Since 2019, measurement of the radon content of tap water and bottled water has been compulsory. This new obligation was accompanied by an instruction drawn up in consultation with ASN and issued in 2018 to the Regional Health Agencies by the General Directorate for Health (DGS – Opinion 2018-AV-0302 of 6 March 2018 on radon management methods for the health quality 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 Public Access Buildings (PABs), were extended to certain workplaces 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/m3 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 10. Order of 26 February 2019 on the methods of managing radon in certain public access buildings and dissemination of information to the people frequenting these buildings. estate situated in areas where the radon potential could be the highest (zone 3). ∙In workplaces, the regulations have been extended to cover professional activities exercised on ground floor levels (only activities carried out in basements were concerned until now) and in certain specific workplaces. Whatever the radon potential zone in which the workplace is situated, radon must be considered in the risk assessment. If necessary, a measurement can be taken in this context, if there is a risk of reaching or exceeding the reference level of 300 Bq/m3. If the reference level is exceeded, the employer must take action to reduce the radon activity concentration. If the action turns out to be ineffective, the employer must identify, signal and verify the “radon zones” in which the concentration exceeds 300 Bq/m3, and implement radiation protection measures if necessary according to the level of exposure of the workers. ∙In some PABs, the radon management methods have been adjusted, more specifically with the inclusion of day-care facilities for children under six years of age and an obligation to inform the public by displaying the radon measurement results(10). The type of action to be taken if the reference level of 300 Bq/m3 is exceeded is graded according to the measurement results: corrective actions for radon concentration measurements between 300 and 1,000 Bq/m3, expert assessment and works if the corrective actions do not restore a radon concentration of less than or equal to the reference level or if the measurement results are greater than or equal to 1,000 Bq/m3. ASN issues the approvals to the organizations that measure radon in certain PABs. Fourteen approvals were issued in 2024, 11 of which were level 1 and 3 of level 2, bringing the total number to 72, with 15 level 2 approvals as at 1 September 2024. The list is available in the ASN Official Bulletin at asn.fr. The level-1 organisations take the measurements to evaluate the average annual concentration in the buildings. Four types of measurement can be taken: initial measurement, ten-yearly measurement, measurement to verify the effectiveness of corrective action or works, and measurement after works that significantly modify the ventilation or airtightness of the building. In 2023-2024, 1,181 level-1 measurements were declared, of which over 80% correspond to initial or ten-yearly measurements. If the reference level is exceeded, additional measurements – corresponding to level-2 approvals – can be taken. They are used to determine the radon sources and the entry and transfer pathways in the buildings. They provide additional data to support the expert assessment, particularly for buildings with a large surface area and complex substructures. Over the last five years, between 30 and 100 additional measurements have been taken out each year. DIAGRAM 4 Trend in the distribution of measurements after corrective actions and works per results bracket since 2016 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Results ≤ 300 Bq/m3 Results > 300 and < 1,000 Bq/m3 Results ≥ 1,000 Bq/m3 55 29 16 52 34 13 47 47 6 53 37 10 36 57 7 47 48 5 43 56 1 55 33 13 2022-2023 2023-2024 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-2017 DIAGRAM 3 Trend in the distribution of initial and ten-yearly measurements per results bracket since 2016 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Results ≤ 300 Bq/m3 Results > 300 and < 1,000 Bq/m3 Results ≥ 1,000 Bq/m3 72 23 6 68 26 5 83 15 3 80 17 2 85 13 2 81 16 3 83 15 3 73 22 5 2022-2023 2023-2024 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-2017 112 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 Nuclear activities: ionising radiation and health and environmental risks
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