In 2021, ASNcarried out 36 inspections, comprising 2 inspections in the facilities of the company Ionisos (Pouzauges and Sablé‑sur-Sarthe), 2 inspections of approved organisations, 2 in the transport of radioactive substances and 30 in smallscale nuclear activities (16 in the medical sector and 14 in the industrial, research and veterinary sectors). One significant event in the industrial sectorwas rated level 1 on the INES scale in 2021. Ionisos irradiator The company Ionisos operates two industrial ionisation installations on the sites of Pouzauges (Vendée département) and Sablé‑sur‑Sarthe (Sarthe département). These installations constitute BNIs 146 and 154 respectively. The gamma radiation emitted is used to sterilise, destroy pathogenic germs or reinforce (by cross-linking) the technical properties of certain polymers, by exposing the products to be ionised (single-use medical equipment, packaging, raw materials and f inished productions for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, packing films) for a pre-determined length of time. Each installation comprises a pool for underwater storage of the radioactive sources, surmounted by a bunker in which the ionisation operations are performed, premises for storing the products before and after treatment, and offices and technical rooms. ASN considers that the operation of the Pouzauges and Sablésur-Sarthe irradiators is generally satisfactory with regard to nuclear safety and radiation protection, with improvements in waste management and the integration of operating experience feedback. Improvements must nevertheless be made in the management of modif ications, the management of emergency situations and operating rigour. Two modifications of the Pouzauges facility were authorised in 2021, concerning the extension of the facility and the installation of equipment and provisions for checking the integrity of radioactive sources. The Nantes division regulates nuclear safety, radiation protection and the transport of radioactive substances in the 5 départements of the Pays de la Loire region. Pays de la Loire Region THE INSTALLATIONS AND ACTIVITIES TO REGULATE COMPRISE: ཛྷ Basic Nuclear Installations: • the Ionisos irradiator in Pouzauges, • the Ionisos irradiator in Sablé-sur-Sarthe; ཛྷ small-scale nuclear activities in the medical sector: • 7 external-beam radiotherapy departments, • 2 brachytherapy units, • 11 nuclear medicine departments, • 40 centres performing fluoroscopy-guided interventional practices, • 55 computed tomography scanners, • some 2,500 medical and dental radiology devices; ཛྷ small-scale nuclear activities in the veterinary, industrial and research sectors: • 1 cyclotron, • 26 industrial radiography companies, including 10 performing gamma radiography, • 20 research units, • about 400 users of industrial equipment; ཛྷ activities associated with the transport of radioactive substances; ཛྷ ASN-approved laboratories and organisations: • 9 organisations approved for measuring radon, • 1 head-off ice of a laboratory approved for environmental radioactivity measurements. ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2021 89 REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION PAYS DE LA LOIRE
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