Abstracts ASN Report 2019

The electrical devices emitting ionising radiation are chiefly X-ray generators. They are used in industry for non-destructive structural analyses (analysis techniques such as tomography, diffractometry, also called X-ray crystallography, etc.), checking the quality of weld beads or inspecting materials for fatigue (in aeronautics in particular). These devices, which function using the principle of X-ray attenuation, are used as industrial gauges (measurement of drum filling, thickness measurement, etc.), inspection of goods containers or luggage and also the detection of foreign bodies in foodstuffs. The increase in the number of types of device available on the market can be explained more particularly by the fact that when possible, they replace devices containing radioactive sources. The advantages of this technology with regard to radiation protection are linked in particular to the total absence of ionising radiation when the equipment is not in use. Their utilisation does nevertheless lead to worker exposure levels that are comparable with those resulting from the use of devices containing radioactive sources. • ƏǕǕƏǕƺ ǣȇɀȵƺƬɎǣȒȇ Ionising radiation is used constantly in security screening checks, whether for the systematic verification of baggage or to determine the content of suspect packages. The smallest and most widely used devices are installed at the inspection and screening checkpoints in airports, in museums, at the entrance to certain buildings, etc. The devices with the largest inspection tunnel areas are used for screening large baggage items and hold baggage in airports, as well as for air freight inspections. These devices are supplemented by tomographs, which give a series of series of cross-sectional images of the object being examined. Ļĸ ļŅŅĴķļĴŇļłŁ ōłŁĸ ļŁņļķĸ ŇĻĸņĸ ĴŃŃĿļĴŁĶĸņ ļņ ņłŀĸŇļŀĸ delimited by doors, but most often simply by one or more lead curtains. • æ ٮ ȸƏɵ ƫȒƳɵ ɀƬƏȇȇƺȸɀ This application is mentioned for information only, since the use of X-ray scanners on people during security checks is prohibited ļŁ ŅĴŁĶĸ ҎļŁ ĴŃŃĿļĶĴŇļłŁ łĹ ŅŇļĶĿĸ єׇӄӆӆӆіӄӋׇłĹ ŇĻĸ ňĵĿļĶ ĸĴĿŇĻ łķĸҏє łŀĸ ĸŋŃĸŅļŀĸŁŇņ ĻĴʼnĸ ĵĸĸŁ ĶĴŅŅļĸķ łňŇ ļŁ ŅĴŁĶĸ ňņļŁĺ non-ionising imaging technologies (millimetre waves). • XȇɀȵƺƬɎǣȒȇ Ȓǔ ƬȒȇɀɖȅƺȸ ǕȒȒƳɀ The use of devices for detecting foreign bodies in certain consumer products has developed over the last few years, such as for detecting unwanted items in food products or cosmetics. • æ ٮ ȸƏɵ ƳǣǔǔȸƏƬɎǣȒȇ ƏȇƏǼɵɀǣɀ Research laboratories are making increasing use of small devices of this type, which are self-shielded. Experimental devices used for X-ray diffraction analysis can however be built by experimenters themselves with parts obtained from various suppliers (goniometer, sample holder, tube, detector, high-voltage generator, control console, etc.). • æ ٮ ȸƏɵ ǔǼɖȒȸƺɀƬƺȇƬƺ ƏȇƏǼɵɀǣɀ Portable X-ray fluorescence devices are used for the analysis of metals and alloys. • xƺƏɀɖȸǣȇǕ ȵƏȸƏȅƺɎƺȸɀ These devices, which operate on the principle of X-ray attenuation, are used as industrial gauges for measuring fluid levels in cylinders or drums, for detecting leaks, for measuring thicknesses or density, etc. • XȸȸƏƳǣƏɎǣȒȇ ɎȸƺƏɎȅƺȇɎ More generally used for performing irradiations, the self-shielded devices exist in several models that sometimes differ only in the ņļōĸ łĹ ŇĻĸ ņĸĿĹіņĻļĸĿķĸķ ĶĻĴŀĵĸŅё ŊĻļĿĸ ŇĻĸ ĶĻĴŅĴĶŇĸŅļņŇļĶņ łĹ ŇĻĸ X-ray generator remain the same. • XȇƳɖɀɎȸǣƏǼ ȸƏƳǣȒǕȸƏȵǝɵ Radiography for checking the quality of weld beads or for the fatigue inspection of materials is detailed in point 3.1. ׏ِ ב ِ א àƺɎƺȸǣȇƏȸɵ ƳǣƏǕȇȒɀɎǣƬ ȸƏƳǣȒǼȒǕɵ Ł ӅӃӄӌё ŇĻĸ ŃŅłĹĸņņļłŁ ĶłňŁŇĸķ ӄӋёӈӇӋׇʼnĸŇĸŅļŁĴŅŌ ņňŅĺĸłŁņё ņłŀĸ ӄӅёӈӃӃׇŁłŁіʼnĸŇĸŅļŁĴŅļĴŁ ĸŀŃĿłŌĸĸņ ҎĶłňŁŇĸķ ļŁ ĹňĿĿіŇļŀĸ ĸńňļʼnĴĿĸŁŇņҏ ĴŁķ ӋёӃӈӆׇʼnĸŇĸŅļŁĴŅŌ ŃŅĴĶŇļĶĸņ ĴŁķ ĶĿļŁļĶņє ĸŇĸŅļŁĴŅŌ surgeons use diagnostic radiology devices for purposes similar to those used in human medicine. Veterinary diagnostic radiology activities essentially concern pets: Ҋ ņłŀĸ ӈёӈӃӃׇʼnĸŇĸŅļŁĴŅŌ ĶĿļŁļĶņ ļŁ ŅĴŁĶĸ ĻĴʼnĸ ĴŇ ĿĸĴņŇ łŁĸ diagnostic radiology device; Ҋ about fifty computed tomography scanners are used in veterin- ary applications to date. Other practices drawn from the medical sector are also implemen- ted in specialised centres: scintigraphy, brachytherapy, external- beam radiotherapy and interventional radiology. The treatment of large animals (mainly horses) requires the use of more powerful devices installed in specially equipped premises (radiography of the pelvis, for example) and portable X-ray generators, used indoors –whether in dedicated premises or not– or outside in the open air. In order to better ensure compliance with regulatory ŅĸńňļŅĸŀĸŁŇņё ļŁŇŅłķňĶĸķ Ĵ ŁłŇļĹļĶĴŇļłŁ ņŌņŇĸŀ ļŁ ӅӃӃӌׇĹłŅ what were called “canine activities” involving less serious radiation risks (see point 2.4.2). This simplification has led to regularisation of the administrative situation of a growing number łĹ ʼnĸŇĸŅļŁĴŅŌ ĶĿļŁļĶņ Ҏņĸĸ ŅĴŃĻ Ӈҏ ŊļŇĻ ŀłŅĸ ŇĻĴŁ ӌӃՌ łĹ ŇĻĸ clinics being notified or licensed. The devices used in the veterinary sector are sometimes derived from the medical sector. However, the profession is increasingly 234 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2019 ׎ ٲ ז SOURCES OF IONISING RADIATION AND THEIR INDUSTRIAL, VETERINARY AND RESEARCH APPLICATIONS GRAPH 4 Use of electrical devices generating ionising radiation for veterinary activities 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 Number of veterinary authorisations zɖȅƫƺȸ Ȓǔ ɮƺɎƺȸǣȇƏȸɵ ȇȒɎǣˡƬƏɎǣȒȇɀ