• Technology

• Health

• Environment

• Project Co-ordinator: Dr. rer. nat. Kathrin Prieß, M.ès.sc.

• Contact: Dr. rer. nat. Stephan Lingner, Dipl.-Geol.

• Memorandum: C. Streffer et al.: Low Dose Exposures in the Environment. Dose-Effect Relations and Risk Evaluation., Springer 2004 (Ethics of Science and Technology Assessment, Vol. 23)

• Duration: 01/01–5/04

• Funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

• Further Information on “Environmental Standards”

The ever-increasing release of harmful agents due to human activities have led to heavy pollution in some areas of the world. In order to protect human health and the environment, environmental standards to limit the release and the concentration of those toxic agents into the environment and hence human exposure to it, must be established. The related assessment and decisionmaking procedures have to be based on solid, scientific data about the effects and mechanisms of these agents as well as on ethical, social and economic aspects.
For risk evaluation, the knowledge of the dose-response curve is an essential prerequisite. Dose responses without a threshold dose are most critical in this connection. Such dose responses are assumed for mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, which, therefore, dominate also the discussion in this book. In the environmentally important low dose range, risk estimation can only be achieved by extrapolation from higher doses with measurable effects. The extrapolation is accompanied by uncertainties which makes risk evaluation as well as risk communication, frequently problematic.
In order to ensure rational, efficient and fair decisions beyond a sound scientific assessment, a dialogue between disciplines, with the affected people and with the general public is necessary. The study addressed the whole range of relevant and essential aspects of risk evaluation and standard setting. Starting with the ethical foundations, the sound analysis of recent scientific findings, the framework for further reflections through theory of cognition, psychosocial sciences, and jurisprudence has been set. The study concludes with recommendations for coping with recent problems of standard setting in the field of environmentally relevant low doses.

Environmental Standards