In 2023, Germany experienced a substantial rise in hazardous substances released into the environment, amounting to approximately 21 million liters, nearly three times the previous year’s figures. Despite a stable number of incidents, with 1,876 accidents recorded—the lowest since 1997—the increase was attributed largely to high-impact accidents. Notably, half of the pollutants stemmed from just four incidents. Among the contaminants, manure and heating oil comprised the largest share, with persistent substances including ethanol and mercury posing critical environmental risks.

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