Supplementary parameters
Additional information for the interpretation of contamination data
For the characterisation of soil, suspended particulate matter and water samples it is necessary to determine parameters like pH, carbon content or particle size distribution. These factors have major influence on the behaviour of substances (i.e. ionisation, binding, release) and are therefore crucial for the interpretation of contaminant data.
Fat and water content are determined as supplementary parameters in biota samples to facilitate the interpretation of contaminant data and to enable normalisation and thus comparison between different data.
In human samples additional blood- and urine parameters like concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, and creatinine and urine density and volume are essential for the interpretation of substance data.
Sub-groups
| Measures | Water and lipid |
|---|---|
| Parameters of laboratory medicine | Measurement data which allow an assessment of the general physical condition on the basis of reference ranges |
| pH-value | pH-value as measure for the alkalinity or acidity of a medium |
| Carbon content | Basic element for all living organisms and constituent of minerals, e.g. limestone |
| Particle-size distribution | Important parameter for the characterisation of soils |
Specimen
| Common spruce | A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems. |
|---|---|
| Pine | A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Feral pigeon | A pigeon species home in nearly every city. |
| 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). |
| Zebra mussel | Common mussel species as invasive animal in rivers and lakes with high information level for water pollution |
| Bream | Bioindicator in rivers and lakes |
| Common bladder wrack | Common brown alga of the coastal areas of the North and Baltic Sea |
| Blue mussel | One of the most important edible mussel species common in the North and Baltic Sea |
| Eelpout | As the only viviparous fish in German nearshore waters, it is a bioindicator in nearshore coastal marine ecosystems. |
| Herring gull | Inshore, the herring gull mainly feeds from the sea: upon fish, mussels, and crabs. |
| Soil | Soil is livelihood and biosphere for humans, animals, plants and soil organisms. All the substances brought in are transported, transformed and/or accumulated in the soil. |
| Suspended particulate matter | Fine insoluble mineral or organic particles in the water phase |
| Students | Student groups with an even number of female and male students at the age of 20 to 29. |
Sampling area
| BR/NP Berchtesgaden | The only high mountains national park in Germany and an area of the Limestone Alps with international relevance |
|---|---|
| Saarländischer Verdichtungsraum | Important, old-industrialised conurbation in Germany. |
| Bornhöveder Seengebiet | Main water divide between the North- and Baltic Sea |
| Rhein | Longest river in Germany |
| NP Bayerischer Wald | Germany's first national park |
| NP Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft | National Park in the largest brackish water (Bodden) habitat of the world. |
| BR/NP Wattenmeere | National park in the world largest connected sand and mud flats. |
| Elbe | Fourth largest river area in Central Europe. |
| Dübener Heide | Region in the chemical triangle of Central Germany. |
| NP Harz | The Harz National Park is Germany's largest forest national park. |
| Solling | Second highest and largest low mountain range in Northern Germany |
| BR Pfälzerwald | Germany's largest connected forest area in a range of low mountains. |
| Oberbayerisches Tertiärhügelland | The Upper Bavarian Tertiary Uplands are a part of the Southern German Molasse Basin. |
| Donau | Second largest river in Europe. |
| Sampling sites (humans) | 4 university cities as sampling areas. |
Sampling period
1981 - 2012