The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved two onboard disinfection systems for ballast water developed in Germany. The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) granted international approval of the new processes on 17 July 2009, and type approval in Germany can now follow. There is now a total of 30 ballast water disinfection systems worldwide. Germany, in addition to... read more
Helping the environment gain its rights
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) recognised the 50th environmental association in July, thereby granting it the right to appeal. There are now 50 environmental associations throughout the country that are entitled to the special rights to file action provided for in the German Environmental Appeals Act (UmwRG) and act as advocates of the environment in a court of law. These associations can n... read more
The road from Seveso to today - from dioxins to POPs
An accident at the ICMESA chemicals plant near the town of Seveso on 10 July 1976 released a toxic cloud consisting mainly of dioxins and poisoning a densely populated area of six square kilometres. This environmental catastrophe finally triggered serious efforts to make the production and application of chemicals safe. The highly toxic 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8 TCDD) released a... read more
Perfluorinated compounds: Avoid inputs - protect the environment
The reports about perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the environment keep coming and coming. Recent occurrences of these compounds in wastewater treatment plants, bodies of water, in drinking water, in indoor air, and in human blood in particular have kept public debate lively. Although toxicologically critical concentrations have only occurred in a few incidents, ”perfluorinated compounds in the... read more
New guideline on environmentally friendly procurement of notebooks
Public tenders and procurement of ‘green’ notebooks has just become simpler for both the private and public sectors. The high tech association BITKOM, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), and the Federal Ministry of Interior Procurement Office (BeschA) have issued a new guideline with recommendations on how to procure environmentally friendly notebooks (German title: Empfehlungen für die umweltfr... read more
Blue Angel for improved safety in the children’s room
There is now a Blue Angel to award wooden toys that are both harmless to health and ecological. Finally, there is a reliable and trustworthy label for safe wooden toys after all the negative headlines about dangerous toys. The oldest and best-known eco-label is a guarantee of acceptability. read more
Levels of particulate matter too high in Germany’s urban areas
The levels of harmful particulate matter pollution in Germany’s inner cities continues to remain too high. The ceiling (daily mean) of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre of air (µg/m3) has already been exceeded more often than the allowable 35 days a year in six cities, including Stuttgart and Munich. Another ten cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, Thuringia, Hesse, and Saxony are ju... read more
Youth art about global warming
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) seeks to connect art with global warming in a contest in which young peopled aged 11-20 in Dessau-Roßlau are invited to artistically depict climate change. read more
