Ökonomische Ansätze zur Ökosystembewertung am Beispiel des Bodens

As it is practically impossible in an industrial society to reduce impacts into ecosystems to a level that would preclude any damages, the need for damage valuation arises. One of the available valuation tools is the economic approach. Subsequent publications present this approach using the example of soils. In the first part, soils as part of ecosystems are considered from an ecological and a conventional economic point of view. In the following so-called ecological-economic perspective, more recent developments in economic valuation research are introduced. It is shown how ecological and economic valuation can complement one another. It is emphasized that economic valuations should be restricted to a critical soil structure which, in economic terms, is determined by the non-substitutable services of the ecological asset.     

Humanarzneimittel im aquatischen Ökosystem

Goal

In the Brandenburg State Office for the Environment an approach to assess the potential risk of drug residues in aquatic ecosystems has been developed based on an investigation of the consumption amounts in 1999 to identify or to exclude a potential environmental risk of important human drugs and further to define priority substances for monitoring programs in Brandenburg in the future.

Method

This assessment approach tested with 60 drug agents is based on an exposure estimation considering the main path for the entry human—waste water—sewage plant—surface water, on a substance specific analysis of effects and on an analysis of the environmental fate as compartment distribution, bioaccumulation and persistence.

Results

In Brandenburg surface waters the drug agent concentration for eight of the considered substances is supposed to be greater than 1 μg/l and for at least 13 of the considered substanoes the PNEC in aquatic ecosystems is assumed to be lower than 1 μg/l. A potential risk for the environment can be seen for the antibiotics Ciprofloxacin-HCl and Clarithromycin, the disinfectants Benzalkonium Chloride, Cocospropylendiaminguaniacetat, Glucoprotamine, Laurylpropylenediamine and Polyvidone-iodine, the sexual hormon Ethinylestradiol, the antidiabetic Metformin-HCl, the antiepileptic Carbamazepine and the lipid regulator Clofibrinic acid on the basis of effects because their PEC:PNEC-relation is about 1 or higher. For further 19 drug agents an environmental risk is to be assumed because of their environmental behaviour without support by ecotoxicological data at present.

Conclusion

Although there is only a small base of valid ecotoxicological data, this risk assessment shows that adverse effects in the aquatic environment by some drug agents cannot be excluded. However, it should be noted that this first assessment gives only a crude orientation. Appropriate test data are necessary to refine the assessment in future.     

Ökologische Situation der Region Leipzig-Halle

Air pollution in the region Leipzig-Halle was investigated using two-year-old pine needles (Pinus sylvestris L.) at 39 sites of a biomonitoring net covering an area of ca. 7 500 km². The concentration values of Al, Ca, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb and V characterize the immission patterns of the period 1990/91. The method is less suited for Cu, Ni and Zn due to the transfer route soil-pine, and for Cd due to the small total content. There are significant spatial and element-specific variations which require distinct evaluation of the pollution situation. The city of Leipzig itself is a significant source for Pb, Cr, Fe and V emission. Mainly as far as the centre of the region is concerned, the Pb concentration values are beyond those of heavily contaminated reference sites. The bioindication system is also applicable for comparable regions in Eastern Europe where the pine is the dominating conifer type. Immission trends can be monitored over ecologically relevant periods of time.     

Ökologische Situation der Region Leipzig-Halle

The deposition of heavy metals bound to air dust and their ecological effects depend, to a large degree, on particle size, which influences the transport processes in the environment. To estimate the size range of the particles mainly taken up by the pine needles, concentration gradients along a sector leeward of Leipzig were modelled according toGauss plume calculations. The results show that the aerodynamic size is between 1 and 10 μm. Particles of this size range can be taken up by lungs and, thus, have a particular toxicological relevance.     

Ökotoxikologische Charakterisierung von Nonylphenol Isomeren

Background, Aim and Scope

Acute toxicity and estrogenic potency of six nonylphenol isomers, with nearly the same chemical structure and the same physico-chemical properties, were investigated in this study. Thes datasets give some insight into how far structure activity relationships can be used for these modes of action.

Methods

The toxicity of the isomers was investigated by the daphnia immobilisation test as well as the duckweed growth inhibition test. The estrogenic potency of the p-NP isomers was analyzed by MVLN-Reportergen-Assay.

Results

No differences between the isomers were found for baseline toxicity, neither in the daphnia immobilisation test nor in the duckweed growth inhibition test. Estrogenic potency of the isomers in the MVLN reportergen assay was markedly different for the tested isomers. The highest estrogenic potency was found for p353-NP, whereas p262-NP and p22-NP exhibited no estrogenic, but partial antagonistic potency in this assay.

Discussion

The results from this study clearly indicate how far simplification and structure activity relationships can be used in risk analysis. For bioconcentration and baseline toxicity structure activity relationships are possible and will allow simplification of the risk analysis. For special modes of action simple structure activity relationships are per se impossible. This was shown especially for the estrogen receptor interactions, where only small structural differences can lead to different modes of action.

Conclusions

It seems possible to reduce the effort for risk analysis, using combinations of measured data and predictive models. At the moment it seems unlikely that predictive models alone will and can be used for risk analysis.     

III. Ökotoxikologische Charakterisierung der Schwermetall-Immissionsmuster

The spatial variation of the immission patterns of Cr, Fe, Pb and V in the region Leipzig-Halle is dicussed in terms of similarities as well as dissimilarities. The representation by isopleths enables the identification of areas with high and low air pollution. The immission patterns can be used as criteria to select areas suitable for in-field testing so that possible effects on fauna und flora and xenobiotic fluxes can be studied at representative sites. The comparison with literature data yields a first characterization of the ecotoxic potential of the heavy-metal immission for the region. By the principal component analysis a comparative evaluation of the spatial structure of all element contents is performed, which leads to conclusions about emission sources and the physicochemical behaviour of the elements.     

Kombinationswirkungen von Umweltchemikalien in der Ökotoxikologie

Ecosystems and biocoenoses are exposed to multiple mixtures of environmental pollutants, but the usual risk assessment of chemical toxicities is focussed only on the judgement of single substance toxicity. With the two biometrical models concentration-addition and independent action known from pharmacology and toxicology, a pragmatic way for the analysis of combined effects is possible using the experimental knowledge of single substance toxicity. A short introduction to the models is given and an appropriate experimental design for mixture toxicity analysis is outlined. The principal suitability of the concepts was verifed in two different bioassays (green alga; luminescent bacterium) with the analysis of binary and multiple mixture toxicities of environmental chemicals. In this paper we present the results obtained with the green algae bioassay. Congruent results from the bioluminescence inhibition assay can be found in Grimme (1998). The results obtained indicate that the toxicities of mixtures of chemicals can be studied experimentally, even at low concentrations of the individual components. Mixture toxicities were detected at low, statistically non-significantly acting concentrations of the single compounds. These results force one to take mixture toxicities into account when environmental standards are established.     

Teil II: Verfahren zur Monetarisierung von Ökosystemleistungen

As it is practically impossible in an industrial society to reduce impacts into ecosystems to a level that would preclude any damages, the need for damage valuation arises. One of the available valuation tools is the economic approach. Subsequent publications present this approach using the example of soils. In this second part, two methods are presented for monetarising ecosystem services, the contingent valuation method, the valuation on the basis of restoration and replacement costs. Common arguments against the monetarisation of ecosystems, like the omission of intrinsic values or the incomplete information of individuals, are then discussed. In conclusion, limits and possibilities of monetarising ecosystem services are described.     

Ökologische Optimierungspotenziale der energetischen Nutzung von Palmöl

Aim and Background The use of palm oil for bioenergy has become increasingly important for Europe in the last years because of its favourable proportion of yield to area under cultivation. Thus, palm oil presents a low-priced alternative to other energy sources, e.?g. rapeseed oil. Currently, however, palm oil gets a bad press due to new studies about the negative environmental consequences of cultivation practices. Due to the high demand for palm oil, land is becoming scarce. This results in the clearing of primary forests and consequently in the loss of biodiversity and in an increase of greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce the latter, not only the process of oil palm cultivation has to be optimised but also the practice of establishing new plantations by clearing natural forests has to be questioned. The aim of this article is to disclose potentials for greenhouse gas reductions in existing as well as in newly-planned oil palm plantations. Results and Discussion For existing oil palm plantations, two main fields for possible optimisation can be identified: one is improving the plantation management, the other is increasing the efficiency of the utilisation of waste products such as fibres and husks or oil mill effluents. For newly-planned oil palm plantations alternative land use scenarios have to be considered. The results show a big potential for optimisation. Thus, the greenhouse gas balance improves slightly if plantations are run more efficiently. If the waste products are used to generate energy, there are significantly positive effects on the greenhouse gas balance, especially through the reduction of methane emissions. By running a plantation in a professional best-practice way, 4.8 t of greenhouse gases can be saved annually per hectare cultivation area, expressed as CO₂ equivalents. If newly-planned oil palm plantations are established on fallow land, greenhouse gas emissions can be further reduced by an additional 4.8 t of CO₂ equivalents per hectare and year. From an economic perspective, this may be more costly than clearing primary forest but it is advantageous for both the greenhouse gas balance and the biodiversity of the concerned areas. All in all, exploiting the whole potential for optimisation could result in the saving of 10.2 t CO₂ equivalents per hectare and year more than it is the case in the existing mode of cultivation. Conclusions and Perspectives Due to the high demand of palm oil by the world market, cultivation areas for oil palms are becoming increasingly scarce. Thus, it is vital to exploit the full potential of oil palm cultivation in an environmentally and economically sustainable way. The management of plantations has to be optimised and a generally valid waste management system must be implemented in existing and future plantations. New plantations should preferably be established on fallow land, not by the clearing of primary forests. It is essential for a sustainable palm oil production to tap the full potential for optimisation. This, however, is currently not happening due to the high start-up investments. It is thus recommended to introduce an internationally valid certification system which may provide an incentive for more sustainable and effective production methods.     

Biomonitoring zur wirkungsbezogenen Ermittlung der Schadstoffbelastung in terrestrischen Ökosystemen

Biomonitoring programmes provide relevant information, which may supplement ambient air pollution monitoring or modelling around emission sources. As a prerequisite, assessment scales for biomonitoring data have to be derived based on an objective evaluation of available data, as well as on a scheme of presentation, which is suggestive and easily understandable even for laymen. Based on an evaluation of numerous monitoring programmes, assessment scales for biomonitoring results are derived for plant biomonitoring, which also serve as a basis for the graphical presentation of monitoring results. This study is focussed on bioindicator plants like mosses (passive biomonitoring) and exposed lichens (active biomonitoring), in which 14 metal elements are investigated. As an example, data from a local biomonitoring network around a cement plant were used to demonstrate the use of the assessment scales derived and the presentation scheme developed. Data sets from about 15 moss and 24 lichen biomonitoring programmes, comprising more than 1000 specimens, were sorted by their pollutant characteristics in order to form the database. Data on the metal contents of species demonstrating similar values with respect to growth characteristics and habit, and representing background or low pollution levels, are aggregated and their statistical distributions are evaluated. Spacing of the assessment scales and their colour designations are derived from the 50-, 75-, 90- and 95-percentile values. Graphical presentation allows a comparison of the absolute values of metal contents and a relative association of measured values. Exemplary results from moss and lichen monitoring around a cement plant are generally below or slightly above the median values at background and low-pollution sites. Metal contents are higher in lichens compared to mosses for 7 elements (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sn, Zn), and are lower in lichens only for thallium. The assessment scheme presented is mainly aimed at the practitioner in the field of biomonitoring in order to provide a reliable and sound scale of assessment by comparison on an absolute scale rather than presenting the basis of ecological risk assessment. Differences in metal content of co-located samples of various moss species and possible correction procedures are briefly discussed- as well as the consequences of pooling monitoring data across various moss species for the quality of assessment scales. Further evaluations shall focus on species-specific rather than on pooled databases and will investigate the consequences of the use of correction factors when extrapolating metal data from one monitoring species to another.     

Ökologische Kriterien der Technik- und Stoffbewertung: Integration des Vorsorgeprinzips

The development of criteria for the comparative assessment of technologies and substances beyond the toxicological approach and the development of an integrated pattern of criteria is still at the beginning. The criteria presented here for integrating the precautionary principle into the substance and technology assessment have to be further operationalised and completed, in the same way as the criteria which have been discussed and developed within the framework of

- the poisoning and pollutant paradigm

- the equilibrium paradigm

- the sustainability and “Mitwelt” paradigm

- the energy and the general technology assessment debate.

The resolution of the criteria has to be improved and their range (which is certainly limited) has to be explored more precisely. The application of the criteria should never occur mechanically. Technology assessment and substance assessment are not only scientific, but essentially social and, hence, discursive processes. It is not so much the assessment of individual substances which should be in the center of the debate, but rather the comparative assessment of competing techniques, substances and substancerelated development pathways (see vonGleich andRubik, 1966 as a first approach to assess the environmental effects of old and new materials). According to the example of the energy strategies, only the development of competing strategies in the substance field could create the necessary prerequisites for a broad public discourse and thus for a democratisation of the basic substancerelated policy decisions. This discourse is a duty which science and economy have toward society.     

Ökologische Kriterien der Technik- und Stoffbewertung: Integration des Vorsorgeprinzips

The development of criteria for the comparative assessment of technologies and substances beyond the toxicological approach and the development of an integrated pattern of criteria is still at the beginning. The criteria presented here for integrating the precautionary principle into the substance and technology assessment have to be further operationlised and completed, in the same way as the criteria which have been discussed and developed within the framework of

- the poisoning and pollutant paradigm

- the equilibrium paradigm

- the sustainability and “Mitwelt” paradigm

- the energy and the general technology assessment debate.

The resolution of the criteria has to be improved and their range (which is certainly limited) has to be explored more precisely. The application of the criteria should never occur mechanically. Technology assessment and substance assessment are not only scientific, but essentially social and, hence, discursive processes. It is not so much the assessment of individual substances which should be in the center of the debate, but rather the comparative assessment of competing techniques, substances and substancerelated development pathways (see vonGleich andRubik, 1966 as a first approach to assess the environmental effects of old and new materials). According to the example of the energy strategies, only the development of competing strategies in the substance field could create the necessary prerequisites for a broad public discourse and thus for a democratisation of the basic substancerelated policy decisions. This discourse is a duty which science and economy have toward society.     

Ökotoxikologische Wirkungen von Teeröl-imprägnierten Holzpfählen

Aim and Scope

This study was aimed at evaluating environmental effects of tar-oil impregnated (tanalized) tree stakes using simple and efficient biotests to obtain results of its ecological impacts during the tar-oil breakdown in the stake.

Results

1. Soil respiration was measured in-situ as an indication of soil microbial activity in two field trials. Soil respiration was measured in a 20 year-old apple orchard at various distances from the tar-oil impregnated tree stakes and also on soil mixed with chippings from pine stakes with tar-oil impregnation of different ages.
2. Cress germination tests were employed to evaluate tar-oil phytotoxicity in a field and laboratory trial. Cress was seeded close to tree stakes in the same 20 year-old apple orchard and germination rates related to tar oil-impregnation. Cress was also seeded in trays in sand mixed with pine chippings from stakes with tar-oil impregnation of different ages.
3. The portion of the carcinogenic benzoapyrene (BaP) ranged between 0.0015% in freshly tar-oil impregnated to 0.4% in tar-oil impregnated 20-year old trees stakes, i.e. irrespective of the overall PAK concentration and its degradation.
4. Kinetic analysis using DIXON plots showed a 50% breakdown of overall PAHs after ca. 2.7 years, i.e. km or Ki values of less than 3 years.

Conclusion

Germination tests of cress and endogenous seeds as well as soil respiration proved sensible indicators of the phytotoxicity and ecotoxicity of tar-oil impregnated tree stakes in fruit orchards. Soil respiration proved particularly sensitive to tar-oil ageing. Its combination with kinetic inhibition models resulted in parameters suitable for the interpretation of results.