Emissions to air, water and soil and the number of accidents at industrial facilities due to shortcomings in accident prevention had taken on alarming proportions by the 1970s. UBA addressed the problem and in the years since then has formulated a comprehensive risk management strategy for international river basins.
UBA is engaged in transboundary efforts to improve the protection of man and the environment, for example in the case of fires at industrial facilities or oil spills. In September 2017 UBA launched a joint emergency exercise with the German and Polish fire brigade and organised a seminar on how to prevent transboundary pollution by contaminated fire-water.
The development of AEGL values started in the USA and chemicals to be considered in other countries are coordinated there as well.
The diversity of national and international values similar to AEGL seems to be confusing and might be seen as competing with the AEGL values.
Generally, the application of AEGL values is possible and intended for both authorizing procedures (safety layout of plants) and emergency response and disaster control planning.
The AEGL development process
The legal framework
AEGL values (Acute exposure guideline levels) serve as planning values for the safety layout of industrial plants for which the possibility of a hazardous incident is relevant (Hazardous Incident Ordinance (in german)).
