Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Economy | Consumption, Air, Soil | Land, Agriculture

Reactive nitrogen in Germany

Causes and effects - measures and recommendations

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for all living beings. However, many compounds containing nitrogen are harmful for the environment. Plant species adapted to nutrient-poor conditions are displaced from forests and heathland. Emissions of nitrous oxide from over-fertilized fields exacerbate climate change. In many places, manure is responsible for nitrate concentrations in groundwater climbing abo...read more

Soil | Land

Updating the Land Use and Land Cover Database CLC for the Year 2012 - „Backdating“of DLM-DE from the Reference Year 2009 to the Year 2006

For the update of land cover according to CORINE Land Cover classes, a specific national approach has been chosen in Germany. This approach uses a more accurate geometry of the Official Topographical Cartographic Information System ATKIS of the land survey authorities. DLM-DE, derived from ATKIS, is to be applied as base for the deduction of CLC classes. In the responsibility of the German Federal...read more

Chemicals, Waste | Resources

Identification of potentially POP-containing Wastes and Recyclates – Derivation of Limit Values

A condition for the setting of limit values is the detailed knowledge of the presence of pollutants in waste, products as well as recyclates. In the present project data were collected on the presence of Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), Hexachlorobutadien (HCBD), Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN), Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP) in relevant waste, products and r...read more

Chemicals

Concept development for an extended plant test in the environmental risk assessment of veterinary medicinal products

Based on the need for a standardized test design to test the effect of veterinary medicinal products on plants in a more realistic way, the following objectives of this research project arise: Development of a test design for a modified OECD 208 seedling emergence and growth plant test with a more realistic exposure in manured soil; Experimental verification of the practicability of the test desig...read more

Economy | Consumption

Guide to green public procurement of interior-floor coverings, panels, and doors made of wood and timber products

Floor coverings, panels and interior doors made of wood and timber products are often made of numerous materials that are virtually always processed, glued together, painted or coated. This can lead to environmental problems and health issues during the lifetime of such products. This guide discusses environmental criteria for the procurement of floor coverings, panels and interior doors. The guid...read more

Chemicals, Economy | Consumption, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Environmental protection under TTIP

The declared objective of the planned free trade agreement with the US (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – TTIP) is to unify EU and USA standards as much as possible by regulatory cooperation. However, an improper design of regulatory cooperation carries considerable risks for environmental protection in the EU: environmental standards might be lowered and environmental properties of...read more

Soil | Land

Poster: Soil of the year 2015

Surface Water Gley

Each year, an Expert Panel selects the "soil of the year". In the year 2015, it's the Surface Water Gley. He's temporarily wet and dry at times. He must be managed carefully. This poster shows how he looks. There are 40,000 km2 of which in Germany are. This is equivalent to the surface area of the Netherlands.read more

Chemicals

UBA and Tukes concerned about the environmental impacts of veterinary medicines

Joint press mailing on the lunch debate: Environmental risk of veterinary medicines, 4 March 2015

The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) and the German Federal Environment Agency, Umweltbundesamt (UBA), are concerned about the environmental risks of veterinary medicines. In their opinion, a proposal adopted in September by the European Commission – for a new Regulation on Veterinary Medicinal Products – does not include sufficient provisions to ensure a high level of environmental pro...read more