Science

Networking is the bread and butter of research. Our research findings on environmental protection and protecting the public against environmental toxins are available free of charge in our publications, which comprise final reports on our own research, as well as overviews of our findings in various white papers and specialized brochures. And if you’re in search of grist for your own research mill, then be sure to visit our Data area and/or our environmental library. Our Umweltforschungsdatenbank (environmental data research database) enables you to see at a glance texts about environmental research in German speaking countries. And if you have a yen to join the UBA research community, then feel free to apply for one of our research projects.

Press release on Air

Germany complied with air quality limit values nearly everywhere in 2022

Stau

Germany recorded no exceedances of particulate matter threshold values in 2022 for the fifth consecutive year. Current data shows that the annual mean limit for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) of 40 µg/m³ was exceeded at only two roadside measuring stations in Munich and Essen. These are the results of a preliminary evaluation of data collected by the federal states and the German Environment Agency. read more

Press release on Water

Only ten percent of Germany’s water ecologically intact, despite progress made

Lake with reed belt and jetty

Currently, only slightly less than ten percent of rivers, lakes and coastal waters are in good ecological condition. Although this is a slight improvement over 2015, Germany still faces major challenges. According to the EU Water Framework Directive, water bodies should be "good" in terms of chemistry, ecology and – in the case of groundwater – also in terms of available quantity by 2027. read more

Press release on Economy | Consumption

Sustainability at the supermarket: retailers not tapping their full potential

Supermarket

The food retailing sector is taking action to promote environmental protection. Examples include store organic brands, a larger selection of vegan products or energy efficiency increases in their food outlets and business offices. On the whole, the companies studied could make much greater use of their influence and scope for action, says a recent study by the German Environment Agency (UBA). read more

Press release on Chemicals

Parts of the European population have alarmingly high levels of pollutant exposure

Blutabnahme mit einer Spritze

Some of Europe’s population have alarmingly high levels of exposure to pollutants. This is the conclusion of the European human biomonitoring initiative HBM4EU, coordinated by UBA. Plasticisers were detected in all children and adolescents examined, and per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are also present in human blood in quantities that are in some cases too high. read more

The Umweltbundesamt

For our environment