, we have to rely on a chemistry transport model which includes a dry deposition module. The dry deposition flux can not be monitor...read more