Rüstungsaltlasten

Risk assessment of contaminated sites from abandoned ammunition plants follows a multi-stage procedure with its own specific requirements for the toxicological assessment of chemical contaminants. Thus, the 22 explosives and related compounds (STVs) were classified according to carcinogenicity, genotoxicity and evaluation numbers for their toxicological potential (ENs). These characteristics permit a specific toxicological assessment and ranking at the stage of “historical reconnaissance”, independent of an evaluation of the contaminant concentrations. With a view to “orientative site evaluation” for the assessment of explosives and related compounds in groundwater and drinking water, toxicologically related guide values based on the ENs of toxicological potential as well as TDI-based guide values for STVs in soil were derived as based on toxicologically safe body doses and lifelong exposure (TDI=Tolerable Daily Intake). For regulatory purposes, substance related precautionary values are defined for probable carcinogens and contaminants with essential lacks in the toxicological data base.     

Monitoring global change: Comparison of forest cover estimates using remote sensing and inventory approaches

Satellite-based remote sensing offers great potential for frequent assessment of forest cover over broad spatial scales, however, calibration and validation using ground-based surveys are needed. In this study, forest cover estimates for the United States from a recently developed land surface cover map generated from satellite remote sensing data were compared to state-level inventory data from the U.S. National Resources Planning Act Timber Database. The land cover map was produced at the U.S. Geological Survey EROS Data Center and is based on imagery from the AVHRR sensor (spatial resolution 1.1 km). Vegetation type was classified using the temporal signal in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index derived from AVHRR data. Comparisons revealed close agreement in the estimate of forest cover for extensively forested states with large polygons of relatively similar vegetation such as Oregon. Larger forest cover differences were observed in other states with some regional patterns in the level of agreement apparent.Comparisons in inventory- and remote sensing-based estimates of current forested area with potential vegetation maps indicated the magnitude of past land use change and the potential for future changes. The remote sensing approach appears to hold promise for conducting surveys of forest cover where inventory data are limited or where rates of vegetation change, due to human or climatic factors, are rapid.     

Die freie Transplantation und ihre Bedeutung für die moderne Chirurgie

The Science of Nature -