Schwammstädte: biologische und technologische Maßnahmen zur Klimafolgenanpassung und ihre Wirkungen auf die menschliche Gesundheit

<em><strong>Sponge cities: biological and technological measures for climate change adaptation and their effects on human health:</strong></em> Sponge cities have the ability to retain, store, evaporate, infiltrate and, if necessary, discharge overflow water during torrential rainfall. The sponge cities utilise the availability of ecosystem services (»Ecological Services«) of green surfaces and their functional properties; they thus make a decisive contribution to climate impact adaptation. Even in the event of extreme weather and a sharp increase in heat development, there will still be resilient areas in a sponge city thanks to the constant self-organisation and reorganisation of these ecosystems in the urban area. The sponge city principle is regarded as an innovative and forward-looking concept for minimising the consequences of torrential rain and climate risk. Human health as a protected good is positively influenced by the green roofs and façades as well as the green infrastructure in public spaces to improve the climate; the sponge city makes a significant contribution to this as an ecosystem service. The exposure of the urban population to heat stress (heat islands), particulate matter and torrential rain leads to the development of micronuclei in the epithelial tissue in the nasal and pharyngeal cavities. The micronucleus test according to DIN EN ISO 21427-2 is used to measure the potential of a genotoxic and mutagenic effect in order to determine the health status of the exposed urban population. The success and impact of the climate adaptation measures used is monitored by means of on-site monitoring of indicators and the subsequent effects are assessed.