GSF is a national centre with approximately 1700 employees and supported by the German Federal Government and the State of Bavaria. Research is focused on ecology, biology and health care: specifically “activities related to the protection of man and his environment from harmful effects resulting from radiation or chemicals, and using scientific and technical knowledge to improve the provision of health care” including the disciplines of physics, geology, hydrology, chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, biology, experimental / clinical medicine and computer science. The main emphasis in the field of environmental research is on the measurement and assessment of the burden of pollutants in ecosystems. The entry, transformation, accumulation, bio-availability, transport and release of substances are recorded and provide the basis for assessment of the function, stability and load bearing capacity of ecosystems.