APPENDIX 2 LIMITS AND DOSE LEVELS
Annual exposure limits contained in the Public Health Code (CSP) and in the Labour Code (CT)
  Definition Values Observation
Annual limits for the population
art. R. 1333-8 of the CSP
• Effective whole-body doses
• Equivalent doses for the lens of the eye
• Equivalent doses for the skin (average dose over any area of 1 cm2 of skin, regardless of the area exposed)
1 mSv/year
15 mSv/year

50 mSv/year
* These limits comprise the sum of effective or equivalent doses received as a result of nuclear activities. These are limits that must not be exceeded.
Limits for workers over 12 consecutive months
art. R. 231-77 of the CT
Adults:
• Effective whole-body doses
• Equivalent doses for the hands, forearms, feet and ankles
• Equivalent doses for the skin (average dose over any area of 1 cm2 of skin, regardless of the area exposed)
Equivalent doses for the lens of the eye Pregnant women (exposure of the child to be born)

Young people from 16 to 18 years old*
• Effective whole-body doses
• Equivalent doses for the hands, forearms, feet and ankles
• Equivalent doses for the skin
• Equivalent doses for the lens of the eye

20 mSv
500 mSv


500 mSv

150 mSv

1 mSv






6 mSv
150 mSv


150 mSv
50 mSv
* These limits comprise the sum of effective or equivalent doses received.
* These are limits that must not be exceeded.
Exceptional waivers are accepted:
• when justified beforehand, they are scheduled in certain working areas and for a limited period, subject to special authorisation. These individual exposure levels are planned according to a ceiling limit which is no more than twice the annual exposure limit value;
• emergency occupational exposure is possible in an emergency situation, in particular to save human life.
* Only if covered by waivers, such as for apprentices.
Optimisation levels for patient protection (Public Health Code)
  Definition Values Observation
Diagnostic examinations
Diagnostic reference level
Art. R. 1333-68, order of 16 February 2004

Dose constraint
Art. R. 1333-65, order expected in 2006

Radiotherapy:
Target dose level
Art. R. 1333-63
Dose levels for standard diagnostic examinations





Used when exposure offers no direct medical benefit to the person exposed

Dose necessary for the target organ or tissue (target-organ or target-tissue) during radiotherapy (experimentation).
E.g.: entry level of 0.3 mGy for an X-ray of the thorax
* The diagnostic reference levels, the dose constraints and the target dose levels employ the principle of optimisation. They are no more than points of reference.

* The reference levels are defined for standard patients by dose levels for standard radiological examinations and by radioactivity levels for radio-pharmaceutical products used in diagnostic nuclear medicine.

* The dose constraint can be a fraction of a diagnostic reference level, in particular for exposure in the context of biomedical research or medico-legal procedures.

* The target dose level (specialists talk of a target volume in radiotherapy) is used to adjust the equipment.
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