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Veröffentlichung Soil organisms as an essential element of a monitoring plan to identify the effects of GMO cultivation(2013)After a release of genetically modified organisms, monitoring of potential adverse effects on the environmentis mandatory. The protocol used for monitoring should be previously tested in practical studies andmust be standardised. Moreover, sampling methods and the evaluation of results must meet current scientificand technical standards. Due to their particular role in maintaining soil quality and in a multitude ofecological processes in agro-ecosystems, soil organisms belong to those groups for which VDI guidelinesare being developed. The guideline 4331 Part 1 describes fundamental criteria for the selection and sampling of soil organisms for GMO monitoring and gives guidance for sampling design, sampling strategyand statistical evaluation. In the guideline three approaches are followed: (1) a compilation of previouslyknown effects and exposure pathways, (2) a documentation of ecological functions of soil organisms (ecosystemservices) as well as (3) a description of characteristic species compositions in the soil. The aim wasto develop a selection matrix that helps to choose the appropriate animal groups to be sampled. Besidesthe habitat type and the ecological relevance, the selection matrix also considers the suitability of animalgroups in terms of practical issues and, in specific cases, anticipated effects. Further parts of the guideline4331 will describe sampling methods for relevant soil animal groups.Quelle: BioRisk (2013)8, S. 73-87Veröffentlichung In Situ/Remote Sensing Integration to Assess Forest Health̶A Review(2016) Pause, Marion; Rosenthal, Michael; Keuck, Vanessa; Bumberger, Jan; Dietrich, Peter; Heurich, Marco; Jung, András; Lausch, Angela; Schweitzer, ChristianFor mapping, quantifying and monitoring regional and global forest health, satellite remote sensing provides fundamental data for the observation of spatial and temporal forest patterns and processes. While new remote-sensing technologies are able to detect forest data in high quality and large quantity, operational applications are still limited by deficits of in situ verification. In situ sampling data as input is required in order to add value to physical imaging remote sensing observations and possibilities to interlink the forest health assessment with biotic and abiotic factors. Numerous methods on how to link remote sensing and in situ data have been presented in the scientific literature using e.g. empirical and physical-based models. In situ data differs in type, quality and quantity between case studies. The irregular subsets of in situ data availability limit the exploitation of available satellite remote sensing data. To achieve a broad implementation of satellite remote sensing data in forest monitoring and management, a standardization of in situ data, workflows and products is essential and necessary for user acceptance. The key focus of the review is a discussion of concept and is designed to bridge gaps of understanding between forestry and remote sensing science community. Methodological approaches for in situ/remote-sensing implementation are organized and evaluated with respect to qualifying for forest monitoring. Research gaps and recommendations for standardization of remote-sensing based products are discussed. Concluding the importance of outstanding organizational work to provide a legally accepted framework for new information products in forestry are highlighted. Quelle: http://www.mdpi.comVeröffentlichung Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality and life expectancy, 1950 - 2017(2018) Dicker, Daniel J.; Nguyen, Grant; Abate, Degu; Plaß, DietrichBackground: Assessments of age-specific mortality and life expectancy have been done by the UN Population Division, Department of Economics and Social Affairs (UNPOP), the United States Census Bureau, WHO, and as part of previous iterations of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD). Previous iterations of the GBD used population estimates from UNPOP, which were not derived in a way that was internally consistent with the estimates of the numbers of deaths in the GBD. The present iteration of the GBD, GBD 2017, improves on previous assessments and provides timely estimates of the mortality experience of populations globally. Methods: The GBD uses all available data to produce estimates of mortality rates between 1950 and 2017 for 23 age groups, both sexes, and 918 locations, including 195 countries and territories and subnational locations for 16 countries. Data used include vital registration systems, sample registration systems, household surveys (complete birth histories, summary birth histories, sibling histories), censuses (summary birth histories, household deaths), and Demographic Surveillance Sites. In total, this analysis used 8259 data sources. Estimates of the probability of death between birth and the age of 5 years and between ages 15 and 60 years are generated and then input into a model life table system to produce complete life tables for all locations and years. Fatal discontinuities and mortality due to HIV/AIDS are analysed separately and then incorporated into the estimation. We analyse the relationship between age-specific mortality and development status using the Socio-demographic Index, a composite measure based on fertility under the age of 25 years, education, and income. There are four main methodological improvements in GBD 2017 compared with GBD 2016: 622 additional data sources have been incorporated; new estimates of population, generated by the GBD study, are used; statistical methods used in different components of the analysis have been further standardised and improved; and the analysis has been extended backwards in time by two decades to start in 1950. Findings: Globally, 187% (95% uncertainty interval 184â€Ì190) of deaths were registered in 1950 and that proportion has been steadily increasing since, with 588% (582â€Ì593) of all deaths being registered in 2015. At the global level, between 1950 and 2017, life expectancy increased from 481 years (465â€Ì496) to 705 years (701â€Ì708) for men and from 529 years (517â€Ì540) to 756 years (753â€Ì759) for women. Despite this overall progress, there remains substantial variation in life expectancy at birth in 2017, which ranges from 491 years (465â€Ì517) for men in the Central African Republic to 876 years (869â€Ì881) among women in Singapore. The greatest progress across age groups was for children younger than 5 years; under-5 mortality dropped from 2160 deaths (1963â€Ì2381) per 1000 livebirths in 1950 to 389 deaths (356â€Ì4283) per 1000 livebirths in 2017, with huge reductions across countries. Nevertheless, there were still 54 million (52â€Ì56) deaths among children younger than 5 years in the world in 2017. Progress has been less pronounced and more variable for adults, especially for adult males, who had stagnant or increasing mortality rates in several countries. The gap between male and female life expectancy between 1950 and 2017, while relatively stable at the global level, shows distinctive patterns across super-regions and has consistently been the largest in central Europe, eastern Europe, and central Asia, and smallest in south Asia. Performance was also variable across countries and time in observed mortality rates compared with those expected on the basis of development. Interpretation: This analysis of age-sex-specific mortality shows that there are remarkably complex patterns in population mortality across countries. The findings of this study highlight global successes, such as the large decline in under-5 mortality, which reflects significant local, national, and global commitment and investment over several decades. However, they also bring attention to mortality patterns that are a cause for concern, particularly among adult men and, to a lesser extent, women, whose mortality rates have stagnated in many countries over the time period of this study, and in some cases are increasing. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseVeröffentlichung Trends in characteristics of 24-h urine samples and their relevance for human biomonitoring studies - 20 years of experience in the German Environmental Specimen Bank(2019) Lermen, Dominik; Bartel-Steinbach, Martina; Conrad, André; Gwinner, Frederik; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Weber, TillTo document trends in human exposure to environmental pollutants, the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) has been routinely collecting and archiving 24-h urine samples from young adults at four sampling sites in Germany on an annual basis. For the purpose of normalizing measured analyte concentrations, urinary creatinine (UC), specific gravity (SG), conductivity (CON), and total urine volume (UVtot) of 24-h urine samples have also been recorded. These parameters are however susceptible to variation over time, as well as within/among participants and normalization against them can thus affect the interpretation of data regarding exposure to environmental pollutants. To evaluate the influence of normalization against these parameters, we first sought to determine variations of these parameters with regard to differences between sexes and trends over time. We analysed data from 8619 urine samples collected from 1997 to 2016. We observed an inverse relation between UVtot and UC, SG, and CON. We also found differences between sexes for UC, SG and CON, but not UVtot. UC, SG, and CON showed significant decreasing trends over time in both sexes. In contrast, a significant increase of over 30% in UVtot, independent of participant age and BMI, was revealed. This increase in UVtot and the concomitant sample dilution is likely to have an impact on measured analyte concentrations in 24-h urine samples. Hence, normalization of urinary concentrations is warranted when interpreting time trends of human exposure. Next, urinary calcium (Ca2+) concentrations of ESB participants were used to demonstrate the effects of normalization against each of the four urine parameters. From 1997 to 2016, measured Ca2+ concentrations showed a statistically significant but scientifically implausible decrease. Normalization of Ca2+ concentrations against UVtot (by calculating the total daily excretion), UC, or CON, but not SG, eliminated this decrease. Consistent with previous work, Ca2+ concentrations in urine and total daily Ca2+ excretion were higher for males than females. Normalization against UC, SG, or CON, however, attenuated this difference. Thus, to avoid misinterpretation in trend analysis and sex-specific excretion in 24-h urine samples, the calculation of the total daily excretion is recommended.Veröffentlichung Validation of European horizontal methods for the analysis of PAH, PCB and dioxins in sludge, treated biowaste and soil(2019) Kalbe, Ute; Bandow, Nicole; Lehnik-Habrink, PetraBackground
Draft standards for the determination of organic pollutants in the solid matter of environmental matrices such as sludge, treated biowaste and soil have been basically developed in the framework of the European standardisation project HORIZONTAL. A research project financed by the German Federal Environment Agency was initiated to finalise some of these CEN standard drafts, since fully validated standard procedures are crucial for the evaluation of their reliability in the context of implementation in legislation on environmental health.Approach
Appropriate test materials (<2 mm particle size) were prepared and homogenised from contaminated soils, sludge and treated biowaste containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dioxins, furans and dioxin-like-PCB and served, along with reference solutions, as the basis for international interlaboratory comparisons. Performance data of three analytical standard procedures were obtained by the statistical evaluation of results received from 11 to 29 participants per test material.Results
The overall variation coefficients of reproducibility (between-lab standard deviations) for the sum parameters were roughly between 10 and 35%. The variation coefficients of repeatability (within-lab standard deviations) range between 3 and 8% and show no trend considering the substance groups or matrices. The highest coefficients of reproducibility were found for the analysis of PAH, which were between 26 and 35%, depending on the matrix, whereas 7-17% reproducibility was observed for toxicity equivalents (TEQ) comprising dioxins, furans and dl-PCB.Conclusions
Overall, the results confirm that the procedures described in the Technical Specifications are fit for purpose for all three matrices and that the feasibility of the HORIZONTAL approach, to cover several matrices with one standard per analyte, was thereby proven. Quelle: https://enveurope.springeropen.com