Exposure to pollution varies greatly in Europe, as proven by the results of a first pan-European comparative study. A total of 1,844 mothers and their children from 17 European countries were tested for exposure to mercury, cadmium, cotinine and several phthalates. The measured values varied greatly from country to country, sometimes by a factor of as much as 40. This is due to differences in envi... read more
Drinking water: It’s the last metres that count!
The Drinking Water Ordinance is introducing the first binding provisions on the materials that come into contact with drinking water. These latest amendments are set to enter into force on 13 December 2012. The supply of drinking water from the public water utility to households throughout Germany is generally of very good quality. In cases of detected contamination of drinking water, the pipes in... read more
Taking a very close look at industrial enterprises
How much pollution does the factory in my neighbourhood produce? What chemicals are being released in wastewater to treatment facilities? Answers to these and many other questions can now be found on www.thru.de, the new web pages of Germany’s Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR). The Internet portal has information about the volumes of pollutants that industrial facilities are emitting... read more
Mineral oil residue in advent calendars can be avoided
There are many sources of mineral oils in food, and they can be reduced or eliminated entirely by taking a number of different measures. One important means is to use mineral oil-free printing inks which can greatly reduce the transfer of mineral oils. Even though technical adjustments to printing machines and inks may be necessary, mineral oil-free inks do not incur any significant additional cos... read more
First-time award of national Ecodesign prize
On 22 November 2012 the Federal Ministry for Environment and the Federal Environment Agency conferred the awards of the national Ecodesign prize (Bundespreis Ecodesign) for the first time. Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier opened the ceremonial event at the Federal Ministry for Environment. Prizes were conferred on fourteen winners in the categories ‘product’, ‘concept’ and ‘next generat... read more
The prospects for Doha - we must use the time available up to 2020
Global greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil fuels have reached new record levels, yet there will be no new, globally binding climate-protection agreement for all states before 2020. The challenge now, therefore, is to launch other initiatives to achieve further reductions in greenhouse gases before 2020 - but to be much more ambitious than we have been up to now. To this purpose, groundbreaking al... read more
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - Polluters! Toxic! Unavoidable?
The European Commission wants to make consumer products safer and is proposing standardized caps for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). PAH are present in many products such as tyres and toys. Their properties give rise to concern and are harmful to health and the environment. “We heartily welcome the Commission’s initiative to reach an appropriate ruling on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons t... read more
Germans consume too many high-tech metals
Germany must be much more economical in its use of natural resources and raw materials, says the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). “A daily per capita consumption of 200 kilos puts Germany in the global lead. This not only harms the environment, it is also dangerous for our international competitive ranking. The costs for materials in the manufacturing industry are already about 43 per cent of net... read more
