As of: June 2009

General Information - Radiological Protection

People have always lived in natural radiation fields. Radiation emanates from space and from naturally radioactive substances in the air, in water and in the soil. In addition to these natural sources of radiation people are in today's technological age also exposed to other forms of radiation. This man-made radiation originates, for example, from the operation of nuclear power plants and the use of X-ray machines and mobile communication facilities.

Radiation can be harmful to humans and to the environment. Therefore, limit values are set to avoid any verifiable damage. The ultimate objective is to keep radiation levels as low as possible.

Radiation Protection Ordinance and X-Ray Ordinance

Whereas previous regulations only covered man-made radiation the new Radiation Protection Ordinance (Strahlenschutzverordnung, StrlSchV), which entered into force on 1 August 2001, also includes raised levels of radiation from natural sources.

The new Radiation Protection Ordinance and the new X-Ray Ordinance (Röntgenverordnung, RöV) of 18 June 2002 reduce the exposure values for the population to 1 millisievert (mSv) per year. For work related exposure to radioactivity, X-rays and cosmic radiation the limit value is now 20 mSv per year. This has an impact, for example, on those who work with radioactive materials, in nuclear power plants, on aircrews and on those who work with x-ray equipment. Since August 2005 special requirements apply for the use of highly radioactive sources of radiation. They have to be specifically labelled and used radiation sources have to be returned or properly disposed of. There is a new central register for all radiation sources of this kind in Germany at the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, BfS).

Monitoring of Environmental Radioactivity

After the nuclear accident at Chernobyl the monitoring of levels of radioactivity in the environment was considerably stepped up and extended. Activity concentrations in the ambient air and in water bodies are continuously measured by a stationary measuring network. In addition to that there is a round-the-clock monitoring of the radiation levels in the Federal Republic through more than 2000 measuring stations. An additional extensive measuring programme records the activity concentrations in food, animal feeds and drinking water in Germany to make sure that even minute changes in the contamination situation in Germany are registered and can prompt the necessary action.

Radon in Dwellings

A special problem for radiation protection is the gas radon which possesses a natural radioactivity. It is emitted from the subsoil, penetrates dwellings and is held responsible for approximately 2000 cancer deaths in Germany. Radon is above all emitted in the lower mountain ranges. Extensive constructional experience is meanwhile available on how to reduce radon exposures in homes.

Electromagnetic Radiation - Mobile Phones

For mobile phones and base stations of mobile telephone systems there are limit values to prevent any health damage. So far no scientific evidence has been found on any health damage occurring below these thresholds. So as to improve knowledge on any potential health impacts below the applicable limit values, the Federal Environment Ministry commissioned the Federal Office for Radiation Protection to carry out the German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme (Deutsches Mobilfunkforschungsprogramm, DMF). Please verify the following link for further information on this topic: www.emf-forschungsprogramm.de.

The communications operators have committed themselves to encouraging mobile phone manufacturers to develop low-emission mobile phones.

A list of low-emission mobile phones can be found on the Internet under the following link: www.bfs.de.