Glossary
0..9
24h-sampling urine
Particularly suitable matrix for human biomonitoring because chemicals and/or their metabolites excreted with urine have been in direct contact with the organism. Therefore, measurements in urine can give valid information regarding the internal human body burden.
2cx-MMHP
Mono(2-carboxymethyl-hexyl)phthalate is a secondary metabolite of DEHP.
5cx-MEPP
Mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl)phthalate is a secondary metabolite of DEHP.
5OH-MEHP
Mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl)phthalate is a secondary metabolite of DEHP.
5oxo-MEHP
Mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl)phthalate is a secondary metabolite of DEHP.
7OH-MiNP
Mono(4-methyl-7-hydroxyoctyl)phthalate is a oxidised DiNP metabolite with functional hydroxyl group.
7oxo-MiNP
Mono(4-methyl-7-oxo-octyl)phthalate is a oxidised DiNP metabolite with functional oxo group.
A
Agrarian Ecosystems
Agrarian ecosystems cover more than half the surface area of Germany and thus decisively shape the landscape.
alpha-HCH
The main constituent of technical HCH.
Analytes
Analytes are the subject of investigation and have been chosen to represent substances or groups of substances that describe either a basic physiological state or else toxic or carcinogenic conditions.
Archive
The long-term storage of environmental and human specimens is regarded as the main task of the German Environmental Specimen Bank: The Environmental Specimen Bank provides a continuous historical record of the state of the environment in Germany.
Arsenic
Arsenic compounds were used as pesticides in agriculture and forestry until the 1980s and 2004, respectively. Furthermore, several drugs are based on arsenic compounds.
B
Beech
As the most dominant deciduous tree species in Central Europe, it plays a significant role in most nearly natural and also anthropogenically influenced forest ecosystems up to an altitude of 1100 m.
Benzo[a]pyrene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with five connected six-membered rings.
Benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with three six-membered rings and one five-membered ring with a single sulphur atom.
Benzo[e]pyrene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with five connected six-membered rings.
Benzo[ghi]perylene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with six connected six-membered rings.
Benz[a]anthracene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with four connected six-membered rings.
beta-HCH
Most persistent HCH-isomer with the highest potential for biomagnification.
bioaccumulation
Increase in concentration of a substance in an organism
Bioaccumulation potential
Ability of a substance to enrich in organisms independent of the uptake route (surrounding medium, food)
biomagnification
Increase in concentration of a substance in an organism through dietary uptake
Blood plasma
Ideal matrix for most chemicals because it is in contact with the whole organism and in equilibrium with the organs and tissues in that chemicals are being accumulated.
Blue mussel
The blue Mussel is widespread in the North and Baltic Sea and belongs to the most important edible mussel species.
Bream
Bioindicator in freshwater and lakes.
Butylbenzyl phthalate
Only phthalate of commercial importance with differing side chains one of them representing a benzyl group.
C
Cadmium
The natural occurrence of cadmium is low and its minerals are mostly associated with zinc ores.
Chlorohydrocarbons
Group of organic compounds with at least one covalently bonded chlorine atom.
Chromium
Naturally occurring transition metal.
Chrysene + Triphenylene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with four connected six-membered rings.
Cobalt
Naturally occurring transition metal.
Common bladder wrack
The common bladder wrack is widespread along the coastal areas of the North and Baltic Sea.
Common spruce
A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.
Copper
Copper is a metal widespread in nature and widely used by humans.
Coronene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with seven connected six-membered rings.
D
DDT and metabolites
Toxic and persistent organochloropesticide.
Di-n-butyl phthalate
A short-chain phthalate registered as auxiliary for pharmaceutical products that have to be administered encapsulated to resist gastric juice.
Dieldrin
Dieldrin is a very effective insecticide. Until the early 1970s it was a common contact and stomach poison for soil insects like termites, grasshoppers and beetles and for textile pests. Furthermore, it was used in the control of tropical vectors like the tsetse fly.
Diethylhexyl phthalate
The world's most important plasticiser among the chemical group of phthalates.
Diisobutyl phthalate
A short-chain phthalate whose use in packaging materials for food has been withdrawn voluntarily by the industry in 2007.
Diisononyl phthalate
Mixture of phthalate diesters differing slightly in branching of the alcohol chains. Main substitute of DEHP as plasticiser.
Domestic pigeon
A pigeon species home in nearly every city.
E
Earthworm (Aporrectodea longa)
As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).
Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).
Ecosystems
The investigations are carried out in 6 ecosystem types.
Ecosystems close to conurbations
Ecosystems close to conurbations, or urban-industrial ecosystems, are areas of human activity where natural factors are in part significantly modified or annulled and, especially in built-up areas, only function in very fragmented ways.
Eelpout
As the only viviparous fish in German nearshore waters, it is a bioindicator in nearshore coastal marine ecosystems.
F
Fluoranthene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with three six-membered rings and one five-membered ring.
Forestry ecosystems
Almost a third of Germany is covered in forest, most of it under productive forestry management.
H
Herring gull
Inshore, the herring gull mainly feeds from the sea: upon fish, mussels, and crabs.
Hexachlorobenzene
Hexachlorobenzene is a fungicide which was mainly used in seed treatment and as wood and timber preservative.
Hexachlorocyclohexane
Several isomeric compounds among the group of chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Human samples
Human body fluids and hair.
I
Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with five six-membered rings and one five-membered ring.
Iron
Naturally occurring transition metal.
L
Lead
Naturally occurring poisonous heavy metal.
Limnetic samples
Animal samples from rivers and lakes.
Lindane (gamma-HCH)
A highly effective insecticide that in Europe was banned from agricultural use in 2002 and from pharmaceutical use in 2007.
Lipid content
Parameter to normalise concentrations of lipophilic substances.
Lombardy poplar
A deciduous tree typical of ecosystems close to dense conurbations and an indicator for the characterisation of the immission situation during the vegetation period.
M
Magnesium
Naturally occurring non-toxic alkaline earth metal.
MAK
Maximum concentrations at the workplace (Maximale Arbeitsplatz-Konzentrationen)
Manganese
Naturally occurring transition metal.
Marine ecosystems
The structure and function of marine ecosystems are not the only factors to take into consideration when analysing marine organisms. All major changes at sea also induce changes in terrestrial ecosystems. The seas serve to regulate the weather, as a transport network, as a source for numerous food and mineral substances and as the final link in the chain of ecosystem loading.
Marine samples
Samples of marine-animals, sea weeds and seabirds.
MBzP
Mono-benzylphthalate is the primary metabolite of Butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP) resulting from elimination of the butyl group.
MEHP
Mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate is the primary metabolite of DEHP after cleavage of one alcohol group.
Mercury
Naturally occurring highly toxic transition metal, which is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure.
Metals
Eighty percent of all elements on earth are metals.
Methyl triclosan
Methylation of triclosan results in methyl triclosan, which is more persistent in the environment. The lipophilic methyl triclosan accumulates in organisms.
Methylmercury
In the environment methylmercury is formed from inorganic mercury ions.
MiBP
Mono-iso-butylphthalate is the primary metabolite of DiBP resulting from the elimination of one iso-butyl group.
MnBP
Mono-n-butyl phthalate is the primary metabolite of DnBP resulting from the elimination of one butyl group.
N
Nearly natural terrestrial ecosystems
Nearly natural ecosystems are exceptional in that they have preserved their ancient structure and function without significant human manipulation.
Nickel
Naturally occurring transition metal.
Nonmetals
Only eighteen elements in the periodic table are not metals.
O
Octachlorostyrene
Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chlorinated organochlorine compound.
Organochloro pesticides
Organochloro hydrocarbons with insecticidal properties.
P
p,p'-DDD
DDD is a metabolite of DDT with insecticidal properties. It is suspected to be carcinogenic and to act as endocrine disruptor.
p,p'-DDE
DDE is the main metabolite of DDT. It is even more persistent than the parent compound and is strongly accumulated by organisms. It is suspected to be carcinogenic, mutagenic and to act as endocrine disruptor.
PCB101
PCB101 is a low chlorinated, relatively volatile PCB. Together with other low chlorinated congeners (e.g. PCB28 and 52) it stands for acute contamination of the ambient air. It degrades rather fast and accumulation in organisms is lower compared to higher chlorinated congeners.
PCB118
PCB118 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans. They are highly toxic. Technical mixtures of PCB contain only trace amounts of dioxin-like PCB. They can occur as by-products of incineration processes.
PCB138
PCB138 is a higher chlorinated PCB. It is hardly degradable and accumulates strongly in organisms and the food web. Together with other high chlorinated congeners (e.g. PCB153 and 180) it stands for long-term contamination mainly through food.
PCB153
PCB153 is a higher chlorinated PCB. It is hardly degradable and accumulates strongly in organisms and the food web. Together with other high chlorinated congeners (e.g. PCB138 and 180) it stands for long-term contamination mainly through food.
PCB180
PCB180 is a higher chlorinated PCB. It is hardly degradable and accumulates strongly in organisms and the food web. Together with other high chlorinated congeners (e.g. PCB138 and 153) it stands for long-term contamination mainly through food.
Pentachlorophenol
Pentachlorophenol is a persistent chlorinated hydrocarbon and an effective biocide.
Phenanthrene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with three connected six-membered rings.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a common element in the environment and constituent of many minerals.
Phthalates
General-purpose plasticisers for PVC and other polymers.
Pine
A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Persistent and toxic chlorinated compounds.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Group of organic compounds with at least three condensed six-membered rings.
Potassium
Naturally occurring alkali metal.
Pubic hair
Ideal matrix for the detection of internal exposure to methylmercury. Otherwise only screening method for adequate great populations and based on groups for detection of exposures to inorganic arsenic compounds, lead, and nicotine.
Pyrene
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with four connected six-membered rings.
R
Riverine ecosystems
Riverine ecosystems can be considered as the final link in the functional structure of the terrestrial environment, as they function as a sink and a vehicle for discharges from the mainland, which they pass on to the marine ecosystems.
Roe deer, one-year-old
The roe deer is the most common of the larger herbivores (first order-consumer) to be found in the wild in Europe.
S
Saliva
Via element analysis in saliva release of alloy components of dental (prothesis) materials can be assessed.
Sampling areas
The sampling areas have been selected to represent adequately the major types of ecosystems in Germany and taking into account the varying intensities of anthropogenic impact and land use.
Scalp hair
Ideal matrix for the detection of internal exposure to methylmercury.
Selenium
Selenium is a relatively rare element that naturally occurs both in its elemental form and in many minerals.
Specimen types
The specimen types have been selected in such a way as to permit load observations within both a spatial and a time framework, thereby providing optimum information about overall conditions in the various sampling areas.
Standard operating procedures
To achieve a high degree of quality assurance, every step in the procedure from sampling through transport, preparation and analysis of the specimen to long- term storage is the subject of binding Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for each type of specimen.
Strontium
Alkaline earth metal with high reactivity and zthat occurs naturally only in compounds with other elements.
Students
Student groups with an even number of female and male students at the age of 20 to 29.
Sulfur
Sulfur is a ubiquitous element which naturally occurs in its elementary form as well as in sulfide- and sulfate minerals.
T
Terrestrial samples
Samples of animals living on land and plants growing on land.
Thallium
Thallium is a rare element which naturally occurs as trace element in many minerals.
Triclosan
Chlorinated aromatic biocide.
W
Water content
Parameter to calculate wet weight from dry weight and vice versa.
Whole blood
Ideal matrix for most chemicals because it is in contact with the whole organism and in equilibrium with the organs and tissues in those chemicals are being accumulated.
Z
Zebra mussel
The zebra mussel is a filter feeder on microscopic plankton organisms and organic particles that has become an invasive species in many European countries.
Zinc
Zinc is a rather common element. In the environment it is present mainly in ores.