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November 1975 version of standard NF C 15-160 and
its associated standards, are deemed to be in conformity
with the resolution if they remain in conformity with
these standards.
With regard to the design of devices, ASN wishes to
supplement the provisions introduced into the Public
Health Code in 2007, and thus complete the development
of the regulatory framework allowing the distribution
of electrical devices for generating ionising radiation to
be subject to licensing in the same way as the suppliers
of radioactive sources. Experience shows that in this
respect, the joint technical examination of files by
ASN and the device suppliers/manufacturers brings
substantial gains in radiation protection optimisation
(see points 3 and 4.2.1).
For electrical devices used for non-medical purposes,
there is no equivalent of the mandatory CE marking for
medical devices, such as to confirm conformity with
several European standards covering various fields,
including radiation protection. Furthermore, experience
feedback shows that a large number of devices do not
have a certificate of conformity to the standards applicable
in France. These standards have been mandatory for
many years now, but some of their requirements have
become partly obsolete or inapplicable due to the lack
of recent revisions.
ASN therefore established contacts with the LCIE
(Electrical Certification and Testing Entity for Bureau
Veritas), CEA and IRSN as of 2006 and started looking
into the updating of the technical requirements applicable
to the devices. After presenting the first orientations
to the Advisory Committee for Radiation Protection,
for Industrial Applications and Research into Ionising
Radiation and the Environment (GPRADE) in June 2010,
ASN continued its work with the support of IRSN and
the assistance of other reference players such as CEA
and the LCIE, with a view to developing a baseline
technical standard for this type of device.
On the basis of this work, draft texts have been produced
with the aim of defining minimum radiation protection
requirements for the design of X-ray generators, and
an informal technical consultation of the stakeholders
(suppliers, French and foreign manufacturers and the
principal users) conducted in 2015 is currently being
analysed.
4.5 Detection of abnormal
radioactivity in materials
and goods in France
ASNconsiders that the increase in the number of cases of
detectionof abnormal radioactivity inmetals andconsumer
goods across theworld isworrying. It registers five events
per year on average relating to the presence of radioactivity
in shipments transported to or from France.
The products mainly involved are the following:
•
contaminated finished products including consumer,
equipment and production goods (kitchen utensils,
handbags, sports equipment, valves, axles, machine
tools, radiator grilles, steel bars, etc.);
•
contaminated semi-finishedproducts (ingots, scrap, etc.);
•
sealed sources themselves.
In themajorityof cases the radionuclidedetected is artificial
inorigin. This concerns radionuclides initiallymanufactured
and packaged in the form of sealed radioactive sources
intended for use in industryor themedical sector.Owing to
a lackof controls in the country of origin, these radioactive
sources end up entering scrap recycling routes.
If not detected in time, they aremelteddown inmetal ingot
production plants, thus contaminating the raw material
and all the semi-finished and finishedproductsmadewith
these rawmaterials worldwide.
In the other cases, the radionuclides are natural in origin.
This phenomenon is new, widespread and expanding
rapidly. It is due to the use of thorium-based ceramics
(tourmaline) notably in the textile industry. In 2011,
following a number of notifications, ASN contacted
IRSN for an analysis of several marketed products.
The conclusions of this study show that exposure of
an individual to radiation from these textiles remains
very slight, but can in certain cases be higher than the
annual regulatory limit for the public (1 mSv). In such
cases, ASN informs the industrial firms concerned if
they have been identified and has additional analyses
conducted if necessary. ASNmaintains its vigilance over
these products and conducted a further analysis campaign
on new products in 2015.
At present, France does not have systematic means
of detection at strategic points, particularly transport
hubs: ports and airports. Some companies are equipped
with detection systems installed either to comply with
the regulations in force pursuant to the Environment
Code (landfills, hospitals, waste disposal facilities, etc.),
or for commercial reasons dictated by their partners
(international trade with the United States).
Between 2001 and 2009, pushed by the United States,
27 countries includingGreece, theNetherlands, theUnited
Kingdom, Belgium, Spain and Portugal acquired at least
one detection facility. There is currently no European or
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CHAPTER 10:
INDUSTRIAL, RESEARCH AND VETERINARY USES AND SOURCE SECURITY
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015