LES ACTIVITÉS NUCLÉAIRES : RAYONNEMENTS IONISANTS ET RISQUES POUR LA SANTÉ ET L’ENVIRONNEMENT The average effective dose per inhabitant resulting from diagnostic radiological examinations was evaluated at 1.57 mSv for the year 2022 (ExPRI – ASNR 2025 study), a slight increase compared with 2017 (+2.6%) for a volume of diagnostic procedures of around 74 million in 2022 (85 million in 2017), or 1,082 procedures per 1,000 patients per year. It should be noted that individual exposure in 2022 will vary greatly according to age: average annual effective doses per patient will range from less than 0.1 mSv per year for children under 10 to more than 5 mSv per year for men aged 75 to 85. Generally speaking, the dose increases more rapidly with age, reaching a maximum in the 75-79 age group for men and 80-84 for women, and then decreases fairly rapidly. Conventional radiology (49.1%), computed tomography (15.6%) and dental radiology (32.1%) account for the largest number of procedures. It is the contribution of computed tomography to the effective collective dose that remains predominant (75.6%), whilst that of dental radiology remains very low (0.3%). Particular attention must be exercised to check and optimise the doses associated with diagnostic medical imaging, particularly when alternative techniques can be used for a same given indication. Controlling the doses of ionising radiation delivered to persons during a medical examination remains a priority for ASNR. 4.4 Exposure of non-human species (animal and plant species) The international radiation protection system was created to protect humans against the effects of ionising radiation. Environmental radioactivity was initially assessed with respect to its impact on human beings and, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, it was considered that the current standards guarantee the protection of other species. Protection of the environment against the radiological risk and more specifically the protection of nonhuman species, must however be guaranteed independently of the effects on humans. This objective is already incorporated in French legislation. ASNR ensures that the impact of ionising radiation on non-human species is effectively taken into account in impact assessments of nuclear facilities and activities. Based on IRSN’s expert report, and following the recommendations of the Advisory Committee of Experts for Radiation Protection of Worker and the Public (GPRADE, now called GPRP) in its opinion published in 2015, ASN set up a multidisciplinary working group led by IRSN to draw up a methodological guide for assessing the impact of ionising radiation on flora and fauna, based on a graded approach. The draft of the Methodological guide for assessing the radiological risk for the wild flora and fauna – Concepts, fundamentals and implementation within the impact study was submitted to ASN at the end of 2020 and presented to the GPRADE in June 2021. The final version of the guide was published in January 2022 on the ASN website taking into account the recommendations of the GPRADE’s opinion on the operational nature of the methodology. 12.7% Childcare facilities for children under 6 years of age 60.1% Educational establishments 0.4% Penal establishments 26.6% Certain health, social and medico-social establishments 0.3% Spas Source : IRSN, 2021. GRAPH 10 Distribution of the initial and ten-yearly measurement by PAB type from 2016-2017 to 2024-2025 Imaging method Procedures Total collective effective dose Number % % Conventional radiology 36,122,193 49.1 8,9 Dental radiology 23,606,291 32.1 0,3 Computed tomography 11,450,368 15.6 75.6 Nuclear medicine 1,907,543 2.6 13.1 Diagnostic interventional radiology 467,896 0.6 2.1 Total 73,554,291 100 100 Source: ASNR, ExPRI study – Exposure of the Population to Ionising Radiation, 2025. TABLE 10 Number of procedures and associated collective effective dose for each imaging method (rounded values) in France in 2022 HIGHLIGHT No. 5 Lessons learned from the first assessment of the national action plan indicators for management of the radon risk A system of specific indicators, chosen according to their relevance and the data available for monitoring them, has been put in place. The indicators may be supplemented as the years go by, according to the new data available. An assessment published in 2024 presents the following initial lessons: Public access buildings In the Public Access Buildings (PABs) subject to radon exposure monitoring, 82% of the buildings that took a measurement over the 2019‑2020 to 2022‑2023 period present a result below the reference level of 300 Bq/m3 therefore no follow-up action is required. The 18% presenting a result above the reference level of 300 Bq/m3 must implement corrective actions on the building to bring the measurement result below this value. Among these buildings, 2.5% present a result of 1,000 Bq/m3 or higher and must undergo an expert assessment to determine the appropriate remedial work. To date, only half the buildings have managed to attain a value below the reference level after corrective actions or works. Workplaces Employers must take radon in the workplace into account in the occupational risks assessment. Given that certain texts and application guides are not yet completed, it will be a few more years before all the employers have carried out the radon risk assessment. Consequently, the number of notifications to ASNR of workplaces with a result exceeding 300 Bq/m3 after declared radon reduction work is at present still very low. As from June 2024, the second version of the worker Ionising Radiation Exposure Monitoring Information System (SISERI 2) will be able to identify the number of workers actually exposed to radon. Homes The Regional Health Agencies (ARS) and the regional authorities are supported each year in the organisation of annual local operations to raise awareness and support the public regarding the radon risk in the home. The number of radon detectors distributed free of charge via these operations increased greatly between 2019‑2020 and 2022‑2023, rising from 2,520 to 4,415 detectors. The results collected enhance knowledge of the exposure of the population. Furthermore, the health risk linked to radon is one of the least known to the French public among the environment-related risks. A gradual improvement is nevertheless being observed and the level of information is generally better in the regions concerned by the radon risk. The full assessment is available at asnr.fr. 160 ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025
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