the unjustified irradiation of people who could be hiding in these vehicles (see point 3.3.1). However, despite these precautions, the customs services regularly notify ASN of events relating to the exposure of people hidden in checked vehicles. Although this exposure is unjustified, it nevertheless remains extremely low with effective doses of just a few microsieverts per person. 3.4 Research activities involving unsealed radioactive sources 3.4.1 The devices used In the research sector, as at 31 December 2022, ASN counted 565 licenses and about 70 registrations issued under the Public Health Code, of which nearly 90% are issued to public or mixed (public/private) entities. The number of licenses is constantly decreasing, essentially due to the replacement of ionising radiation sources by alternative technologies that do not use ionising properties, but also to the changes in the system introduced in the last few years. Since 2019, certain nuclear activities have switched from the licensing system to the notification system (see point 2.4.2) and, since July 2021, other activities are now subject to the registration system (see point 2.4.3). This new system addresses in particular the possession/use of unsealed source which until then were governed solely by the licensing system. The complete transitions of research laboratories from the licensing system to the registration system will continue over the coming years, particularly for the laboratories that reduce the quantities of radionuclides handled. These facilities and laboratories use mainly unsealed sources for medical and biomedical research, molecular biology, the agrifood business, the sciences of matter and materials, etc. They can also be 2. Among these inspections, nine focused exclusively on the use of sealed radioactive sources or X‑ray emitting devices. 3. There was a significant rise in the number of inspections between 2020 and 2021 due to the postponing to 2021 of inspections that could not be held in 2020 because of the Covid‑19 pandemic. suppliers of unsealed sources. They also use sealed sources for performing gas-phase chromatography, liquid scintillation counting or in irradiators. X‑ray generators are also used for X‑ray fluorescence or X‑ray diffraction spectrum analysis. Particle accelerators are used for research into matter or for the production of radionuclides. 3.4.2 The radiation protection situation In 2022, ASN carried out 43 inspections in this sector(2) (compared with 51 inspections per year on average over the 2020‑2022 period(3)). Broadly speaking, the actions undertaken over the last few years have brought improvements in the implementation of radiation protection within research laboratories thanks to a growing overall awareness of the radiation exposure risks. Among the areas of progress observed in 2022, ASN underlines the strong involvement of the RPAs due in particular to the allocation of dedicated means and their interaction with the research teams, thereby allowing better integration of radiation protection. On the other hand, ASN has identified areas for progress that will receive particular attention in future inspections, particularly in the conditions of interim storage of radioactive waste and in the performance and traceability of the inspections before final waste removal. The inspections in 2022 also highlighted the need for the licensees to comply more strictly with the stipulations of their licences, particularly regarding the maximum activity held. The maximum activity is sometimes exceeded, due either to the discovery of “legacy” radioactive sources which add to those whose possession is effectively authorised, or because the inventory of sources held on the sites is incomplete. GRAPH Breakdown of particle accelerators by end-purpose in 2022 10 0 5 10 15 20 25 Number of licensees 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 5 12 2 2 4 24 Neutron analysis Irradiation Other Surface treatment (including polymer cross-linking) Measuring instrument calibration Veterinary radiotherapy Ion implantation Logging Sterilisation Security inspection Design of accelerators with a view to selling them Non-destructive inspection Scientific research 258 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2022 • 08 • Sources of ionising radiation and their industrial, veterinary and research applications 08
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