Process for separation of volatile pollutants from contaminated materials, soil, wood, muds and sediments. Entwicklung eines Verfahrens zur Separation fluechtiger Schadstoffe aus belasteten Baustoffen, Boeden, Holz, Schlaemmen und Sedimenten

Many processes are available for treatment of contaminated waste and remediation of abandoned polluted areas. One of the main problem is remediation of contaminated silt or clay fractions. Particularly the cleaning of sediments or soils contaminated by mercurcy, PAH's or MKW is not solved satisfactorily regarding the economical aspect. In 1996 GKSS and Umwelt-Technics-Nord (UTN) have signed a co-operation contract. Aim of the co-operation is development of a new decontamination-technology based on desorption processes with high efficiency. The new technology combines operational concepts of GKSS and UTN. The combined technology allows cleaning of all kind of contaminated materials, like sludge, drilling mud, contaminated muds, remainders from soil washing plants, sediments, or even wood. A pilot plant was set up at GKSS research centre for the cleaning of mercury-contaminated soil, sediments and sludge with particle sizes less then 63 mm. A tube reactor is the essential element of this plant as well as for GKSS-tube-reactor-process (GTR-Process, patent pending). Umwelt-Technics-Nord GmbH is owner of the patent 'Method and Apparatus for separation of Volatile Components from a Base Material' as well of the registered design 'Apparatus for Separation of Volatile Components from a Base Material'. The UTN-technology is a batch-process. Pollutants are concentrated to a very high degree by this process. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RA 3251(98/E/27) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

3-year results of the German nationwide survey on eye injuries caused by fireworks

Background On festive days worldwide eyes are severely injured by fireworks. The data on the number and severity are to date not registered in Germany. Objective How frequent are firework-induced injuries in Germany, who are the affected, how serious are the injuries, which forms of treatment are necessary and how frequent are accompanying injuries? Method A German nationwide online-based survey was carried out in all inpatient eye departments and data over the last 3 consecutive years were descriptively analyzed. Results From New Years Eve 2016/2017, when 41 eye departments sent in data, the participation could be increased to 51 eye departments in 2018/2019. More than one third (33-39%) of all 1356 patients over 3 years were minors, 60% were younger than 25 years old and roughly 60% of patients were injured as bystanders or in an unclear situation. In total 25% of all eye injuries were considered severe and required inpatient treatment. Accompanying injuries of the other eye, the face and hands were more frequent in minors than in adults. Eyeball ruptures were reported in 10 minors and 38 adults over the 3 years. Conclusion Particularly minors and bystanders need better protection