Annual Report 2014

→ 44 | Flughafen

→ 44 | Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH Air Quality Monitoring Everything at acceptable levels In 2011, the Airport Company initiated an air quality and environment study programme with BER in mind for the purpose of examining long term the air quality and the environmental impact of air traffic. Air quality measurement point The pollutants typically produced by air traffic — carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone and fine particulate matter — resulting from flight operations, vehicular traffic and background pollution are continuously measured at the air quality measurement point “Schönefeld Airport” located at the eastern end of the future North Runway at BER. The emission measurements are analysed on the basis of threshold values set forth in the 39th Federal Emission Control Act (BIm- SchV). This work is being conducted under the supervision of the State Agency for the Environment, Health and Consumer Protection of Brandenburg (LUGV). The results are updated daily on the Airport Company’s internet site. Benzene, benzo(a)pyrene (the lead substance of PAHs), hydrocarbons and soot are collected over longer periods and examined by the State Laboratory Berlin-Brandenburg. The carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone and fine particulate matter concentrations at Schönefeld Airport in 2014 were comparable with the suburban monthly mean values determined at the air quality measurement points of the LUGV [Brandenburg State Office of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection] in Blankenfelde-Mahlow. The upper threshold for fine particulate matter PM 10 was exceeded on twelve days of the year. The permissible limit is 35 days. The 8-hour mean value for ozone set by lawgivers was exceeded 13 times in 2014. The trigger threshold is 25 times. The bottom line is that the limits and trigger thresholds prescribed by the 39th BImSchV were not exceeded for any of the measured pollutants at Schönefeld Airport in 2014. Biomonitoring Biomonitoring focuses on the actual impact of air pollutants on the living environment in the environs of the airport. The biomonitoring procedure will help to answer the question whether — and if so, to what extent — grass as animal feed or kale as food is exposed to pollutants and the degree to which air traffic is responsible. The biomonitoring within the

Global irradiation is also measured as one of the parameters for determination of air quality. framework of the FBB environmental study programme was conducted with kale in 2011 and 2012 and with grass cultures in 2012 and 2013. The previous results in their totality represent the preliminary studies for the operational startup of the future BER airport. In 2015, the repairs of the North Runway and operational startup of the South Runway were accompanied by exposures of grass cultures. Biomonitoring will continue in future a well so that possible changes in the environment in the airport surroundings are documented. The previous studies since 2011 have demonstrated that Schönefeld Airport does not have any relevant impact (emission effects) on raising pollutant levels in the region. The studies are conducted by an independent environmental institute. Bee monitoring Bee monitoring provides answers to the question whether the operation of an airport has an adverse effect on the quality of the honey produced in the region. As part of the bee monitoring since 2011, pollen, wax and honey from the environs of the future Berlin Brandenburg Airport have been analysed for pollutant residues which can find their way through the air into the environment and subsequently into the food chain. Hives themselves as well as collected pollen, wax and honey were examined at three locations: one location on the operational premises of Schönefeld Airport, one location south of the airport which will be directly below flight patterns when BER Airport opens and one hive in Schorfheide from which the bees collect nectar in a landscape which is largely unaffected by road and air traffic or settlements. Monitoring has begun even before the operational startup of BER so that any possible changes in the residue content can be documented. It will consequently be continued after the operational startup of BER. The results of the residue analysis show that airport operations do not have any impact on the quality of honey as a food product from the airport region. The content of the examined substances in honey, pollen and wax is at safe, low levels. The reports on the biomonitoring and bee monitoring have been made available in their unabridged form on the Neighbourhood Portal of the Airport Company.