Saarländischer Verdichtungsraum
Important, old-industrialised conurbation in Germany.
The Saarland conurbation developed with the rise of the industrialization at the beginning 19th century. Because of its extensive mineral resources it became a centre of mining and iron and steel industries. These activities went along with a severe environmental pollution typical for these industries. Nowadays, the importance of these old
industries is decreasing while the automotive industry and its subcontractors, the ceramic industry as well as computer sciences and information technologies are gaining importance.
The early and intensive industrialization has led to an excellent traffic infrastructure. Furthermore, the small scale segmentation of large parts of the Saarland has resulted in a high per capita car rate in Germany.
Population density increased rapidly in the late 17th, early 18th and especially in the 19th century. Since the 1980s, however, the population declines.
Two thirds of the Saarland is covered by deciduous mixed forest. This makes the Saarland, next to Hessen and Baden-Württemberg, one of the federal states (Bundesländer) with the highest percentage of forest. In contrast to forests in other federal states, the percentage of deciduous trees is highest in the Saarland.
The sampling area covers about 625 km2 and includes three polluted areas as defined in the Federal Immission Control Act and in the Polluted Site Regulation of the Saarland administration.
Sub-areas
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Core zone of the Saarland industrial region along the major waterway Saar
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Forest ecosystem between the industrial regions of the Saarland and Lorraine
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The former centre of mining and coal, iron and steel industry becomes the Regional Park Saar
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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.
Specimen
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Common mussel species as invasive animal in rivers and lakes with high information level for water pollution
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Bioindicator in rivers and lakes
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Fine insoluble mineral or organic particles in the water phase
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A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.
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A deciduous tree typical of ecosystems close to dense conurbations and an indicator for the characterisation of the immission situation during the vegetation period.
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The roe deer is the most common of the larger herbivores (first order-consumer) to be found in the wild in Europe.
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A pigeon species home in nearly every city.
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As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).
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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.
Analytes
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Eighty percent of all elements on earth are metals
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Only eighteen elements in the periodic table
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Organic substances with at least one metall atom
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Group of organic compounds with at least one covalently bonded chlorine atom
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Toxic and persistent organochloropesticide
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Several isomeric compounds among the group of chlorinated hydrocarbons
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Group of organic compounds with at least three condensed six-membered rings
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Chemical agents against harmful organisms and for plant protection
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Organic compounds which are fully (per-) or partially (poly-) fluorinated
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Class of synthetic fragrances
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Class of non-ionic surfactants and their degradation products
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Atoms of one element with different weights
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Flame retardants reduce the flammability of objects
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Proctection for humans and products
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Cyclic methylsiloxanes with persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties in the environment
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Additional information for the interpretation of contamination data
Sampling period
1985 - 2023