ABSTRACT
GUIDELINES, STANDARDS, LIMIT VALUES AND ALARM VALUES Standards are one of the oldest instruments of environmental management. Their purpose is to protect both the environment and human health by defining maximum permissible pollution levels. Techniques and methods of defining maximum permissible
concentrations were originally developed by occupational hygienists in order to protect those in the working environment. Similar methods were subsequently applied to identify maximum permissible concentrations in air, surface water, soil, drinking water and food.
