[en] In Germany, about half of the natural radiation radiation exposure (about 2.4 mSv/a) is caused by inhalation of radon. Average radon concentrations are about 15 Bq/m³ in the open air and about 50 Bq/m³ inside buildings. Variations are great and are influenced by geological and constructional conditions. Occupational exposure is subject to the new Radiation Protection Ordinance (StrlSchV)

[en] The number of reports on uranium loads in tap water and drinking water increases. Already for years, the organization Foodwatch e.V. (Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany) warns about to high concentrations of uranium in tap water. So far, only a limit value for mineral water exists in the Mineral Water Regulation which is suitable for the production of infant diet. This limit value amounts 2 microgram per litre. Temporarily, also in the policy a national limit value for uranium in drinking water is introduced. The Federal Office for Environment Protection (Dessau, FRG) designates a value of ten microgram uranium per litre of drinking water and mineral water as an approximate value. The effective control of water quality presupposes high-performance, simple and economical analysis methods. A particularly well suitable measuring technique for the determination of uranium(VI) in groundwater, raw water and drinking water is the voltammetry. In the last years, a national standard was compiled based on this measuring technique: DIN standard 38406-17

[en] The Mainz Research Reactor TRIGA Mark II is a neutron source for many applications including neutron activation analysis. The method is highly efficient in trace element detection. The contribution describes some current research projects on problems of ecological relevance

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[en] As in other countries Germany is trying to find an adequate site for the high-level radioactive waste final repository. Non-site specific experiments on radionuclide chemistry have been performed by the ''actinide association'' founded in 1995 and promoted by the German Ministry for Research and Technology. The research programs were focused in the beginning on the interactions of actinides and relevant heavy metals with natural organic complexing agents, esp. humic and fulvic acids. Later on the main focus were interactions of actinides with clays as host rocks or clay minerals as backfilling material. Capillary electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) were used for the analysis of the ternary system metal - humic acid - clay. Another research project is dealing with dynamic sorption/desorption behavior of metals in compact Opalinus clay.

[en] In the photovoltaics, solar cells consisting of crystalline silicon are established with an efficiency of nearly 20 %. However, the production of such mono crystalline or polycrystalline materials is very expensive. As an alternative, different semiconductor materials also move into the foreground. They can be applied as a thin layer on flexible supports. Thus, materials and costs are saved. Cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium diselenide and copper indium disulphides possess promising characteristics for such thin film solar cells: a very good light absorption and a high energy yield. For the moment, their efficiencies stay behind those of traditional silicon solar cells. High performance analytics such as electron backscatter diffraction and secondary ion mass spectroscopy help the development laboratories and research laboratories to close the gap.

[en] An attempt is made to provide a systematic general view at the diagnostical methods and facilities which a nowadays are applied in the case of thyroid diseases. The reasonable and accurate application of the various methods possible is of decisive importance for the thyroid diagnostics. This planned application requires exact knowledge of the case history and of the findings as well as knowledge of the preconditions, the advantages and disadvantages of and the possible errors in the methods applied. Proposals and guiding lines for a planned step-by-step application of methods of diagnosing thyroid diseases were published by the Section Thyroid Society for Endocrinology in Wiesbaden in December 1978. For step-by-step diagnostics of thyroid diseaeses, these publications may be of help. (orig.)