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Regulation exposure limits and dose levels
OPTIMISATION LEVELS
for patient protection (Public Health Code)
REFERENCES
DEFINITIONS
VALUES
OBSERVATIONS
DIAGNOSTIC EXAMINATIONS
Diagnostic reference level
Article R.1333-68,
Order of 16th February 2004
Dose levels for standard diagnostic examinations
E.g.: entrance dose
of 0.3 mGy or dose area
product (DAP)
25
cGy.cm2
for an antero-
posterior thorax radiograph
•
The diagnostic reference levels, the dose constraints and the dose target levels
are used by applying the principle of optimisation. They are simply guidelines
•
The reference levels are created for standard patients by dose levels for typical
radiology examinations and by the radioactivity levels of radiopharmaceutical
products in diagnostic nuclear medicine
Dose constraint
Article R.1333-65,
Order of 7th November 2007
Used when exposure offers no direct medical benefit
to the person exposed
The target dose level (specialists talk of a target volume in radiotherapy)
is used to adjust the equipment
RADIOTHERAPY
Target dose level
Art. R.1333-63
Dose necessary for the target organ
or tissue (target organ or target-tissue)
during radiotherapy (experimentation)
The target dose level (specialists talk of a target volume in radiotherapy)
is used to adjust the equipment
ANNUAL EXPOSURE LIMITS
contained in the Public Health Code and in the Labour Code
REFERENCES
DEFINITIONS
VALUES
OBSERVATIONS
ANNUAL LIMITS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Article R.1333-8
of the Public Health Code.
•
Effective Dose
1 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.
•
Equivalent dose for the lens of the eye
15 mSv/year
•
Equivalent dose for the skin (average dose over any
area of 1 cm
2
of skin, regardless of the area exposed)
50 mSv/year
WORKER LIMITS FOR 12 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS
Article R. 4451-13
of the Labour Code
Adults
•
Effective dose
•
Equivalent dose for the hands, forearms,
feet and ankles
•
Equivalent dose for the skin
(average dose over any area of 1 cm
2
of skin,
regardless of the area exposed)
•
Equivalent dose for the lens of the eye
20 mSv
500 mSv
500 mSv
150 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.
Pregnant women
•
Exposure of the child to be born
1 mSv
Young people from 16 to 18 years old*:
•
Effective dose
•
Equivalent dose for the hands,
forearms, feet and ankles
•
Equivalent dose for the skin
•
Equivalent dose for the lens of the eye
6 mSv
150 mSv
150 mSv
50 mSv
* Only if covered by waivers, such as for apprentices.
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CHAPTER 03:
REGULATIONS
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015