Publications

Einfluss der Molekülgröße und der Lipidlöslichkeit auf das Biokonzentrationspotential von Umweltchemikalien

What are phthalates and what is their use? Phthalates are primarily used as plasticisers for soft PVC. The chemical industry in Western Europe produces around one million tons of phthalates annually. More than 90% go into the production of soft PVC. 

In this study commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA), Öko-Institute - with expert advice by Umicore Precious Metals Refining - analysed the export of used vehicles and electrical and electronic goods from Germany. This latest research project is based on the former study “Materials Flow of Platinum Group Metals” [PGM 2005].

BEF Publication: Knowledge and attitudes towards European integration and EU environmental legislation in local self-government in Croatia and Macedonia.

Climate change is no longer a matter of a distant future; it is already taking place all over the world, in Europe and also in Germany. Thus, an increase in the number of extreme weather events such as heat spells and floods is observed. For example, the Elbe flood in 2002 caused material damage amounting to more than 9 thousand million Euros; 18 persons lost their lives.

Background of the project was the fact that the technological and organisational level of plant safety in East European countries is not as developed as the EU-standards require it. These deficits have already lead to major environmental accidents or they could lead to short or long term natural disasters, in these countries.

Nano technology is regarded as a key technology of the 21st century, which will be used in a large lumber of industries and technical applications. On the hand, completely new products are being developed, and on the other hand, existing technical solutions are being replaced with 'nao solutions'.

After considerable improvements of wastewater treatment, the loads of nutrients and plant protection agents, deriving from agriculture and heavy metals from urban drainages effluents as well as from erosion of agricultural soils are the main sources of nutrients and harmful substances in the loads of water bodies.

This project on the tightening up of noise limits for civil jet aircraft has the objective, based on the insights of a status-quo analysis, of preparing proposals for updating Annex 16 and of undertaking an assessment of proposals for new (more stringent) noise limits, bearing in mind aspects of environmental protection as well as from a technical, legal and economic point of view.

Beschreibung

Entwicklung von Modellen zur Identifizierung von Schadstoffquellen -insbesondere im Verkehrsbereich- im Rahmen der 22. BImSchV - Dokumentation, Weiterentwicklung, Validierung und Maßnahmenplanung für ein bundeseinheitliches Vorgehen - Teilbericht

Conferences and other events can affect the environment in a wide variety of ways.