Introduction

Abstract

The need to set environmental standards is a result of the technological domination of nature by mankind. Increasing technicalization has led to mankind and its environment being exposed to a multitude of factors, of which is often only little known with regard to their medium- and long-term effects. In the course of the development, operation and disposal of technical installations and products, harmful substances and physical agents such as ionizing radiation and noise are released that could have undesired effects on human health and the environment. Such side effects of technological developments and the intensified public discussion of such topics have contributed to the almost complete demise of the, to a large extent, blind belief in progress that was the popular, optimistic view in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, we often observe instead that the pendulum swings in the opposite direction, most apparent in the demands for “zero exposure”. One way to open a sustainable and acceptable path between such extreme views is the establishment and application of environmental standards understood as quantitative specifications of target values concerning the environment, referred to as environmental quality targets.