Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Water

Water Framework Directive - The way towards healthy waters

short version

Official implementation of the Water Framework Directive on 22 December 2000 marked the beginning of a new era in the annals of water management. The Water Framework Directive sets the ambitious goal of attaining “good status” for Europe’s rivers, lakes, groundwater bodies and coastal waters by 2015 in accordance with a clearly defined timeline.read more

Chemicals

Standardisation of Emission Factors for the Exposure Assessment under REACH

The project analyzed the process of different industry associations of developing and documenting specific environmental release categories (spERCs). Issues regarding the information structure and type of justification provided in the fact sheets documenting the derivation of spERCs were described and analyzed at a general level. For selected spERCs, more in-depth analyses were conducted. In addit...read more

Chemicals

Comparative analysis of estimated and measured BCF data (OECD 305)

Literature study with a special focus on differential accumulation of (mixtures of) stereoisomers

Bioaccumulation potential of chemicals is frequently assessed from bioconcentration, conventionally measured according to OECD 305 (Bioaccumulation: Flow-through Fish Test) (OECD,1996) and expressed as Bioconcentration Factor (BCF). These studies deliberately reduce the manifold uptake and elimination mechanisms in aquatic organisms to respiratory absorption via gills and diffusion through the ski...read more

Transport

Noise action planning in agglomerations

Reduction potentials based on the example of Hamburg

According to the environmental noise directive 2002/49/EG noise maps had to be prepared for major roads, major railways, major airports and agglomerations with more the 250.000 persons until 06/30/2007. Based on this results action plans had to be developed. Numerous agglomerations hadn’t been able to deliver the noise maps in time, and had to interpret the term “strategic” also in the case of act...read more

Air, Waste | Resources, Soil | Land

UN ECE-Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution - Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen

Systematic cost-benefit analysis of reduction measures for ammonia emissions in agriculture for national cost estimates

By signing the Göteborg protocol in 1999 and by adopting the NEC directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and the Council in 2001, Germany accepted the obligation to adhere to a national limit of 550 kt per year for the emissions of ammonia (NH3) and not to exceed this limit as of the year 2010. According to the current prognosis, however, it is impossible to remain below this emission limi...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

What Matters 2011

Annual Report of the Federal Environment Agency

The Federal Environment Agency’s mission is to provide sciencebased advice to the German Government. The Agency’s core activities include early identification of problems, identifying current or foreseeable environmental impacts as well as potential environmental issues and develop solutions to face these hazards. - Why Environmental Protection is a Global Concern - Water – Ecologically Sound Hand...read more