Publications

There is often talk that environmental protection is no longer an issue of public debate. I believe that this is exaggerated. Unemployment or domestic security may certainly be more topical than environmental protection.

Tires for commercial vehicles are optimized to be both fuel efficient and long lasting. A low noise design provides generally little incentive to buy. The noise reduction potential of tires for commercial vehicles is not sufficiently used as the comprehensive test of 32 tires shows.

It has increasingly become accepted in recent years that ecosystems can only be managed sensibly if they are perceived and protected in their entirety. To this end, 12 principles for an ecosystem approach and 5 points of operational guidance have been elaborated in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity. They have not been applied to a marine ecosystem as yet.

Aerosols in the atmosphere have the potential to seriously affect the quality of our environment. Particles of less than 10 micrometers may after inhalation cause adverse effects on health. In addition to direct effects on the health of mankind, aerosols also affect the climate. Aerosols scatter and absorb light as a result of which they directly affect the radiation balance of the earth.

The model ONERIS (MOdelling Nutrient Emissions in RIver Systems) was developed and applied to estimate the nutrient inputs into river basins of Germany by point sources and various diffuse pathways. the model is based on data of river flow and water quality as well as a geographical information system (GIS) which includes digital maps and extensive statistical information.

During summer and fall 1998, 75 sample takers and 20 employees of laboratories of 26 institutes measuring emissions in Germany and Switzerland estimate the uncertainty of measuring results of 5 selected VDI-standard emission measuring methods.

The Federal Environmental Agency advertised the UFOPLAN project FKZ: 298 94 313 "Resource-sparing production of polymer materials taking polyolefine as an example" against the background of the importance of polymer materials in terms of value and quantity.

In this chapter, the candidates BAT with a high environmental protection performance are summarized. Beside the most important individual measures, information about configuration of the plant in the context of BAT is given. It should be noted that the configuration of new plants can be adapted for integration of BAT.

Since the presentation of the Report of the UN Commission for Environment and Development (Brundtland Report) in 1987 and the United Nations Conference for Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 the concept of "sustainable development" has dominated the environmental debate world-wide.

The fourth North Sea Conference (4NSC) held in Esbjerg in 995 and the Intermediate Ministerial Meeting on the Integration of Fisheries and Environmental Issues (IMM) held in Bergen in 1997 identified the need for particular research to support marine environmental protection and the sustainable development of fisheries.

In view of the eutrophication of surface waters including the North and Baltic Seas due to excessive inputs of nutrients, a reduction of nutrient inputs of the order of 50% between 1985 and 1995 was agreed upon at ministerial level for both maritime areas in the framework of the International Conferences on the Protection of the North Sea and the Helsinki Convention.

In 1990 the former Federal Health Office (Bundesgesundheitsamt) and the Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt) jointly elaborated a catalogue of test requirements necessary for assessing the impact of wood preservatives on man and environment. Based on several years of experience, a revision was deemed necessary.