diff --git a/python/damask/dadf5.py b/python/damask/dadf5.py
index 67ca1d739..b04e89d3e 100644
--- a/python/damask/dadf5.py
+++ b/python/damask/dadf5.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from . import util
 from . import version
 from . import mechanics
 from . import Orientation
+from . import Environment
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 class DADF5():
@@ -1030,8 +1031,8 @@ class DADF5():
       """Call function with input data + extra arguments, returns results + group."""
       args['results'].put({**args['func'](**args['in']),'group':args['group']})
 
-
-    N_threads = 1 # ToDo: should be a parameter
+    env = Environment()
+    N_threads = int(env.options['DAMASK_NUM_THREADS'])
 
     results = Queue(N_threads)
     pool    = util.ThreadPool(N_threads)
diff --git a/python/damask/environment.py b/python/damask/environment.py
index 2fde2c329..4c9ab762c 100644
--- a/python/damask/environment.py
+++ b/python/damask/environment.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ class Environment():
     def __init__(self):
         """Read and provide values of DAMASK configuration."""
         self.options = {}
-        self.get_options()
+        self.__get_options()
 
     def relPath(self,relative = '.'):
         return os.path.join(self.rootDir(),relative)
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class Environment():
     def rootDir(self):
         return os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.path.realpath(__file__),'../../../'))
 
-    def get_options(self):
+    def __get_options(self):
         for item in ['DAMASK_NUM_THREADS',
                      'MSC_ROOT',
                      'MARC_VERSION',