German word

Altlast

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaltˌlast/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncontaminated site

Example

Die Stadt sperrte das Gebiet wegen einer Altlast ab.

The city cordoned off the area because of a contaminated site.

Illustration for Altlast (contaminated site)

More examples

Die Gemeinde plant, eine Altlast zu beseitigen.

The municipality plans to remediate a contaminated site.

Core concept

A site whose soil or groundwater still bears the toxic residue of its former use.

Common phrases

  • eine Altlast beseitigen

    remediate a contaminated site

  • eine Altlast melden

    report a contaminated site

Similar words

Bodenbelastung: Harmful substances in soil that restrict its use and create health risks.
Kontamination: Harmful substances entering a material or place and making it unsafe.
Altstandort: Land formerly used for industry where contamination may be present.
Schadstoffbelastung: Pollution or damage in soil or the environment caused by hazardous substances.

Definition in German

Ein als belastet bezeichnetes Grundstück, in dem durch frühere Tätigkeiten Schadstoffe im Boden oder im Grundwasser eingelagert sind.

Word origin

The compound Altlast joins alt, old, and Last, burden, to name pollution that remains as a burden after the original activity has ended.

Usage tips

  • The word refers to a site regarded as contaminated, not merely to any old industrial property; the related word Sanierung means remediation or cleanup.

Other meanings

  • legacy burdennoun

Opposites

  • Altlastfreiheitabsence of contaminated sitesnoun

Related words

  • Altlastensanierungcontaminated-site remediationnoun
  • Altlastverdachtsuspected contaminated sitenoun
  • altlastbelastetaffected by a contaminated siteadjective

Word lists with this word