LES ACTIVITÉS NUCLÉAIRES : RAYONNEMENTS IONISANTS ET RISQUES POUR LA SANTÉ ET L’ENVIRONNEMENT 3.2 Industrial irradiators 3.2.1 – The devices used Irradiation can be used for industrial purposes (sterilisation of medical devices, pharmaceutical or cosmetic products, conservation of food products or historical heritage, modification of the properties of materials such as polymers, calibration of radiation protection instruments, etc.) or for research purposes (ageing of electronic components or materials, effects of ionising radiation on biological samples, etc.). It is important to specify that consumer product irradiation techniques can be authorised here because, after being treated, these products display no residual artificial radioactivity (they are sterilised by passing through radiation without themselves being “activated” by the treatment). Irradiators often use cobalt-60 sources, whose activity can be very high and exceed 250,000 terabecquerels (TBq). Some of these facilities are classified as BNIs (see chapter 11). In many sectors, X-ray generators are gradually replacing high-activity sealed sources for the irradiation of X-ray emitting devices (see point 1.3.1). 3.2.2 – Evaluation of the radiation protection situation BNIs excluded, ASNR carried out 15 inspections from 2023 to 2025 (of which eight were in 2025) in this sector, out of the 20 facilities currently licensed. These inspections show that the radiation protection organisation is satisfactory, particularly as regards the appointing of an RPE (no deviation observed), the radiological zoning put in place on the inspected licensees’ premises (only one deviation observed), the informing of new employees (just one deviation observed), compliance with the licenses issued by ASNR with regard to the radionuclides or maximum activities held (just one deviation observed). However, certain inspected facilities are expected to make improvements regarding the consistency of their inventory of sealed radioactive sources with the national inventory maintained by the ASNR (four deviations noted) and regarding the performance of checks (three deviations noted). The risk is well controlled, in particular thanks to the generally satisfactory verification, upkeep and maintenance of the facilities in accordance with the provisions described in the licensing applications. Nevertheless, ASNR found in about one in three inspections that it would be worthwhile adding safety devices or improving their verification. Furthermore, during about one inspection in five, ASNR observed that the operator entered the irradiation facility without a radiation monitoring device, even though checking the ambient radiological activity level is a means of ensuring that the sealed radioactive source has indeed returned to the safe position in its biological shielding, thereby preventing any risk of accidental exposure. It is interesting to note that in the Czech Republic, two operators were exposed (in two separate events in 2025) after re-entering an irradiation facility when the sealed radioactive source was not in the safe position in its biological shield. In both events, a number of the facility’s safety devices failed without the exposed operators supposedly being aware of this, and they entered the facility without either their operational dosimeter or a radiation meter. For one, exposure was estimated at 150 mSv for the whole body and 8 Sv for the hands (with no deterministic effects observed eight months later), and for the other at 320 mSv for the whole body (with no 3. In addition to these, there are six authorisations for the use of an accelerator, either exclusively under site conditions or for the shared use of equipment whose possession is regulated by the authorisation held by the other party. 4. The number of devices increased compared with previous years, largely due to a more precise division of large installations into several sub-systems, each representing an accelerator (as is the case for the synchrotrons, for example). deterministic effects observed). It should be noted that the failure to monitor the radiation environment prior to entering a facility or cordoned-off work zone was also partly to blame for incidents that led to abnormal exposure of operators whilst using industrial radiography equipment (see point 3.1). The availability and proper functioning of the safety devices and the prevention measures taken by the operators will remain points on which ASNR will focus particular attention in the future inspections in this sector. 3.3 Particle accelerators 3.3.1 – The devices used A particle accelerator is defined as being device or installation in which particles are subjected to acceleration, emitting ionising radiation with an energy greater than 1 Megaelectronvolt (MeV). When they meet the characteristics specified in Article R. 593-3 of the Environment Code concerning the BNI nomenclature, these facilities are listed as BNIs. Initial discussions are underway to revise these specifications to take account of the latest technological developments. Some applications necessitate the use of beams of photons or electrons produced by particle accelerators. The installed base of particle accelerators in France, whether linear (linacs) or circular (synchrotrons), comprises 80 licensed facilities(3) (excluding cyclotrons – see point 4.2 – and BNIs), possessing slightly more than 150 particle accelerators(4), which can be used in highly diverse areas such as: ∙research, which sometimes requires the coupling of several machines (accelerator, implanter, etc.); ∙radiography (fixed or mobile accelerator); ∙radioscopy of lorries and containers during customs checks (fixedsite or mobile accelerators); ∙modification of material properties; ∙sterilisation; ∙conservation of foodstuffs; ∙others. In the field of research, there are two synchrotron radiation production facilities in France: the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) in Grenoble and the Soleil synchrotron (Optimised Source of Intermediate-Energy Light of the Lure Laboratory) in Gif-sur-Yvette. In addition, more and more particle accelerators are appearing (currently in around ten installations), used for research purposes and operating on the principle of laser-plasma interactions: these devices can generate very energetic particle beams (up to a few hundred mega-electronvolts for some installations) and over very short times, down to the femto second (10-15 seconds). Particle accelerators have been used for several years now in France to fight fraud and large-scale international trafficking. This technology, which the operators consider effective, must however be used under certain specific conditions in order to comply with the radiation protection rules applicable to workers and the public, in particular: ∙a ban on activation of construction products, consumer goods and foodstuffs as specified by Article R. 1333-2 of the Public Health Code, ensuring that the maximum energy of the particles emitted by the accelerators used excludes any risk of activation of the materials being monitored; ∙a general ban on the use of ionising radiation on the human body for purposes other than medical; ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025 251 01 05 02 06 03 04 09 10 07 11 13 08 12 A / Z
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