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.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
See e.g. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin (1992) and Der Rat von Sachverständigen für Umweltfragen (1996).
See Science, 272: 1489 (1996).
See e.g. Colburn et al. (1996).
See e.g. Gaidoetal. (1997).
See Science, 277: 462.
See e.g. Gemeinsames Aktionsprogramm “Umwelt und Gesundheit” (Joint Action Programme “Environment and Health”) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and the German Federal Health Ministry, Section 2.2, “Entscheidungen auf solider Basis” (“Decisions on a Sound Basis”).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Streffer, C. et al. (2003). Introduction. In: Wütscher, F. (eds) Environmental Standards. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-07062-8_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-07062-8_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-07901-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-07062-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive