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2.3 Protection of persons exposed
to a natural source of ionising
radiation
2.3.1 Protection of persons exposed to radon
The regulatory framework applicable to management
of the radon-related risk in premises open to the public
(Article R. 1333-15 et seq. of the Public Health Code)
introduces the following clarifications:
•
The radonmonitoring obligation applies in geographical
areas in which radon of natural origin is likely to be
measured in high concentrations and in premises in
which the public is likely to stay for extended periods.
•
Themeasurements aremade by organisations approved
by ASN, these measurements being repeated every
10 years and whenever work is carried out to modify
the ventilation or the radon tightness of the building.
In addition to introducing action trigger levels of 400 and
1,000 Bq/m
3
, the implementingOrder of 22nd July 2004
concerningmanagement of the radon risk inpremises open
to the public defined geographical zones and premises
open to the public for which radon measurements are
now mandatory:
•
the geographical areas are the 31départements classified
as havingpriority for radonmeasurement (see chapter 1);
•
the categories of premises open to the public cover
teaching institutions, health and social institutions,
spas and prisons.
The obligations of the owner of the facility are also
specified when the action levels are found to have been
exceeded. The Order of 22nd July 2004 was followed by
the publication in the Official Journal of 22nd February
2005of anopinion concerning the definitionof the actions
and work to be carried out in the event the action levels
of 400 and 1000 Bq/m³ are exceeded. The accreditation
conditions for the organisations approved to carry out
activity concentration measurements, the measurement
conditions and thedata transmissionprocedures are clarified
by four ASN resolutions:
•
ASN resolution 2009-DC-0134 of 7th April 2009,
amended by resolution 2010-DC-0181 of 15th April
2010, sets the approval criteria, provides thedetailed list of
information tobe enclosedwith the approval application,
and specifies the conditions of issue, verification and
withdrawal of approval;
•
ASN resolution 2009-DC-0136 of 7th April 2009
concerns the objectives, duration and content of the
training programmes for the individuals carrying out
radon activity concentration measurements.
•
ASN resolution 2015-DC-0506 of 9th April 2015
concerning the conditions in which radon activity
is measured, repealing resolution 2009-DC-0135 of
7th April 2009;
•
ASN resolution 2015-DC-0507 of 9th April 2015
concerning the technical rules for the transmission of
the radonmeasurement results produced by approved
organisations and the conditions for access to these results,
pursuant to the provisions of Article R. 1333-16 of the
Public Health Code.
The list of approvedorganisations is published in theASN
Official Bulletin
on
www.asn.fr.In the workplace, Article R. 4451-136 of the Labour Code
also requires that the employer carry out radon activity
measurements and take the necessary steps to reduce
exposure when the results of the measurements reveal
an average radon concentration higher than the levels
set in an ASN decision. The Order of 7th August 2008
defines the workplaces in which these measurements
are required and ASN resolution 2008-DC-0110 of
26th September 2008 specifies the reference levels
above which the radon concentration must be reduced.
The transpositionof EuropeanDirective 2013/59/Euratom
will reinforce public and worker protection against the
risk of exposure to radon. TheMember States must thus:
•
set a national reference level for radon concentrations
inside buildings, not to exceed 300 Bq/m
3
;
•
encourageasurveyofhomesinwhichradonconcentrations
(annual average) exceed the reference level;
•
ensure that information ismade availableboth locally and
nationally on exposure to radon inside buildings and the
corresponding health risks, aswell as on the importance
ofmeasuring exposure to radon and the technicalmeans
for lowering existing radon concentrations.
Ordinance 2016-128 of 10th February 2016 thus
introduced new legislative provisions into the Public
HealthCode (whichwill come into force no later than 1st
July 2017) and the Environment Code, to ensure lasting
information of the population and to better estimate the
exposure of the French population to radon. These new
provisions aim to:
•
consider the radon concentration as an indoor air
quality parameter;
•
set up a system of mandatory information of owners,
new buyers of real estate and landlords, in areas with
a high radon potential;
•
collect the results of the radonmeasurements taken in
homes, at the initiative of the owners or local authorities,
in order to gain a clearer estimate of the exposure of
the French population to radon.
2.3.2 Other sources of exposure
to “enhanced” natural radiation
Professional activities which usematerials which naturally
contain radionuclides not used for their radioactive
properties but which are liable to create exposure likely
to harm the health of workers and the public (“enhanced”
natural exposure) are subject to the provisions of the
Labour Code (Articles R. 4451-131 to 135) and the Public
Health Code (Article R. 1333-13).
106
CHAPTER 03:
REGULATIONS
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015