Rat poison that is used in municipal sewer systems is a source of emissions to surface water where it bioaccumulates in fish liver. These are the findings of a new research project done on behalf of the German Environment Agency (UBA). The active substances used in baits are not degraded completely in wastewater treatment plants and are thus channelled to rivers. read more
Rodent control measures are contaminating fish
PFAS excessively high in blood of children and adolescents in Germany
Children and adolescents between the ages of 3 and 17 in Germany have too many persistent chemicals from the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance group, or PFAS, in their blood. These are the findings of an evaluation of the representative German Environmental Survey for Children and Adolescents, GerES V. read more
Germany assumes chairmanship of Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM)
On 1 July 2020, Germany assumed chairmanship of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) for a period of two years. Oversupply of nutrients, unexploded ordnance, marine litter, underwater noise pollution and climate change are the stresses on the marine ecosystems of the Baltic Sea on which Germany wants to focus during its tenure. read more
Clean bathing waters, but the fun has its limits
In the 2019 bathing season, the EU Commission rated 93% of all German bathing water sites 'excellent'. Overall, 98 percent of bathing waters in lakes, rivers and on the coast were in compliance with the quality standards of the European Bathing Water Directive. This data is confirmed by the Quality of Bathing Water data published by the EU Commission on 8 June for the 2019 bathing season. read more
UBA names water body type of the year 2020
The German Environment Agency (UBA) declared the coarse substrate-dominated, calcareous small highland river as the water body type of 2020 on the occasion of World Water Day on 22 March 2020. Streams of this type occur primarily in the limestone regions of the central highlands , for example in the Swabian Alb and Frankish Alb. Only eight percent achieve 'good' ecological status. read more
Marine Regions Forum discusses solutions for marine protection
200 international experts meeting in Berlin. read more
Protect oceans and polar regions, secure coastal areas for the long term
UBA and AWI demand more climate action and protection of the oceans and the mitigation of risks for coastal regions. read more
Plastics in the environment
New UBA study: Numbers, background information, research needs, and measures to combat the plastic flood. read more