Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME
Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME

Substance-related Monitoring

© Fraunhofer IME | Klaus-Peter Kappest

A number of legally binding regulations require the testing of compliance to environmental quality standards or other limit values. Examples are national regulations, e.g. the German Federal Soil Protection Act, or EU guidelines, such as the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The survey of the values requires an efficient environmental monitoring on a regional or national level, depending on the treated problem. In this context, Fraunhofer IME offers consultancy and conceptional support.

A particular focus is on the analytical characterization of chemical contamination in environmental samples. Fraunhofer IME develops targeted analytical methods for a variety of issues. Examples include the development of the direct total oxidizable precursors assay (dTOP assay; Göckener et al. 2020, 2021 & 2022) as a sum parameter for the group of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and the development of comprehensive and sensitive target methods for PFAS in complex matrices (Göckener et al. 2021, Lämmer et al. 2022). The Fraunhofer IME's range of methods also includes, for example, the determination of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS) in environmental samples (Radermacher et al. 2020).

Selected projects

Selected PFAS-Publications

Göckener et al: Tracking down unknown PFAS pollution – The direct TOP assay in spatial monitoring of surface waters in Germany. (2023) Science of The Total Environment

Publication

Göckener et al: Long-Term Trends of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Suspended Particular Matter from German Rivers Using the Direct Total Oxidizable Precursor (dTOP) Assay. (2022) Environmental Science & Technology.

Publication

Göckener, et al: Digging deep - implementation, standardisation and interpretation of a total oxidisable precursor (TOP) assay within the regulatory context of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in soil. (2022) Environmental Sciences Europe 34 (1), 52. 

Publication

Further Publications

Badry, A., Lämmer, R., Göckener, B., Koschorreck, J.

Pre-regulatory actions as a driver for reduced PFAS emissions? Long-term trends and change points for human and environmental samples from Germany

(2025) Environmental Sciences Europe. doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01124-7

 

Lange, F. T., Freeling, F., Göckener, B.

Persulfate based total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay approaches for advanced PFAS assessment in the environment Persulfate based total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay approaches for advanced PFAS assessment in the environment ̶ a review

(2024) Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry. doi.org/10.1016/j.teac.2024.e00242

 

Lennartz, S., Koschorreck, J., Göckener, B., Weinfurtner, K., Frohböse-Körner, A., Siemens, J., Balachandran, S., Glaeser, S.P., Mulder, I.

Downstream Effects of the Pandemic? Spatiotemporal Trends of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds in Suspended Particulate Matter of German Rivers

(2024) Journal of Hazardous Materials. doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136237

 

Göckener, B., Fliedner, A., Weinfurtner, K., Rüdel, H., Badry, A., Koschorreck, J.

Tracking down unknown PFAS pollution – The direct TOP assay in spatial monitoring of surface waters in Germany

(2023) Science of The Total Environment. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165425

 

Simon,F. , Gehrenkemper,L. , Becher,S. , Dierkes,G. , Langhammer,N. , Cossmer,A. , von der Au,M. , Göckener,B. , Fliedner,A. , Rüdel,H. , Koschorreck,J. , Meermann,B.

Quantification and characterization of PFASs in suspended particulate matter (SPM) of German rivers using EOF, dTOPA, (non-)target HRMS

(2023) Science of The Total Environment. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163753

 

Fliedner, A., Rüdel, H., Göckener, B., Krehenwinkel, H., Paulus, M., Koschorreck, J.

Environmental specimen banks and the European Green Deal

(2022) Science of The Total Environment. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158430

 

Göckener, B., Fliedner, A., Rüdel, H., Badry, A., Koschorreck, J.

Long-Term Trends of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Suspended Particular Matter from German Rivers Using the Direct Total Oxidizable Precursor (dTOP) Assay

(2022) Environmental Science & Technology. doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04165

 

Göckener, B., Lange, F. L., Lesmeister, L., Gökçe, E., Dahme, H. U., Bandow, N., Biegel-Engler, A.

Digging deep—implementation, standardisation and interpretation of a total oxidisable precursor (TOP) assay within the regulatory context of per and polyfuoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in soil

(2022) Environmental Sciences Europe. doi.org/10.1186/s12302-022-00631-1

 

Just, H., Göckener, B., Lämmer, E., Wiedemann-Krantz, L., Stahl, T, Breuer, J., Gassmann, G., Weidemann, E., Bücking, M., Kowalczyk, J.

Degradation and Plant Transfer Rates of Seven Fluorotelomer Precursors to Perfluoroalkyl Acids and F‑53B in a Soil-Plant System with Maize (Zea mays L.)

(2022) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c06838

 

Lämmer, R., Weidemann, E., Göckener, B., Stahl, T., Breuer, J., Kowalczyk, J., Just, H., Boeddinghaus, R. S., Gassmann, M., Kling, H.-W., Bücking, M.

Evaluation of the Transformation and Leaching Behavior of Two Polyfluoroalkyl Phosphate Diesters in a Field Lysimeter Study

(2022) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c03334

 

Göckener, B.; Eichhorn, M.; Lämmer, R.; Kotthoff, M.; Kowalczyk, J.; Numata, J.; Schafft, H.; Lahrssen-Wiederholt, M.; Bücking, M.

Transfer of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Feed into the Eggs of Laying Hens. Part 1: Analytical Results Including a Modified Total Oxidizable Precursor Assay 

(2020) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 68 (45), 12527–12538. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c04456

 

Göckener, B.; Weber, T.; Rüdel, H.; Bücking, M.; Kolossa-Gehring, M.

Human biomonitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in German blood plasma samples from 1982 to 2019 

(2020) Environment international, 145 (106123), 10. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106123

 

Rüdel H, Radermacher G, Fliedner A, Lohmann N, Koschorreck J, Duffek A (2022):
Tissue concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in German freshwater fish: derivation of fillet-to-whole fish conversion factors and assessment of potential risks.

Chemosphere 292, 133483, (doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133483)

 

Kosfeld V, Rüdel H, Schlechtriem C, Rauert C, Koschorreck J (2021):
Food web on ice: a pragmatic approach to investigate the trophic magnification of chemicals of concern.

Environ Sci Europe 33, 93 (2021), (doi.org/10.1186/s12302-021-00530-x)

 

Göckener B, Fliedner A, Rüdel H, Fettig I, Koschorreck J (2021):

Exploring Unknown Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the German Environment – the Total Oxidizable Precursor Assay as Helpful Tool in Research and Regulation.

Sci Total Environ 782, 146825, (doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146825)

 

Knopf B, Rüdel H, Hansknecht D, Klawonn T, Kreuzer K (2021):

Determination of low environmental free cyanide concentrations in freshwaters.

Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 16244-16252, (doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-12062-7)

 

Rüdel, H., Radermacher, G., Fliedner, A., Lohmann, N., Duffek, A.:

Chemicals of emerging concern in marine specimens of the German Environmental Specimen Bank.

Environmental Science Europe 32:36 (2020) (DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-2487-y)

 

Rüdel, H., Radermacher, G., Fliedner, A., Lohmann, N., Duffek, A.:

A field study in support of the monitoring of priority substances in German freshwater fish: derivation of fillet-to-whole fish conversion factors.

Environmental Science Europe 32:13 (2020) (DOI:10.1186/s12302-020-0295-)

 

Knopf, B., Fliedner, A., Radermacher, G., Rüdel, H., Paulus, M., Pirntke, U., Koschorreck, J.:

Seasonal variability in metal and metalloid burdens of mussels: using data from the German Environmental Specimen Bank to evaluate implications for long‑term mussel monitoring programs.

Environmental Science Europe 32:7 (2020) (DOI: 10.1186/s12302-020-0289-7)

 

Rüdel, H., Körner, W., Letzel, T., Neumann., M., Nödler, K., Reemtsma, T.:

Persistent, mobile and toxic substances in the environment: a spotlight on current research and regulatory activities.

Environmental Science Europe 32:5 (2020) (DOI: 10.1186/s12302-019-0286-x)

 

Radermacher, G., Rüdel, H., Wesch, C., Böhnhardt, A, Koschorreck, J.:

Retrospective analysis of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes in archived German fish samples covering a period of two decades.

Science of the Total Environment 706 (2020) 136011 (DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136011)

 

Kotthoff, M., Fliedner, A., Göckener, B., Bücking, M., Biegel-Engler, A., Koschorreck, J.:

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the German environment – Levels and patterns in different matrices.

Science of the Total Environment 740 (2020) 140116 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720336378)

 

Fliedner, A., Rüdel, H., Koschorreck, J.:

Nutzung der Erfahrungen und Ergebnisse des Biotamonitorings der Umweltprobenbank für die Umsetzung des WRRL-Fischmonitorings.

Korrespondenz Wasserwirtschaft 12 (2019) 336-341 (DOI: 10.3243/kwe2019.06.001)

 

Fliedner, A., Rüdel, H., Knopf, B., Lohmann, N., Paulus, M., Jud, M., Pirntke, U., Koschorreck, J.:

Assessment of seafood contamination under the marine strategy framework directive: contributions of the German environmental specimen bank.

Environmental Science Pollution Research 27 (2018) 26939-26956 (DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2728-1)

 

Kotthoff, M., Rüdel, H., Jürling, H., Severin, K., Hennecke, S., Friesen, A., Koschorreck, J.:

First evidence of anticoagulant rodenticides in fish and suspended particulate matter: spatial and temporal distribution in German freshwater aquatic systems.

Environmental Science Pollution Research 26 (2018) 7315-7325 (DOI: 10.1007%2Fs11356-018-1385-8)

 

Fliedner, A., Rüdel, H., Lohmann, N., Buchmeier, G., Koschorreck, J.:

Biota monitoring under the Water Framework Directive: On tissue choice and fish species selection.

Environmental Pollution 235 (2018) 129-140 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117341568)

 

Fliedner, A., Rüdel, H., Teubner, D., Buchmeier, G., Lowis, J., Heiss, C., Wellmitz, J., Koschorreck, J.:

Biota monitoring and the Water Framework Directive - can normalization overcome shortcomings in sampling strategies? 

Environmental Science Pollution Research 23 (2016) 21927-21939 (DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7442-2)