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Basics
- Introduction
  An environmental specimen bank (ESB) is an archive for samples that can be used to document and assess the quality of the environment in which we live. These specimens must be representative of a particular area, and be collected at regular intervals, to allow to monitor changes in the concentration of various (pollutant) substances over the course of time.
- Tasks and Targets
  The Environmental Specimen Bank is a major component of the German environmental observation system. It provides a scientific basis for decisions by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) concerning what action it considers necessary as a means of protecting the environment and monitoring the efficacy of such action.
- Development and Organisation
  The idea of creating an archive for environmental specimens was first proposed by German and American scientists in the early 1970s. Experts in various scientific disciplines got together for informal discussions, leading to the first international conferences held in 1977 and 1978 to define a concept for environmental specimen banking and to agree on the choice of bioindicators.
- Concept
  The official guidelines for the operation of the German Environmental Specimen Bank are laid down in a concept document.
- 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.
- 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.
- - Environmental Specimen Stock
    An overview of environmental and human specimens available for retrospective analysis.
Profiles
- Ecosystems
  The investigations are carried out in 6 ecosystem types.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Time References
  A chronicle of the sampling years.
Data search
We analyse the exposure of humans and our environment to chemicals in different ecosystems. Since 1985 we are collecting thousands of samples year by year to store them permanently.
- Chemical pollution
  Research the results of the chemical analysis for different specimen types in representative habitats.
- Sample descriptions
  Before the chemical analysis is carried out the samples are measured and described. Research these sample descriptions und get an overview of the biometric and anamnetic parameters for different specimen types in representive habitats.
Results
- Selected Results
  A selection of commented investigation results based on sampling data from the Environmental Specimen Bank.
- Publications
  Papers, reports, and guidelines.
Service
- News
  References to important topics and events.
- Links
  Quick links to ESB partner institutions, other environmental specimen banks, and authorities.
- Contact
  Would you like to contact us? Do you have questions or suggestions? Please feel free to directly send us a message through this online form.
- Help
  Do you have questions about the German Environmental Specimen Bank?
- Imprint
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