ASN Report 2020

3.2.2 Exposure of the population to Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Exposure due to natural radioactivity in drinking water The results of the monitoring of the radiological quality of the tap water distributed to consumers carried out by the regional health agencies between 2008 and 2009 (DGS/ASN/IRSN report published in 2011) showed that 99.83% of the population receives tap water whose quality complies at all times with the total indicative dose of 0.1mSv/year set by the regulations. This generally satisfactory assessment also applies to the radiological quality of bottled water produced in France (DGS/ASN/IRSN report published in 2013). Since 2019, measurement of the radon content of tap water and bottled water has been compulsory. To assist the introduction of this new provision, an instruction was drawn up in consultation with ASN and issued in 2018 to the Regional Health Agencies by the General Directorate for Health (ASN opinion 2018-AV-0302 of 6 March 2018 on the radon management procedures in the sanitary control of water intended for human consumption). Exposure due to radon In France, the regulations relative to management of the radon risk, put in place in the early 2000's for certain buildings open to the public, were extended to certain work places in 2008. In 2016, radon was introduced into the indoor air quality policy. Transposition of Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 laying down Basic Safety Standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation led to the amending of the provisions applicable to radon since 1 July 2018. A reference level of 300 Bq/m 3 has been introduced. It is applicable to all situations, which enables the health risk associated with radon to be managed with an all- inclusive approach. The regulations have been extended with provisions concerning the three main sectors: ∙ With regard to the general public, a significant improvement has been introduced: radon is now included in the information to be provided to buyers and tenants of real estate situated in areas where the radon potential could be the highest. 5. Order of 26 February 2019 relative to the methods of managing radon in certain buildings open to the public and dissemination of information to the people frequenting these buildings. ∙ In workplaces, the regulations have been extended to cover professional activities exercised on ground floor levels and in certain specific workplaces. Whatever the radon potential zone in which the workplace is situated, radon must be considered in the risk assessment. A radon measurement can be carried out in this context if necessary. If there is a risk of reaching or exceeding the reference level of 300 Bq/m 3 , the employer must take action to reduce the radon activity concentration. If the action turns out to be ineffective, the employer must identify potential “radon zones” and then implement radiation protection measures, if necessary according to the level of exposure of the workers. ∙ In some buildings open to the public, the radon management methods have been adjusted, more specifically with the inclusion of day-care facilities for children under 6 years of age and an obligation to inform the public by displaying the radon measurement results (5) . The type of action to be taken if the reference level of 300 Bq/m 3 is exceeded is graded according to the measurement results: simple corrective actions for radon concentrations between 300 and 1,000 Bq/m 3 , expert assessment and remediation work if the corrective actions do not reduce the radon concentration to below the reference level or if the measurement results equal 1,000 Bq/m 3 or higher. The results communicated by the ASN-accredited organisations for the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 campaigns show that the majority of the screenings were carried out in educational institutions and healthcare and medical-social institutions (61% and 28% of screenings respectively). Day-care facilities children aged under 6 years, which constitute a new category of Buildings Open to the Public (ERP) subject to management of the radon risk, represent 11% of the measurements taken during the 2019/2020 campaign. The activity concentration of radon is below the reference level of 300 Bq/m 3 in 77% of the educational institutions and 87% of the healthcare and medical-social institutions screened. DIAGRAM 2 Evolution of number of workers monitored, with an annual effective dose in excess of 20 mSv from 1996 to 2019 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 905 340 322 177 69 112 79 100 51 40 26 22 16 14 14 8 8 1 2 2 10 5 9 8 Source: IRSN. Details of the 2009-2019 period 0 3 6 9 12 15 2018 2019 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2020 113 01 – NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES: IONISING RADIATION AND HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS 01