Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Chemicals

Investigation of widely used nanomaterials (TiO2, Ag) and gold nanoparticles in standardized ecotoxicological tests

At the nanoscale level, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials differ in fundamental, and often valuable, ways from the properties of individual atoms and molecules, or bulk matter. Research and development in nanotechnology is directed towards creating im-proved materials, devices, and systems that exploit the new properties. The specific properties of nanoparticles proved...read more

Economy | Consumption

EMAS in Germany - Evaluation 2012

With this report the Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Environment Agency present the findings of an extensive survey among German organisations concerning their usage of the European environmental management system, EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme). The experiences of EMAS users detailed here are important for recognising possible areas for optimisation, and for forming suggestio...read more

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