National and international standardization of lower limits of decision and detection for radioactivity measurements

Since several years the working group NKe 2.12 of the DIN-Committee ''Nuclear Technology'' in cooperation with the 'Fachverband fuer Strahlenschutz' is preparing a serie of standards entitled DIN 25482 ''Lower Limit of Detection and Lower Limit of Decision for Nuclear Radiation Measurements''. Six parts of this standard have been finished or are in an advanced state. The basic concept can be applied to other measurement procedures, for example film or TL dosimetry or track etching. In an corresponding international group ISO/TC 85/WG2 ''Radioactivity Measurements'' chaired by R.Neider, Germany, experts from six countries prepared in six meetings four committee drafts partially based on the DIN standards. Considering this successful and steadily work the European Standardization Organisation CEN as well as IEC/TC45 did not initiate any own activities in this field. Also the International Organisation for Governmental Metrology (IOGM) decided not to prepare recommendations on environmental radioactivity. In this paper the actual state of this work, its significance, arising problems and solutions concerned are discussed. Special accent is given to the necessity of a national and international harmonization of the terms used. (orig.)