Tangible Results that Count:
Facts and News about UMW Umweltmonitoring

Biomonitoring – more topical than ever!

The chair and vice-chair of the VDI Guidelines Committee, Dr. Monica Wäber and Dr. Katja Hombrecher, will report under this title on the status and application of the procedural guidelines for biomonitoring with plants. Learn, among other things, how plant-based measuring devices are used to assess the impact on air quality and why biomonitoring methods are fit for the future. For more information, see the publications page.

Avoiding environmental pollution and costs with biomonitoring.

For years, routine active biomonitoring at the Billigheim hazardous waste landfill (Baden-Württemberg/Germany) has determined negligible, low-level immission impacts. Unexpectedly, in late summer 2022 high levels of mercury content were observed in the bioindicators, in some cases at levels above the maximum allowable content for animal feed.

In their article in the journal „Gefahrstoffe - Reinhaltung der Luft ” May/June 2024, the authors (M. Wäber, F. Pompe, K. Ingelfinger, R. Hofmann, E. Theis) use this example to show that effective Biomonitoring allows emissions to be identified at an early stage, transport paths to be detected and suitable safety measures to be taken and evaluated in order to avoid lasting impairments. Read the article here...

Voluntary monitoring means security for airports and for the public.

The operation of an airport inevitably releases air pollutants into the environment. At Leipzig/Halle Airport, biomonitoring with grass cultures was carried out in 2020 and repeated in 2022 to determine and assess the effects. Reliable statements could be made for the surrounding area using the standardised procedure. You can find out which ones here.

Biomonitoring has been and continues to be a useful way to raise the level of citizens' acceptance of airport operations. Ms. Wäber and her coauthor Frank Pompe document where and with what benefits in a brief report.

Will the Berlin Brandenburg Airport impact the environment? And if so, how? The airport operator is investigating air quality and using biomonitoring to examine foodstuffs. The objective is to determine how air traffic affects the environment and to document possible changes. You'll find an in-depth interview on the topic here.

Bees and honey monitoring form a bridge to many sustainability topics.

Since 2008 we have been monitoring the effect of operations at the international Munich Airport on foodstuffs such as honey and supervise communication.

Clean air, particulates and ultrafine particles, mercury emissions and impact of pollutants are on everyone's lips and reason to argue for technical development as well as appropriate communication in the editorial of the professional journal Gefahrstoffe - Reinhaltung der Luft July/August 2018.