ASN Report 2020

The data collected in 306 buildings open to the public show that the corrective actions or works to reduce the radon concentration have lowered the concentration to below 300 Bq/m 3 in only 41% of these buildings. Results of the 3rd national radon action plan (2016-2019) The 3rd radon action plan covered the 2016-2019 period. Although its implementation was strongly impacted by the transposition of Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 (in 2016 for the legislative part and in 2018 and 2019 for the regulatory part), the majority of the actions concerned are either completed or in progress. The results reveal the following main points: ∙ A radon risk map (6) defined on the more precise scale of the municipality, and now including the overseas territories, was 6. Order of 27 June 2018 delimiting the radon potential zones on French territory. published in June 2018. It constitutes a tool common to all the management strategies, based on the division of the territory into three radon potential zones. ∙ The deployment of numerous communication campaigns on the radon risk and on the new regulatory provisions introduced into French law since 1 July 2018. More particularly, the local awareness raising operations for the public continued and information sessions were organised at national and local level for the various stakeholders: managers of buildings open to the public, risk prevention specialists, building trade professionals, organisations approved by ASN for measuring radon activity concentration. ∙ The gradual defining of good practices regarding prevention methods for new buildings and radon concentration reduction The 4th National Plan 2020-2024 for Radon Risk Management The 4th National Plan 2020-2024 for Radon Risk Management was published at the beginning of 2021. It fits into the framework of the 4th National Health and Environment Plan which now coordinates all the sector-based plans concerning health or the environment, which is itself driven by the National Public Health Strategy 2018‑2022, of which one action aims to reduce exposure to interior pollution. This action explicitly targets the effects of radon in the home: “ over and beyond the sanitary aspects, it is question of promoting a living environment that fosters health and of reducing the effects of exposure in the home (chemical pollution, radon, etc.) ". Following on from the preceding plans, it can be broken down into 13 actions focusing on three themes: Theme 1: Implement an information and awareness-raising strategy The health issue that radon represents requires continuation of the awareness-raising and information measures directed towards all the players (regional authorities, employers, building professionals, health professionals, teachers, etc.) and the general public, both nationally and locally, with the promotion and accompanying of regional measures for the integrated management of the radon risk in the home. A specific communication campaign shall target smokers, because they constitute the population the most at risk of developing lung cancer linked to cumulative exposure to radon and tobacco. The operational implementation of the information system incorporating all the radon monitoring results, as well as the consolidation and centralising of the existing measures, would appear to be essential for informing the public. These actions also fall within a regulatory framework which, for the home, is supplemented by measures to inform the public, particularly buyers and tenants. Correct implementation of these new regulatory provisions by the players concerned is one of the priority goals of the 4th Radon Plan. Theme 2: Continue to improve knowledge The publication in 2108 of a new map on the municipal scale, based on three radon potential zones, enabled a graded approach to radon risk management to be implemented. This map must nevertheless be improved so as to better integrate certain geological factors that could facilitate radon transfer to buildings (karst zones in particular). Furthermore, the 4th Radon Plan provides for the updating of knowledge of exposure of the French population by organising the collection of measurement data, particularly during the local awareness-raising operations. The initial aim will be, if possible, to orient the measurements taken during these public awareness- raising operations organised by the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) and the regional authorities so that they cover the areas where the data are insufficient. These operations consist in proposing screening kits to the inhabitants of a given region to raise their awareness of the radon risk. Assistance is then provided if the radon concentration in the interior air of the home exceeds the reference level. Several operations of this type are conducted each year in France. Theme 3: Better integrate management of the radon risk in buildings The building profession organisations are becoming increasingly aware of the potential health risks from radon. In order to help their members improve their level of expertise, they recently developed training courses dealing with methods to prevent and reduce concentration levels and various media to address the needs. The various French-language aids have been listed. To supplement the offer, a guide intended for professionals and private individuals will establish prevention recommendations for new constructions and radon concentration reduction measures in existing buildings. The progress made in understanding the effectiveness of construction standards in reducing radon concentrations in indoor air needs to be consolidated. A system of specific indicators, chosen according to their relevance and the available data allowing them to be monitored, has been put in place to evaluate the effectiveness of the national strategy implemented under the national action plan. The way the indicators evolve will be analysed each year by the steering committee that monitors the new action plan. Implementation of the national action plan will improve the way the general public and the stakeholders concerned are informed and enhance knowledge of radon exposure in the home and how it evolves. ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2020 115 01 – NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES: IONISING RADIATION AND HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS 01