Straßenversiegelung in Deutschland und ihre Beinflussung der Umwelt im Vergleich mit anderen OECD-Ländern

Since the increasing awareness of environmental damage, attention has focussed on the problems caused by the extension of car traffic. The number of cars has permanently increased over the years and is predicted to continue in the future. The number of cars registered worldwide already passed the number of 500 million in the year 1988 (OECD, 1995). Two major problems are linked to the increase in car traffic: The air pollution by engine conbustion and the so-called sealing of the ground by pavements. The streets dramatically cut into coherent areas, separate biotopes, animal and plant populations (BBR, 1998). Facts about grund sealing in Germany are presented and compared to those of other OECD-countries. Environmental consequences are discussed.     

Cross-sectional biomonitoring study of pesticide exposures in Queensland,Australia, using pooled urine samples

A range of pesticides are available in Australia for use in agricultural and domestic settings to control pests, including organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides, herbicides, and insect repellents, such as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). The aim of this study was to provide a cost-effective preliminary assessment of background exposure to a range of pesticides among a convenience sample of Australian residents. De-identified urine specimens stratified by age and sex were obtained from a community-based pathology laboratory and pooled (n = 24 pools of 100 specimens). Concentrations of urinary pesticide biomarkers were quantified using solid-phase extraction coupled with isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Geometric mean biomarker concentrations ranged from <0.1 to 36.8 ng/mL for organophosphate insecticides, <0.1 to 5.5 ng/mL for pyrethroid insecticides, and <0.1 to 8.51 ng/mL for all other biomarkers with the exception of the DEET metabolite 3-diethylcarbamoyl benzoic acid (4.23 to 850 ng/mL). We observed no association between age and concentration for most biomarkers measured but noted a “U-shaped” trend for five organophosphate metabolites, with the highest concentrations observed in the youngest and oldest age strata, perhaps related to age-specific differences in behavior or physiology. The fact that concentrations of specific and non-specific metabolites of the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos were higher than reported in USA and Canada may relate to differences in registered applications among countries. Additional biomonitoring programs of the general population and focusing on vulnerable populations would improve the exposure assessment and the monitoring of temporal exposure trends as usage patterns of pesticide products in Australia change over time.     

The development and application of remote sensing to monitor sand dune habitats

Sand dunes are complex systems that contain several habitats, often as mosaics or transitions between types. Several of these habitats are afforded protection under European Legislation and in the UK nationally within Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Natural England has a statutory duty to report to Europe on the conservation status and condition of sand dunes; and is required to report to the UK Government on designated sites. To achieve this we have sought ways of capturing, analysing and interpreting data on the extent and location of sand dune habitats. This requires an ability to be able to obtain data over large areas of coastline in an efficient way. Natural England and Environment Agency Geomatics have worked collaboratively for over 16 years, sharing data and ecological knowledge. In 2012 work started to evaluate the use of remote sensing to map UK BAP and Annex I sand dune habitats. A methodology has now been developed and tested to map sand dune habitats. The key objective was to provide an operational tool that will help to map these habitats and understand change on sites around England. This has been achieved through analysis of LIDAR and Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) data using Object Orientated Image Analysis. Quality Control (QC) and accuracy assessments have shown this approach to be successful and 11 sites have been mapped to date. These techniques are providing a new approach to monitoring change in coastal vegetation communities and informing management of protected sites.     

Ozongehalt und Fahrverbot

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Absch?tzung der Reduzierung der Luftschadstoffkonzentrationen

Zusammenfassung  Im G?teborger Protokoll der UN ECE zur Bek?mpfung von Versauerung, Eutrophierung und bodennahem Ozon vom 1. Dezember 1999 werden Vorgaben zur Reduktion von Luftschadstoffkomponenten von 1990 bis 2010 festgelegt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden Absch?tzungen, ob diese Werte für die Bundesl?nder NRW und Hessen erreichbar sind, gemacht. Um absch?tzen zu k?nnen, wie die Konzentrationen einzelner Luftschadstoffe im Jahre 2010 sein werden, wurden aus den Daten der Jahre 1990-1999 die best-angepassten Funktionen graphisch dargestellt und bis zum Jahr 2010 extrapoliert. Unter der Absch?tzung, dass die Luftschadstoffemission sich weiterhin wie in den letzten 10 Jahren reduziert oder noch darüber hinaus verringert, wurden die bis zum Jahre 2010 zu erwartenden prozentualen Reduktionen berechnet. Die im G?teborger Protokoll festgelegten Prozents?tze zur Reduzierung von NO_x, SO₂ und NM-VOC sind nach den hier vorgelegten Absch?tzungen im Zeitraum von 1990-2010 erreichbar. Für CO, O₃ und CO₂ werden nur deutliche Abnahmen verlangt. Nach den vorliegenden Absch?tzungen werden CO um ca. 70% und O₃ nur über verkehrsarmen, waldreichen Gebieten abnehmen. Für das globale Gas CO₂ kann nur eine konstante Zunahme abgesch?tzt werden. Online-First: 19. May 2000     

Abschätzung der Reduzierung der Luftschadstoffkonzentrationen

The UN ECE Göteborg Protocol from 1. December 1999 (c.f.http://www.unece.org und SENGER, 2000) to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone demands distinct reductions of air pollutants in different countries. In this contribution the reduction of different components of air pollutants between the years 1990 and 2010 were estimated for the German federal states of Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia. The estimated reduction for NO_x, SO₂ and NM-VOC, and CO meet the demands set up by the UN ECE Göteborg Protocol. For O₃ a reduction could only be predicted for rural areas and, for CO₂, a steady increase in its global concentration has to be assumed.