Minderung von Lärmimmissionen des Kfz-Verkehrs

Although the permissible emission limits for new motor vehicles are continuously being reduced year after year, the proportion of citizens in the Federal Republic of Germany who are affected by such traffic noise continues to remain practically constant. Thus, aside from the innovations in motor-vehicle technology, the question must be raised concerning what other possibilities are actually available for achieving a reduction in the emission of traffic noises. In the following, planning possibilities are presented for the traffic routes themselves and for their direct vicinities. An evaluation is also made concerning their efficiency. In addition to the prognostic tools of the guidelines which have been introduced in Germany and Austria, the application of modern research must also be taken into consideration.     

In vitro Screening von Pflanzenschutzmittel-Wirkstoffen auf östrogene Aktivität

Over the last years, the obviously increasing, hormone-dependent impairments observed in humans and animals, as well as the increased occurrence of hormone-dependent types of cancer, are sometimes associated with environmental chemicals which are suspected to imitate or block the effects of natural hormones. For a variety of environmental chemicals an endocrine efficacy could already be demonstrated. Little is known, however, about a possible hormonal activity of plant protection agents which are at present certificated in the Federal Republic of Germany. The aim of the present study was the in vitro testing of at least 57 active ingredients of pesticides and growth regulators certificated in the Federal Republic of Germany, for their possible estrogenic activity. The E-Screen-Assay based on the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was used as the suitable test system. For at least 8 of the tested substances, an receptor-mediated estrogenic activity could be shown in vitro. With the exception of one substance, 7 active ingredients displayed a very weak affinity for the human estrogen receptor. Their ability to displace 17β-estradiol from the receptor was low. Only the herbicide Pendimethalin is to be classified as a full estrogen receptor agonist; it is able to displace 17β-estradiol almost completely from the receptor. Howeverm the estrogenic potency of Pendimethalin, in comparison to 17β-estradiol, was seen to be as small as the estrogenic potency of the other 7 substances tested positively in the E-Screen-Assay. Among this 7 substances, two could not be classified as estrogenically active anymore, because their affinity to the human estrogen receptor was too weak. The relevance of the available results for livng organisms should be clarified in further in vivo investigations.     

德国可再生能源利用现状与减少CO2排放量的探讨

联邦德国为了降低矿物燃料的消耗并减少ＣＯ２的排放量,在发展和利用再生能源方面作出了巨大的努力。本文阐述了德国可再生能源的利用现状,分析了利用可再生能源的技术,经济方面的问题,讨论了减少ＣＯ２排放理的有效方法。     

Entsorgung von Pflanzenschutzmittel-Restmengen

Currently, in the Federal Republic of Germany residual amounts of pesticide residues are not separately collected but usually disposed in sanitary landfills with household waste. A concept is presented to prevent this way of waste disposal. It recommends specific incineration methods or, in special cases, the underground disposal. Strategies for collecting systems are also discussed.     

Organic compounds in water extracts of coal: links to Balkan endemic nephropathy

The Pliocene lignite hypothesis is an environmental hypothesis that has been proposed to explain the etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). Aqueous leaching experiments were conducted on a variety of coal samples in order to simulate groundwater leaching of organic compounds, and to further test the role of the Pliocene lignite hypothesis in the etiology of BEN. Experiments were performed on lignite coal samples from endemic BEN areas in Romania and Serbia, and lignite and bituminous coals from nonendemic regions in Romania and the USA. Room temperature, hot water bath, and Soxhlet aqueous extraction experiments were conducted between 25 and 80 °C, and from 5 to 128 days in duration. A greater number of organic compounds and in higher concentrations were present in all three types of leaching experiments involving endemic area Pliocene lignite samples compared to all other coals examined. A BEN causing molecule or molecules may be among phenols, PAHs, benzenes, and/or lignin degradation compounds. The proposed transport pathway of the Pliocene lignite hypothesis for organic compound exposure from endemic area Pliocene lignite coals to well and spring drinking water, is likely. Aromatic compounds leached by groundwater from Pliocene lignite deposits in the vicinity of endemic BEN areas may play a role in the etiology of the disease. A better understanding of organic compounds leached by groundwater from Pliocene lignite deposits may potentially lead to the identification and implementation of effective strategies for the prevention of exposure to the causative agent(s) for BEN, and in turn, prevention of the disease.     

Stoffströme von Benzol unter besonderer Berücksichtung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

In the Federal Republic of Germany, benzene is one of the most important basic materials for the chemical industry. Only a relatively small proportion of the pure benzene processed in the chemical industry is emitted into the environment (ca. 40t in 1991). But the substance is also a natural component of the crude oil in gasoline and is released during incomplete combustion or is formed out of other aromatic substances. The primary source of emissions, with more than 10,000 t/yr (approximately 85% of this from motor vehicles with Otto engines), is commercial motor vehicle transportation. Benzene concentrations in the environment are approximately <1 μg/m³ in rural areas, 20–30 μg/m³ near main roads (peak levels in highly urbanized regions with much traffic as high as approximately 100 μg/m³) and 7–15 μg/m³ in the vicinity of industrial polluters. It has not been possible to detect a specific trend over time during the last ten years. An increased exposure (approx. 350–27,000 μg/m³) is likely while filling the tank and within the motor vehicle (approx. 10–200 μg/m³) due to gasoline volatilization from pipes, etc. Compared to outdoor air, higher concentrations of benzene (approx, 2–11 μg/m³) are measured in the indoor air which contains additionally benzene from tobacco smoke, equipment, renovating work and heating. The primary exposure pathway of benzene in humans is inhalation. Apart from individuals with occupational exposure, smokers have the highest internal benzene burden. Measures undertaken during recent years to reduce the amount of emissions have been counteracted at least in part by the increase in motor vehicle traffic. Further measures to reduce the emissions or to change the transporttation policies must still be or have already been initiated.     

Tiefentschwefelte Kraftstoffe

In recent years, much attention has been given to the desulphurization of fuels like diesel oil and gasoline, since exhaust gases containing SOx cause air pollution and acid rain. Moreover, a lower sulphur content of fuels would allow the use of new engines and catalytic systems for the reduction of CO, particle and NOx-emissions, and a more efficient fuel consumption. The S-level in fuels is presently limited in Germany for gasoline and diesel oll to 150 ppm and 350 ppm, respectively. In 2005 the level will be decreased Europe-wide for all vehicle-fuels down to 50 ppm; in some countries, fuels are or will be on the market with even less sulphur. The current technology of hydrodesulphurization (heterogeneous, catalyzed hydrorreating of organic sulphur compounds) can desulphurize quite adequately down to today’s S-level. The process, however, is limited for the production of ultra-low sulphur fuels, and the expenses (pressure, reactor size, investment costs, energy consumption, specific active catalysts) are high to meet future requirements. alternative processes, which are not limited to hydrotreating, are therefore desirable. Beside an overview about hydrotreating, this paper presents two quite different alternatives: Extraction of sulphur compounds by ionic liquids and the synthetic production of S-free fuels from natural gas by Fischer-Tropsch-synthesis. Ionic liquids (ILs) are low melting (<100°C) salts which represent a new class of non-molecular, ionic solvents. In the experiments presented, extraction of model diesel oils (dibenzothiophene and dodecanthiol in n-dodecane) as well as of a real predesulphurized diesel oil (with about 400 ppm S) were investigated. The results show the excellent and selective extraction properties of ILs for organic sulphur compounds, especially with regard to those compounds which are very difficult to remove by common hydrodesulphurization. As expected, the desulphurization by extraction is much more complicated in case of real diesel oil (compared to a model oil) due to its complex chemical composition including many different sulphur compounds and other impurities like organic nitrogen and metal-compounds. Nevertheless, the results with pre-desulphurized diesel oil are also very promising. So, extraction of sulphur components by ILs is a new approach for deep desulphurization of diesel oil. The application of very mild process conditions (low pressure and temperature) in comparison to traditional hydrotreating is an additional advantage of this new concept. An alternative to today’s fuels based on crude oil is the production of gasoline and diesel oil from natural gas (or other fossil fuels like coal) by Fischer-Tropsch-synthesis (FTS). The products like diesel oil are completely free of sulphur and other impurities like nitrogen and metal compounds. Although several FTS-processes have been investigated and developed, and some processes are already running on a technical scale, a real breakthrough was not obtained up to now. The production costs of these capital-intensive processes are probably above the breakeven point, at least at today’s oil price. In this paper, a ‘lowcost’ process is discussed, which is based on nitrogen-rich syngas. In contrast to classical FTS-processes with nitrogen-free syngas, the investment costs are probably lower: The syngas is produced by partial oxidation with ait, which eliminates the need of an air separation plant, while a process with nitrogen-rich syngas does not utilize a recycle loop and a recycle compressor.     

Identification and assessment of environmental burdens of Chinese copper production from a life cycle perspective

The environmental burdens of Chinese copper production have been identified and quantified in the context of typical technologies, materials supplies and environmental emissions by a life cycle approach. Primary and secondary copper production using copper ores and scraps, respectively, were analyzed in detail. The flash and bath smelting approaches and the recycling of copper scraps were selected as representative copper production processes. A quantitative analysis was also conducted to assess the influence of material transport distance in copper production. Life cycle assessment （LCA） results showed that resources depletion and human health contribute significantly to environmental burdens in Chinese copper production. In addition, the secondary copper production has dramatically lower environmental burdens than the primary production. There is no obvious distinction in overall environmental burdens in primary copper production by flash or bath smelting approach. However, resources depletion is lower and the damage to human health is higher for flash smelting approach. Ecosystem quality damage is slight for both approaches. Environ- mental burdens from the mining stage contribute most in all life cycle stages in primary copper production. In secondary copper production, the electrolytic refining stage dominates. Based on the life cycle assessment results, some suggestions for improving environmental performance were proposed to meet the sustainable development of Chinese copper industry.     

Radioaktive Isotope in Sedimenten

The Federal Office for Radiation Protection investigated several natural and artificial radioactive isotopes in the sediments of rivers in the Erzgebirge by means of gamma radiation spectrometry. The regional distribution of the isotopes and their relation to former uranium mining is described. The significantly high differences of their concentrations in different river sections are discussed. A dependence of the activity concentrations on temporal peaks in mining activities is illustrated by the example of a sediment profile. The behavior of artificial radioactive isotopes, such as¹³⁷Cs and¹³⁴Cs after the reactor accident in Tschernobyl is characterized. All measurements were evaluated from the radiological point of view and critically assessed.     

Teil 2: PCDD/F,Biphenyle und Organochlorpestizide in Frauenmilch

After the discovery of high dioxin levels (>100 000 ng TE BGA/kg) in copper slag (Kieselrot) from a specific chlorinating roasting process performed in Marsberg, human milk samples from mothers living in Marsberg were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), dibenzofurans (PCDF) and other pollutants. PCDD/F levels in all samples were comparable with levels in human milk samples from other locations in the Federal Republic of Germany. An increase in congeners, especially of those predominating in ?Kieselrot“, could not be measured. Although several thousand tons of dioxin contaminated copper slag still lie on the slagheap, a higher burden in human milk from Marsberg could not be observed.     

Empfehlung des Länder-Arbeitskreises “Bioindikation/Wirkungsermittlung” für die landesweite Erhebung von Immissionswirkungen mit Bioindikatoren

The working group on “boindication/assessment of effects” is made up of specialists active in the fields of bioindication and emission ecology for the German Federal administrative offices concerned with the protection of the environment and for the Geman Environmental Protection Agency. In April 1996, this working group adopted the recommendation for a “countrywide survey on the effects of emissions using bioindicatiors”. The goal of this national survey is to determine the geographic distribution and the development over time of such emissions, as well as to document the effects of background emissions. In order to achieve these goals, the development of national measuring networks and permanent observation stations is mandatory. A minimal demand of investigations and of investigative procedures is required in order to compare the results of the individual Federal States and to consequently combine these findings as an overall picture for the entire Federal Republic of Germany. Mosses and lichens are recommended for passive biological monitoring, while standardized grass cultures, kale, stinging nettle and tobacco are suggested for active biomonitoring. In addition, detailed methodical recommendations concerning the use of standardized grass cultures and kale are discussed.     

河南义煤集团石壕煤矿突水原因分析

矿井突水是制约煤矿安全、持续生产的瓶颈因素之一,对其进行分析有助于灾害的防治．该文对河南义煤集团石壕煤矿自建矿以来的突水事故进行统计分析,指出造成突水事故原因主要在于：煤层采动导致其岩层力学性质的变化,使得岩层储水涌入巷道,导致突水;在采动影响下,小断层活化成为充水通道,容易发生煤矿突水;复杂的水文地质条件是造成突水的主要原因．图1,表1,参5．     

Ökotoxikologische Bioindikation

Atmospheric heavy metals, (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn), PAHs, and PCBs, depositions were monitored in scots pine needles during a monitoring network programme (Monitoring Programme Natural Budget Berlin and Environs) in 1991 in the city of Berlin, and the surrounding rural areas of Brandenburg (Germany). The total area of the network covered 3,000 km². The passive monitoring technique is based on the fact that the concentrations of heavy metals, PAH’s and PCB’s in the needles are closely correlated to atmospheric depositions/emissions. The objectives of the project were to characterize qualitatively and quantitatively the regional atmospheric deposition patterns of heavy metals, PAH’s and PCB’s in rural and polluted urban areas of Berlin and Brandenburg. The indication of the locations which could be characterized as heavy metals, PAH and PCB pollution sources was also targetted in this investigation. After conclusion, comparison with similar studies conducted in different parts of Germany and Europe would be possible. The regional background deposition levels showed different distribution patterns. The lead and PAH concentrations in the pine needles were closely correlated to the locations of combustion sources petrol, oil, brown coal and heavy traffic activities. The PCB and cadmium concentration levels in the pine needles represented a more ubiquitous distribution pattern.     

Accomplishments of the NATO/CCMS pilot study on international information exchange on dioxins and related compounds∗

A project promoting the international exchange of information on chlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans (CDDs and CDFs) was conducted under the auspices of the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Initiated in 1985, the Pilot Study on International Information Exchange on Dioxins and Related Compounds was a three‐year effort to improve the state of the art of dioxin research, regulation, and technology by encouraging collaboration among interested countries and organizations. Participating nations included Canada, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Numerous activities were accomplished to promote information exchange so that better informed decisions can be made concerning future research activities and resource allocations. Three major areas were addressed: Exposure and Hazard Assessment, Technology Assessment, and Management of Accidents. A total of 15 CCMS reports were published which summarize the achievements of the Pilot Study.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in multimedia environment of Heshan coal district,Guangxi: distribution,source diagnosis and health risk assessment

Mining activities are among the major culprits of the wide occurrences of soil and water pollution by PAHs in coal district, which have resulted in ecological fragilities and health risk for local residents. Sixteen PAHs in multimedia environment from the Heshan coal district of Guangxi, South China, were measured, aiming to investigate the contamination level, distribution and possible sources and to estimate the potential health risks of PAHs. The average concentrations of 16 PAHs in the coal, coal gangue, soil, surface water and groundwater were 5114.56, 4551.10, 1280.12 ng g^?1, 426.98 and 381.20 ng L^?1, respectively. Additionally, higher soil and water PAH concentrations were detected in the vicinities of coal or coal gangue dump. Composition analysis, isomeric ratio, Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis were performed to diagnose the potential sources of PAHs in different environmental matrices, suggesting the dominant inputs of PAHs from coal/coal combustion and coal gangue in the soil and water. Soil and water guidelines and the incremental lifetime risk (ICLR) were used to assess the health risk, showing that soil and water were heavily contaminated by PAHs, and mean ICLR_{coal/coal-gangue} and mean ICLR_soil were both significantly higher than the acceptable levels (1 × 10^?4), posing high potential carcinogenic risk to residents, especially coal workers. This study highlights the environmental pollution problems and public health concerns of coal mining, particularly the potential occupational health hazards of coal miners exposed in Heshan.     

Bewertung von diffusen Stoffeinträgen im Rahmen der nationalen Biodiversitätsstrategie

Background, aim and scope In 2007, the German government approved a national strategy on biological diversity. The strategy requires the integration of its quality targets and action targets into other policies. In addition to other pressure factors, area-wide diffuse substance discharges contribute considerably to the loss of biological diversity. Reducing these diffuse substance discharges to long-term ecologically compatible levels is one of the main action targets. This paper aims to provide an overview of preconditions for implementing this objective in terms of content as well as organization and to point out important deficits. Main focus To achieve this, the paper will discuss environmental monitoring and its implementation in Germany drawing on the targets of the national strategy on biological diversity. It will discuss the opportunities for the evaluation of the German and European biodiversity strategies using monitoring required in the execution of environmental laws and regulations as well as international substance-related indicators. Results Environmental monitoring in Germany and in Europe is characterized by a plurality of monitoring networks operated under different administrative competences and environmental sectors. Only a small part of the collected data is evaluated in a cross-media and cross-sectoral perspective even though the linking of the different data sets is technically possible. Discussion A key problem is that harmonized minimum requirements to monitor the reduction of diffuse substance discharges are missing. Without the implementation of a cooperative and harmonized monitoring approach and organizational guidelines, the reduction of diffuse substance discharges will not be verifiable. Environmental data as well as indicators are essential to evaluate the success of the national biodiversity strategy. Suitable monitoring concepts are available in the German Federal Republic and its Federal States, nevertheless, a political impulse for their implementation is missing. Recommendations and perspectives The national biodiversity strategy may reopen the discussion on the necessity of an integrated monitoring. A coordinated approach that refers both to the international indicator-discussion and to institutional obstacles and aims to develop a proposal for integrated monitoring data is necessary.     

An environmental assessment of enhanced oil recovery

The objective of this assessment is to quantify some of the environmental effects of a significant increase in United States oil production by tertiary or enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods. The problems associated with each EOR technology are discussed and controls and regulations are briefly summarised. A tertiary oil production scenario for the United States was developed focussing only on mainland fields in the lower 48 states. It included all of the EOR methods expected to be in use during the next two decades. The environmental impacts, including water requirements, air emissions and generation of solid wastes, are then scaled to this scenario. The effects of control technologies and state regulations are considered. A comparison is also made between the impacts of EOR as an energy source and impacts associated with coal and synthetic fuels which concludes that EOR is preferable in many respects. There are environmental risks associated with EOR technologies, specific projects and specific fields in the production scenario; however, most problems are solvable by responsible regulation, enforcement of regulations and application of the best professional engineering by project operators.     

The coal problem in Belgium: matters related to the economy and the environment

Conclusions Whereas old coal tips were looked on in the past as constituting large reserves of energy resources, these very tips have today acquired a new ecological value, and because of their biological worth, or because of the fact that they improve the landscape, these considerations ought to supersede the old concept. Of course, the ecological and economic features can be said to be related when the biomass found on coal tips can be used economically.We can rightly say that the environmental impact of the coal extracting industry has left features that will remain whatever they may be: old coal tips, that give us much biological information; subsidence that has made lakes where so many bird varieties can be found; and also those mining sites, whether they are reclaimed and restored or not. All these features of today bear witness to the life and work of many generations.     

A contribution to the study of phosphate sorption by three Greek fly ashes

Three fly ashes from Greece, produced from lignite burning, proved efficient in removing phosphate from solution. Maximum amounts of phosphate removed ranged from 0.064 to 0.099 mmol PO³ ₄ ^– per g of material. Fly ashes that contained higher amounts of calcite and anhydrite seemed to be better sinks for phosphate. From the various adsorption isotherm equations tested, the Langmuir equation described phosphate sorption satisfactorily. Although, the exact mechanism of phosphate sorption could not be revealed, it is believed that it involved an adsorption and/or precipitation process.     

Overcoming the inadequacy of single-criterion approaches to Life Cycle Assessment

In this work, the authors intend to introduce to the scientific community a novel integrated approach to environmental impact assessment, appropriately named SUstainability Multicriteria Multiscale Assessment (SUMMA). Its main objective is to overcome the inherent shortcomings of all single-criterion approaches, which constitute the vast majority of the Life Cycle Assessments performed to date in the scientific literature, and which invariably lead to partial and often misleading results. Furthermore, SUMMA is structured so as to enable a consistent sensitivity analysis of all the calculated impact indicators, a procedure that is of crucial importance for assessing the variability and reliability of the results, but which is only rarely adopted. The suggested framework is applied to selected case studies (coal gasification, bauxite mining, aluminium production and fuel cell manufacture), the results of which are discussed.