For the population, the estimated radiological impact linked to radioactive discharges from nuclear medicine units and research laboratories into the sewerage systems would appear to be below 300 microsieverts per year (μSv/year) in all the studies, even in worst-case scenarios considering all the radionuclides detected in the sanitation systems. This impact is estimated to be lower than 1 μSv/year when the radionuclides used in nuclear medicine are not taken into account, with realistic hypotheses (IRSN data). The radiological impact of BNIs In accordance with the optimisation principle, the licensee must reduce the radiological impact of its facility to values that are as low as possible under economically acceptable conditions. The licensee is required to assess the dosimetric impact of its activity. As applicable, this obligation is the result of Article L. 1333-8 of the Public Health Code, or the regulations concerning BNI discharges (article 5.3.2 of ASN resolution 2013-DC-0360 of 16 July 2013, amended, concerning control of detrimental effects and the impact of BNIs on health and the environment). The result is to be assessed considering the allowable annual dose limit for the public (1 millisievert per year – mSv/year) defined in Article R. 1333-11 of the Public Health Code, which corresponds to the sum of effective doses received by the public as a result of nuclear activities. In practice, only traces of artificial radioactivity are detectable in the vicinity of the nuclear facilities; most measurements taken during routine surveillance are below the decision threshold or reflect the natural radioactivity. As these measurements cannot be used for dose estimations, models for the transfer of radioactivity to humans must be used, on the basis of measurements of discharges from the installation. These models are specific to each licensee and are detailed in the facility’s impact assessment. During its assessment, ASN devotes efforts to verifying that these models are conservative, in order to ensure that the impact assessments are not underestimated. In addition to the impact assessments produced on the basis of discharges from the facilities, the licensees are required to carry out environmental radioactivity monitoring programmes (aquatic environments, air, earth, milk, grass, agricultural produce, etc.), more specifically to verify compliance with the hypotheses used in the impact assessment and to monitor changes in the radioactivity level in the various compartments of the environment around the facilities (see point 4.1.1). The doses from BNIs for a given year are estimated on the basis of the actual discharges from each installation accounted for the year in question. This assessment takes account of discharges from the identified outlets (stack, river or sea discharge pipe), the diffuse emissions not channelled to the outlets (for example tank vent) and the sources of radiological exposure to ionising radiation present in the installation. In accordance with the provision of Articles R. 1333-23 and R. 1333-24 of the Public Health Code, the estimation is calculated for a “person representative” of the persons most exposed within the population, except for those with extreme or rare habits and according to scenarios that are as realistic as possible. These scenarios take account of parameters specific to each site: distance from the site, meteorological data, etc. The differences observed from one site to another and from one year to another can to a large extent be explained by the use of these specific parameters. The Table entitled “Radiological impact of BNIs since 2017” in chapter 1 presents an assessment of the doses due to BNIs calculated by the licensees. For each of the nuclear sites presented, the radiological impact remains far below, or at most represents about 1% of the limit for the public, this limit being 1 mSv/year. Therefore in France, the discharges produced by the nuclear industry have an extremely small radiological impact. 4.1.3 Monitoring within the European framework Article 35 of the EURATOM Treaty requires that the Member States establish the facilities needed to carry out continuous monitoring of the level of radioactivity in the air, water and soil and to ensure compliance with the basic standards of health protection for the general public and workers against the hazards of ionising radiation. All Member States, whether or not they have nuclear facilities, are therefore required to implement environmental monitoring arrangements throughout their territory. Article 35 also states that the European Commission (EC) may access the monitoring facilities to verify their operation and their effectiveness. During its verifications, it gives an opinion on the means implemented by the member states to monitor radioactive discharges into the environment and the levels of radioactivity in the environment around nuclear sites and over the national territory. It notably gives its assessment of the monitoring equipment and methodologies used and of the organisational setup. Since 1994, the EC has carried out about ten verification visits to different types of nuclear facilities in France (NPPs, “fuel cycle” plants, research centres, former uranium mines). 4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING 4.2.1 The French National Network for Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring In France, many parties are involved in environmental radioactivity monitoring: ∙ the nuclear facility licensees, who perform monitoring around their sites; ∙ ASN, IRSN (whose duties as defined by Decree 2016-283 of 10 March 2016 include participation in radiological monitoring of the environment), the Ministries (General Directorate for Health, General Directorate for Food, General Directorate for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud control, etc.), the services of the State and other public players carrying out monitoring duties across the national territory or in particular sectors (foodstuffs controlled by the General Directorate for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud control, for example); ∙ the approved air quality monitoring associations (local authorities), environmental protection associations and Local Information Committees (CLIs). The French National Network of Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring (RNM) brings all these players together. Its primary aim is to collect and make available to the public all the regulation environmental measurements taken on French territory, by means of a dedicated website (mesure-radioactivite.fr). The quality of these measurements is guaranteed by a laboratories approval procedure (see point 4.3). 160 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023 • 03 • Regulation of nuclear activities and exposure to ionising radiation
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