Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Chemicals

Further development of test methods for hormonally active pharmaceuticals and other substances

Sensor cell lines have been developed to monitor rapid non-genomic signalling cascades influenced by endocrine-active substances. These in-vitro bioassays were created by genetically modifying G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER1) expressing cells to become artificial fluorescent signalosomes. Both GPER1 agonists and antagonistic compounds were used to characterize the respective sensor cell...read more

Air

Manual on Methodologies and Criteria for Modelling and Mapping Critical Loads and Levels and Air Pollution Effects, Risks, and Trends - Update 2024

This report is an important collection of tools used in the framework of the Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP). Thus, it provides for example a scientific basis on the application of critical levels and loads, their interrelationships, and the consequences for abatement. After the transfer of the Coordination Center for Effects from the Netherlands to Germany thi...read more

Air, Transport, Agriculture

PINETI-4: Modelling and assessment of acidifying and eutrophying atmospheric deposition to terrestrial ecosystems

Biodiversity in Europe is strongly affected by atmospheric nitrogen and sulfur deposition to ecosystems. Within the PINETI-4 (Pollutant Input and Ecosystem Impact) project the deposition of nitrogen and sulfur compounds across Germany was quantified for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 to 2019, using the atmospheric chemical transport model LOTOS-EUROS and precipitation composition measurements...read more

Climate | Energy

Assumptions on potentials for Carbon Dioxide Removals in the EU

A review of recent European Commission impact assessments

This report analyses and critically reviews assumptions on natural carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and storage potentials with a view to the objectives of the EU Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) and Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) legislation agreed until February 2024.Therefore, EU impact assessment reports that were published over a period of eight years were analysed a...read more

Waste | Resources

HP 14 classification of mirror entries in the List of Wastes – elaboration of proposals for further developing the German ‘Recommendations for the ecotoxicological characterization of wastes

Waste from so-called ‘mirror entries’ in the list of wastes must be categorised as ‘hazardous’ or ‘non-hazardous’ depending on its composition. Hazardous properties are determined on the basis of the concentrations of the waste constituents or on the basis of a test. For the hazard characteristic ‘HP 14’ (ecotoxic), there are currently no specific requirements at EU level for categorisation based...read more

Climate | Energy, Waste | Resources, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters, Digitalisation

Brochure: Digitalisation and natural resources

Analysis of the resource intensity of the digital transformation in Germany

The ‘DigitalRessourcen’ research project analysed the resource intensity and greenhouse gas emissions of the digital transformation in Germany at both micro and macro level. The resource intensity of digital applications was calculated in ten case studies (micro level) using LCA methodology. At the macro level, raw material consumption (RMC), raw material input (RMI) and the carbon footprint of di...read more

Noise, Water, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Detrimental effects of underwater noise

Development of the basics for a noise protection concept for Antarctica

Anthropogenic noise can molest, injure or even lead to the death of marine mammals. Therefore, activities in the Antarctic that lead to the emission of underwater noise are often categorised to have at least a minor or temporary impact on marine mammal species or their populations. Two panels of experts with varying backgrounds in behavioural response studies or auditory injury for a range of mari...read more

Air

Empirical Critical Loads of nitrogen for Europe

This brochure summarizes the revised empirical critical loads for N compared to 2011. 40 % of ecosystems react more sensitively to N than previously assumed. The ecosystems studied have been visualized to make them easier to understand. Two maps show the distribution of natural and semi-natural ecosystems on the one hand and the distribution of forest ecosystems in Europe and the neighboring count...read more