1 Effects are air pollution, noise, vibrations, radiation, water pollution or other interference in water, soil pollution, modifications of the genetic material of organisms or modifications of biological diversity caused by the construction and operation of installations, by the handling of substances, organisms or waste, or by the cultivation of the soil.9
2 Air pollution, noise, vibrations and radiation are referred to as emissions when discharged from installations, and as ambient pollution levels at their point of impact.
3 Air pollution means modification of the natural condition of the air, in particular, through smoke, soot, dust, gases, aerosols, steams, odours or waste heat.10
4 Infrasound and ultra sound are regarded as noise.
4bis Soil pollution is the physical, chemical and biological modification of the natural condition of the soil. Soil means the unsealed top layer of land where plants may grow.11
5 Substances are natural or manufactured chemical elements and their compounds. Preparations (mixtures, blends and solutions) and articles containing such substances are also regarded as substances.12
5bis Organisms are any cellular or non-cellular biological entity capable of replication or of transferring genetic material. Mixtures and articles containing such entities are also regarded as organisms.13
5ter Genetically modified organisms are organisms whose genetic material has been changed in a way that does not occur under natural conditions by crossbreeding or natural recombination.14
5quater Pathogenic organisms are organisms that can cause disease.15
6 Waste is any moveable material disposed of by its holder or the disposal of which is required in the public interest.16
6bis Disposal of waste includes its recovery or deposit in a landfill as well as the preliminary stages of collection, transport, storage and treatment. «Treatment» is any physical, chemical or biological modification of the waste.17
6ter Handling means any activity in connection with substances, organisms or waste, and in particular their manufacture, import, export, putting in circulation, use, storage, transport or disposal.18
7 Installations are buildings, traffic routes and other fixed facilities as well as modifications of the terrain. Appliances, machines, vehicles, ships and aircraft are also regarded as installations.
8 Environmental information is information in the fields addressed by this Act and in the fields addressed by legislation on the protection of nature and cultural heritage, landscape protection, waters protection, protection against natural hazards, forest conservation, hunting, fishing, gene technology and climate protection.19
9 Biogenic motor and thermal fuels are liquid or gaseous motor and thermal fuels that are produced from biomass or other renewable energy sources.20