Das Projekt ÖkoKauf der Stadt Wien hat es sich zum Ziel gesetzt, durch die Erstellung von ökologischen Kriterien, Pilotprojekte und durch Bewusstseinsarbeit das Beschaffungswesen im Magistrat Wien weiter zu ökologisieren. In diesem Rahmen widmete sich der Arbeitskreis 'Desinfektionsmittel unter der Leitung der Wiener Umweltanwaltschaft (WUA) der Aufgabe, für Hygienefachleute ein Instrument zur Beurteilung der Auswirkungen von Desinfektionsmitteln auf Gesundheit und Umwelt zu erstellen. Das Österreichische Ökologie-Institut führte eine Daten- und Literaturrecherche durch, das Umweltbundesamt nahm ergän-zende ökotoxikologische Tests an Wirkstoffen und -produkten vor und 'die umweltberatung ermittelte stationsbezogene Desinfektionsmittelverbräuche in Wiener Krankenanstalten. Die Recherche- und Testergebnisse zu Desinfektionsmittelwirkstoffen und -produkten wurden in einer vom IFZ konzipierten und von der Magistratsabteilung 14 realisierten Datenbank zusammengefasst. Um die ökotoxikologischen Produkteigenschaften vergleichbar zu machen, wurde vom IFZ ein Bewertungsraster entwickelt und in die Datenbank integriert. Dabei werden nachteilige Wirkungen auf die Gesundheit anhand von vier Wirkungskategorien erfasst: Akute Giftigkeit; Reizwirkung auf die Haut; Sensibilisierung, allergenes Potenzial sowie Erbgutschädigende, krebserzeugende und fruchtschädigende Eigenschaften. Zusammen mit der Berücksichtigung des Verhaltens in Oberflächengewässern (Abbauverhalten, Bioakkumulationspotenzial, Toxizität für Wasserorganismen) sowie dem Verhalten in Kläranlagen werden insgesamt sechs Bewertungszahlen generiert, die auf einer Skala von 1 (vernachlässigbar) bis 5 (sehr hoch) das gesamte Gefährdungsprofil des Stoffes beschreiben sollen. Das Gefährdungsprofil eines Handelsproduktes errechnet sich aus den Gefährdungsprofilen der darin enthaltenen Wirkstoffe anhand eines Algorithmus: Dabei wird die Annahme getroffen, dass die Produkteigenschaften von der Konzentration der darin enthaltenen Wirkstoffe abhängen. Bei der Bewertung ist außerdem zu gewährleisten, dass ein Wirkstoff mit einem hohen Gefährdungspotenzial angemessen berücksichtigt wird, auch und gerade wenn seine Konzentration im Produkt gering ist. In der Literatur wird dazu eine logarithmische Skalierung vorgeschlagen. Die Bewertung berücksichtigt derzeit die Wirkstoffe sowie Anwendungsverdünnungen. Die Zusammenfassung der Produkte in Verwendungs- bzw. Expositionskategorien ermöglicht letztlich eine vergleichende Bewertung. Da das Bewertungsraster gerade auf eine vergleichende Bewertung von Produkten abzielt, unterliegt er einer ständigen kritischen Diskussion, die auch häufig von den Herstellern geführt wird. Dieser Umstand sowie das Faktum von Produktlebenszyklen erfordern ein ständiges Update der in der Datenbank enthaltenen Informationen und eine Anpassung des Bewertungsmodells an den aktuellen Stand von Forschung sowie Standards der Stoff- und Produktpolitik.
If one considers the high elevation treeline as a global phenomenon, many local drivers, which dominated the debate in the past, become less significant, they become modulators of a more fundamental, common cause. Our working hypothesis is that the major driver of treeline formation is the ability to form new structures, rather than the provision of raw materials for these structures. In other words, we suggest that the treeline is a sink (growth) rather then a source (photosynthesis) driven phenomenon, with temperature representing the single most important determinant. We do not question the influence of other factors, but we consider them to represent a suite of regional peculiarities, which may affect the actual position by not more then 100 m in elevation. A detailed discussion of the treeline issue can be found in: Our activities go in several directions. They include treering studies across the treeline ecotone (see ref. below), microclimate measurements at various latitudes and an assessment of the carbohydrate supply status at the tree limit. The worldwide treeline temperature assessment nears its end by 2001, when year-round data from ca. 30 different treeline sites around the globe will be available. As a standard procedure we measure root-zone temperature at 10 cm depth in the shade of tree crowns at the treeline using Tidbit (Onset Corp.) data loggers. Currently available data from 90 % of the stations average at seasonal mean ground temperatures of ca 6.5 C, with very little site to site variation, irrespective of latitude (minimum of 5.5 C on Mexican volcanos at 4000 m and maximum at some maritime temperate zone treelines of ca 7.5 C). The seasonal mean proved to be a better predictor of treeline position than warmest month temperatures or a suite of thermal sums tested. There are regions with no suitable treeline taxa where natural treelines occure at lower elevations (higher temperatures; e.g. Hawaii). In a work on carbohydrate pools we compare treelines in Mexico, the central Alps and in N-Sweden (Abisko). We see no decline of reserves as one approaches the existential limit of trees, in fact, carbohydrate and lipid stores reach a maximum at tree limit. Thus, it seems unlikely that carbon limitation is a cause of treeline formation.
Populations of P. fortinii from allover Europe are examined using microsatellites to construct gene genealogies and infer evolutionary history. The tree-root endophyte Phialocephala fortinii s.l. (mitosporic Ascomycota) is the dominant colonizer of conifer root systems in forests in the northern hemisphere. P. fortinii s.l. is genetically highly diverse and forms a complex of several cryptic species. Recombination occurs or has occurred within cryptic species and to some extent also among them (introgression). Cryptic species occur sympatrically and they can form large thalli, but it remains unclear whether the observed patterns of spatial distribution reflect local climax situations or are the results of recent gene and genotype flow. One of the key objectives will be to estimate population genetic parameters (eg. migration rates, genotype flow, recombination) within and among populations of cryptic species in forests where man-mediated genotype flow can be excluded. Other key objectives are the determination of the number, frequency, distribution and evolutionary history of the cryptic species in Europe and to identify the driving forces for speciation. The approach will be multidisciplinary and will include standard mycological and microbiological methods as well as molecular genetic techniques such as microsatellite fingerprinting and DNA sequencing. The evolutionary history of haplotypes at both the population and species level will be reconstructed and the results will be compared with known patterns of pleistocenic glaciations and postglacial recolonization of host trees. The project will be a significant contribution to the understanding of the population and evolutionary genetics of a versatile and ecologically extremely successful fungal genus and it will shed light on the effects of pleistocenic and postglacial climatic changes on fungal speciation.
This project aims to establish the scientific basis for silvicultural treatments of eucalypt plantations for clear wood production. While eucalypt plantations in north-eastern NSW have dramatically increased in recent times, the knowledge base for the production of clear, branch-free wood from the tree species used does not exist. A physiological, mechanistic understanding of crown and canopy dynamics as well as branch shedding will form the scientific foundation for stand manipulations such as pruning and thinning to enhance wood quality. Project outcomes will provide the basis for a stand management simulation model for the most important eucalypt species. Specifically the project is testing the following three management related hypotheses: 1. The plasticity of green crowns (length, shape, number and size of branches) in response to stand density and spatial arrangement is greater in the more shade-tolerant eucalypts than in the intolerant eucalypts. 2. The effect of green crown pruning on biomass production in eucalypts can be related to the amount of foliage removed, the nutrient status of the pruned foliage, the water status of pruned trees and the shade tolerance of the species. 3. Leaf area index and thus green crown length is more closely related to site quality, water and nutrient availability, in the more shade-tolerant eucalypts than in shade intolerant species.
Heterotrophic nanoflagellates play a very important role in marine Antarctic and Arctic ecosystems. Among these protists, choanoflagellates form a conspicuous and abundant component of the Antarctic and arctic marine nanoplankton. Although a number of quantitative and qualitative studies have been published on choanoflagellates, recent molecular biological studies of marine nanofauna indicated that morphological investigations of these tiny organisms (3-6mym cell size) reveal only limited taxonomic resolution. However, until now only about three marine choanoflagellate species have been sequenced (18S rDNA). During the proposed project will acquire cultures of nanoprotists, analyse them combining morphological and molecular biological methods and to receive information on the distribution of these highly variable protists. We would like to address the following questions: What is the molecular identity of choanoflagellates found in Artic and Antarctic waters? Do there exist Antarctic choanoflagellate species with the same 18S rDNA pattern indicating a global distribution? How variable is the 18S rDNA gene and can parts of the sequence be used to develop a method for reliable quantitative and qualitative analyses of marine choanoflagellates? Further research on choanoflagellates 1) as a sister group of metazoans would be very interesting from the viewpoint of phylogeny and 2) as a very productive group at the basis of the pelagic food web would be of special interest for a broader understanding of ecological processes in polar regions.
Der Sauerstoffgehalt kann auch in oberirdischen Pflanzenteilen, besonders in Baumstämmen, auf sehr niedrige Werte absinken. Es scheint, daß ein beträchtlicher Anteil des Sauerstoffs im lebenden Splintholz bei vielen Bäumen mit dem Transpirationsstrom und nicht über Diffusion durch das ziemlich undurchlässige Kambium zugeführt wird. Über die Kurzzeitdynamik der Schwankungen von Sauerstoffgehalten im Holz ist beinahe nichts bekannt. Ein Hauptgrund für die relativ geringe Aufmerksamkeit, die man bisher dem Sauerstoff im Stamm entgegengebracht hat, ist der, daß er mit den traditionellen Methoden schwierig und mühsam zu messen ist. Eine Sauerstoffelektrode auf Basis des Fluoreszenzquenchings erlaubt Punktmessungen von O2-Konzentrationen über längere Zeit und in kleinen Volumina. Sie verspricht, ein höchst wertvolles Werkzeug für ein besseres Verständnis der Sauerstoffverhältnisse in der Pflanze zu werden. Der erste Teil unserer Arbeiten soll einen Überblick über diurnale und jahreszeitliche Schwankungen im Stamm verschiedener Arten erbringen. Wir gehen von der Hypothese aus, daß die Sauerstoffverläufe eine Beziehung zur Anatomie des Baumes und zu seinen Standortsansprüchen, besonders zu seiner Überschwemmungstoleranz, haben werden. Wir stellen hier ferner die Hypothese auf, daß Sauerstoff ein bedeutender Streßfaktor bei Bäumen und besonders wichtig in den Beziehungen zwischen Bäumen und Pathogenen ist. Holzbesiedelnde Pilze könnten die Sauerstoffkonzentration verringern, und zwar entweder durch Atmung oder durch zusätzliche Verstopfung von Gefäßen und Tracheiden, wodurch der Transport mit dem Transpirationsstrom verhindert wird. Wenn Sauerstoff mit dem Transpirationsstrom zugeführt wird, können verschiedene Formen von Streß zur Abnahme der Sauerstoffkonzentrationen im Holz und sogar zu Anoxie führen: Überschwemmung, die den Sauerstoff im Boden verdrängt, starke Trockenheit, die den Saftfluß reduziert, und Infektionen, die die Atmung steigern und den Saftfluß reduzieren können. Anoxie führt oft zur Bildung von Ethanol, einem wichtigen Lockstoff für Borkenkäfer. Hier soll die Hypothese getestet werden, daß verschiedene Arten von Streß den Sauerstoffgehalt herabsetzen, wodurch Ethanol entsteht und Borkenkäfer anlockt. Jedoch werden Transpiration, Stammatmung und die Löslichkeit von Sauerstoff in Wasser auch ohne Streß stark von Klimafaktoren beeinflußt, was Voraussagen in diesem komplexen und ungenügend erforschten System erschwert.
The overall objective of this project is to introduce more cost-effective solar thermal systems, particularly for domestic hot water preparation and/or space heating, to the market in order to contribute to the European Union's Action Plans with regard to the reduction of CO2-emissions and the cost effective supply of renewable energies. In order to achieve this goal, the project consortium will provide a framework for the development of the next generation of solar thermal systems and their introduction to the market. The main instruments and deliverables of this project will be - A network for the co-ordination of the research and innovation activities for the development of a new generation of solar thermal systems; - Accompanying measures intended to introduce a new generation of solar thermal systems for domestic hot water preparation and/or space heating to the markets. Theses measures are focused on the - promotion of standardised system concepts, - integration of solar thermal systems into building technology, - methods for rating, standardisation and testing of the next generation of systems, - forming a platform for the work on advanced applications such as solar cooling and desalination In order to achieve the ambitious goals of this project the consortium consists of leading solar thermal experts form research and test institutes as well as industry participants from several European countries. The project activities will be closely linked to the work of the IEA SH&C Task 32 (Advanced storage concepts for solar thermal systems in low energy buildings) and with regard to standardisation work to CEN TC 312 (Thermal solar systems and components).
Objective: The melting of continental ice (glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets) is a substantial source of current sea-level rise, and one that is accelerating more rapidly than was predicted even a few years ago. Indeed, the most recent report from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlighted that the uncertainty in projections of future sea-level rise is dominated by uncertainty concerning continental ice, and that understanding of the key processes that will lead to loss of continental ice must be improved before reliable projections of sea-level rise can be produced. The ice2sea programme will draw together European and international partners, to reduce these uncertainties. We will undertake targeted studies of key processes in mountain glacier systems and ice caps (e.g. Svalbard), and in ice sheets in both polar regions (Greenland and Antarctica) to improve understanding of how these systems will respond to future climate change. We will improve satellite determinations of continental ice mass, and provide much-needed datasets for testing glacier-response models. Using newly developed ice-sheet/glacier models, we will generate detailed projections of the contribution of continental ice to sea-level rise over the next 200 years, and identify thresholds that commit the planet to long-term sea-level rise. We will deliver these results in forms accessible to scientists, policy-makers and the general public, which will include clear presentations of the sources of uncertainty. The ice2sea programme will directly inform the ongoing international debate on climate-change mitigation, and European debates surrounding coastal adaptation and sea-defence planning. It will leave a legacy of improved understanding of key cryospheric processes affecting development of the Earth System and the predictive tools for glacier-response modelling, and it will train a new generation of young European researchers who can use those tools for the future benefit of society.
Objective: Healthy housing and good indoor air quality are important goals of public health. However, biological indoor pollution due to dampness, moisture and mold is an emerging environmental health issue, as recognized in EU indoor air policy documents. Prevalence of dampness is remarkable, and may still increase due to demands of energy savings and extreme weather periods and floods associated with climate change. The exposure may lead to long-term impacts such as asthma. The documentation is strong on association between building mold and health, but the causative agents and disease mechanisms are largely unknown, which impedes recognition of a mold-affected patient in health care. Efficient control and regulation are hampered by the insufficient understanding of these causalities. Understanding of the links between building practices and health is lacking. There is an urgent need for European-wide knowledge to form a basis for establishing building-associated criteria for healthy indoor environments. The aim of this proposal is to clarify the health impacts of indoor exposures on children and adults by providing comprehensive exposure data on biological and chemical factors in European indoor environments.
The proposed regulation concerning the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) requires demonstration of the safe manufacture of chemicals and their safe use throughout the supply chain. There is therefore a strong need to strengthen and advance human and environmental risk assessment knowledge and practices with regard to chemicals, in accord with the precautionary principle. The goal of the project OSIRIS is to develop integrated testing strategies (ITS) fit for REACH that enable to significantly increase the use of non-testing information for regulatory decision making, and thus minimise the need for animal testing. To this end, operational procedures will be developed, tested and disseminated that guide a transparent and scientifically sound evaluation of chemical substances in a risk-driven, context-specific and substance-tailored (RCS) manner. The envisaged decision theory framework includes alternative methods such as chemical and biological read-across, in vitro results, in vivo information on analogues, qualitative and quantitative structure-activity relationships, thresholds of toxicological concern and exposure-based waiving, and takes into account cost-benefit analyses as well as societal risk perception. It is based on the new REACH paradigm to move away from extensive standard testing to a more intelligent, substance-tailored approach. The work will be organised in five interlinked research pillars (chemical domain, biological domain, exposure, integration strategies and tools, case studies), with a particular focus on more complex, long-term and high-cost endpoints. Case studies will demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the new ITS methodologies, and provide guidance in concrete form. To ensure optimal uptake of the results obtained in this project, end-users in industry and regulatory authorities will be closely involved in monitoring and in providing specific technical contributions to this project.
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