With its working groups, the Division offers a forum for promoting environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology. The following working groups currently exist:
The working group primarily focuses on tropospheric chemistry and the influence of anthropogenic (e.g., air traffic) and natural (e.g., desert dust) emissions on air composition and their impact on the climate. Increasing attention is also being paid to the chemistry of the condensed phase, particle formation and photochemistry in cloud droplets, and the long-range transport and atmospheric degradation of pesticides and medium-volatile chemicals. Members of the working group also play a key role in the GDCh/DECHEMA/DBG Joint Committee on Chemistry, Air Quality and Climate (photooxidants, halogenated hydrocarbons) and in the Expert Group on Fine Dust of DECHEMA, KRdL, and GDCh.
The working group sees its task as supporting the ongoing amendment to the Soil Protection Ordinance (BBodSchV) by conveying relevant scientific findings and practical experience to legislative bodies. Conversely, it also offers assistance and initiates scientific research by submitting questions from higher-level committees. The working group will begin its work with the topic of the future assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil , particularly with the current amendment proposal, which is currently the subject of highly controversial debate. This will also include the previously less-discussed substances beyond the 16 EPA PAHs and PAH transformation products.
The focus of the work is on exchanging experiences with the implementation of the REACh Regulation, particularly on the topics of exposure, persistence, ecotoxicology, toxicology , and risk assessment. In addition to industrial chemicals, the working group also focuses on the assessment of biocides and pharmaceuticals, and new research topics are regularly presented.
Scientists from various disciplines are involved in the working group to exchange experiences and develop contributions to continuously improve the quality of environmental monitoring. Key topics are discussed at two to three meetings annually. A particular focus is on making the collected monitoring data usable.
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last modified: 08.09.2025 17:29 H from Translator
