Search Results (9)

The environmental impact of tire wear emissions has become increasingly apparent, and efforts to reduce their impact on the environment are on the rise. To minimise the generation of tire wear, it is essential to consider the influencing factors. However, as it cannot be entirely prevented, measures to reduce immissions are also necessary. This paper summarises possible measures derived from the literature, stakeholder workshops, and the authors’ own conclusions, taking into account the different perspectives: tire, vehicle, road, sustainable mobility and emissions treatment. The presentation of the entry paths of tire wear into the environment and the hotspots of generation can be used to prioritise reduction measures. Measures should be implemented at a political level, technical solutions applied, and awareness raised among the general public. It is evident that reducing tire wear is a complex task that requires a transdisciplinary approach. Full article

The application of smartphone-based color evaluation of passive sampling devices for gases has only been sparsely reported. The present review aims to compile available publications with respect to the configuration of the passive samplers, conditions of smartphone photographing, analytical procedures for color detection and quantification (including calibration processes), and their application to different target gases. The performance of the methods—whenever available—is presented regarding the analytical specifications selectivity, sensitivity, and limit of detection in comparison with other color evaluation methods of passive samplers. Practical aspects like requirements of instrumentation and ease of use will be outlined in view of the potential employment in education and citizen science projects. In one section of the review, the inconsistent terminology of passive and diffusive sampling is discussed in order to clarify the distinction of information obtained from the uptake of the passive samplers between gas-phase concentration and the accumulated deposition flux of gaseous analytes. Colorimetric gas sensors are included in the review when applied in passive sampling configurations and evaluation is performed with smartphone-based color evaluation. Differences in the analytical procedures employed after the passive sampling step and prior to the detection of the colored compounds are also presented. Full article

The planning application and approval process of railway tracks is generally accompanied by a vibration immission assessment. Starting with the source spectrum, which is ideally obtained through measurements, the German guideline VDI 3837 recommends a series of multiplications using transfer spectra which account for the various subdomains of the wave propagation path, such as the effect of the superstructure, the free field propagation, the soil-structure coupling and the transmission inside buildings. Typically, these one-third octave spectra are an average over empirical reference values. While simplified empirical relations are prone to a large variance, the use of artificial vibration sources allows the actual vibration transmission behavior from the tracks to the immission points to be quantified. Using so-called transfer admittances, also known as transfer mobilities, which account for all dynamic interactions along the transmission path (track, tunnel structures, foundations, structural properties), together with force density spectra for relevant rail vehicles, the authors investigate the practical application of the method presented in Report No. 0123 of the Federal Transit Administration (2018) for the frequency range 5–200 Hz. The article demonstrates how such force density spectra were obtained for the most common train types in the Austrian rail network at two different track sections using artificial vibration sources. Furthermore, practical aspects are discussed and a recently developed approximation method for estimating line transfer admittances from point transfer admittances using simplified models is introduced. Full article

Electric cars, like internal combustion vehicles, emit particulate pollution from non-exhaust systems, i.e., tires and brakes, which is included in the Euro 7 emission standard planned for implementation. Tests conducted on chassis dynamometers are accompanied by particulate emissions from non-exhaust systems, which are introduced into the ambient air on the test bench. Particulate emissions tests from non-engine systems on chassis dynamometers are mainly aimed at measuring the mass or number of particulates from tires and brakes. In contrast, little attention is paid to the immission of particulate matter from tires and brakes on the dynamometer during tests, which in the case of electric cars include, for example, measurements of energy consumption or range. Therefore, in order to draw attention to the problem of these emissions, the authors carried out measurements of PM2.5 and PM10 immissions into the air in the climatic chamber during tests of an electric car on a chassis dynamometer. The car tests were carried out in accordance with the WLTC (Worldwide harmonized Light duty Test Cycle) and at constant speed. Based on the test results, a model was proposed for the immission of particulate matter in laboratory air from tire and brake abrasion, taking traffic parameters into account. The results and the developed model show that air quality, in terms of particulate content, deteriorates significantly during testing. Full article

In Germany, the number of small wood-burning combustion plants was around 11 million in 2020. The PM2.5 immissions caused by the operation of these combustion plants are already about as high as those from traffic exhaust gases. Thus, particulate matter immissions occur not only on busy roads but also in residential areas. Since there are few official measuring stations for PM2.5 in residential areas and suburbs, this study determined PM2.5 concentrations from November 2020 to June 2021 at three stations (urban, suburban, and residential) in the Karlsruhe area. Simultaneous measurements of PM2.5 at the three locations have been implemented to determine short-term (peaks), medium-term, and long-term particulate matter levels and to assign them to sources by observation, considering wind direction. Illustratively, PM2.5 immission levels in January and May 2021 were compared in this paper. The comparison of the particulate matter immissions measured in the urban and residential area in January revealed that PM2.5 concentration peaks of up to 60 µg/m³ occurred for short periods in the residential area, especially on Fridays and in the evenings, which could be assigned to wood stove operation. In the urban and suburban areas, the number of the immission peaks was lower by 70–80%, and the peak concentrations were also lower by an average of 13–18%. However, the high short-term peaks have no significant impact when calculating the PM2.5 annual average according to the current limit value regulation (39. BImSchV). Full article

The expansion of renewable energy usage is one of the major social tasks in Europe and therefore requires acceptance and support from the population. In the case of onshore wind turbines, the complaints of local residents are often interpreted as infrasound disturbances conceivably caused by wind turbine operation. To improve the acceptance for wind energy projects, national standards and regulations need to incorporate such low frequency effects. This contribution presents long-term acoustic measurement data of low frequency noise recorded directly near wind turbines (emission) and inside of residential buildings (immission) with the objectives to identify the signal characteristics and main influential parameters. Different locations (wind farm and individual turbine), wind conditions, and time ranges are evaluated. It is shown that various frequency content below 150 Hz (harmonics of blade passing frequency, etc.) is connected to the rotation of the rotor blade and the operation of the generator. Furthermore, stable atmospheric conditions are determined to be of high importance for the transmission of the characteristic signals. For future research, this work also serves as an example for low frequency sound pressure data during operation and shutdown of wind turbines. Full article

The fundamental change in nocturnal landscapes due to the increasing use of artificial light at night (ALAN) is recognized as being detrimental to the environment and raises important regulatory questions as to whether and how it should be regulated based on the manifold risks to the environment. Here, we present the results of an analysis of the current legal obligations on ALAN in context with a systematic review of adverse effects. The legal analysis includes the relevant aspects of European and German environmental law, specifically nature conservation and immission control. The review represents the results of 303 studies indicating significant disturbances of organisms and landscapes. We discuss the conditions for prohibitions by environmental laws and whether protection gaps persist and, hence, whether specific legislation for light pollution is necessary. While protection is predominantly provided for species with special protection status that reveal avoidance behavior of artificially lit landscapes and associated habitat loss, adverse effects on species and landscapes without special protection status are often unaddressed by existing regulations. Legislative shortcomings are caused by difficulties in proving adverse effect on the population level, detecting lighting malpractice, and applying the law to ALAN-related situations. Measures to reduce ALAN-induced environmental impacts are highlighted. We discuss whether an obligation to implement such measures is favorable for environmental protection and how regulations can be implemented. Full article

Background: A change to new tramways in Graz (Austria) led to severe complaints in residential areas. To understand the underlying reasons for these complaints, a systematic measurement campaign was designed. Methods: Six locations in Graz and two locations in a comparably sized city were selected. Parallel indoor recordings of sound and vibrations were conducted from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (due to sleep problems) at all locations. Results: Vibration levels remained below the limits of the Austrian standard (Wm-weighting) although variability was observed among sites, tram types and pass-bys. A complex characteristic of the acoustic feature space was found with A-weighting (differences between A- and C-weighting of more than 15 dB were observed). C-weighted background to peak noise ratios clearly distinguished “old” from “new” trams. Psychoacoustic indices indicated a high variability between locations and tram types. Roughness and loudness was higher in “new” versus “old” trams at most locations. “New” trams exhibited high sharpness values and variability, especially at higher speeds—when compared with trams from a control city. Conclusions: Standard indicators of sound and vibration were not sensitive enough to uncover the reasons for the complaints. Only the integrated analysis of the ambient soundscape (high signal-to-noise-ratio), the more noticeable sound (in psychoacoustic terms) and the observed high variance of the immissions provided guidance to implement appropriate technical solutions. Full article

This paper assesses and compares existing and new technologies for space heating in Germany (e.g., heat pumps, and solar thermal and wood pellet systems) in terms of their environmental impacts. The various technologies were analyzed within the context of the new German legislation. The assessment was carried out on three levels: 1. Global emissions: a life cycle assessment was carried out in order to find the global environmental footprint of the various technologies; 2. Local emissions: the effects of local emissions on human health were analyzed; and 3. Immissions: the immissions were evaluated for the various technologies using a dispersion calculation. A special feature of this study is the substitution of frequently used database emission values by values obtained from field studies and our own measurements. The results show large differences between the different technologies: while electric heat pumps performed quite well in most categories, wood pellet systems performed the best with respect to climate change. The latter, however, are associated with high impacts in other environmental impact categories and on a local scale. The promotion of some technologies (especially systems based on fuel oil, a mixture of fuel oil and rapeseed oil, or a mixture of natural gas and biomethane) by the newly introduced German legislation is doubtful. In terms of the immissions of wood pellet systems, it can be concluded that, even for extremely unfavorable meteorological conditions, the regulatory limits are not exceeded and the heating systems have a negligible influence on the total PM load in the ambient air. Full article