ASN Report 2017

94 ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2017 Chapter 03  - Regulations optimisation process. The highest values given in the Euratom Directive are incorporated into the French legal framework: ཛྷ ཛྷ for emergency and post-accident situations, 100 mSv for exposure of the populations in a radiological emergency situation and 20 mSv the first year for management of the post-accident phase, with a gradual reduction in following years until 1 mSv/year is reached; ཛྷ ཛྷ for contaminated sites and soils, 1 mSv/year (excluding post-accident situation) and 300 Bq/m 3 for radon exposure. Public dose limits The effective annual dose limit (Article R.1333-11 of the Public Health Code) received by a member of the public as a result of nuclear activities is set at 1 mSv/year; the equivalent dose limits for the lens of the eye and for the skin are set at 15 mSv/year and 50 mSv/year respectively. These last limits have not been modified. The calculation method for the effective and equivalent dose rates and the methods used to estimate the dosimetric impact on a population are defined by the Ministerial Order of 1st September 2003. This Order will soon be modified to take account of the ICRP publication of new dose coefficients (ICRP 137, January 2018). Naturally occurring radioactivity The new regulations reinforced the attention given to the exposure of persons to naturally occurring radioactivity. The notion of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) was thus introduced. This notion covers all substances containing one or more radionuclides with a potassium-40 concentration greater than 10 kiloBecquerel (kBq)/kg or for which the concentrations of uranium-238 or thorium-232 and their radioactive decay products are in excess of 1 kBq/kg. Radioactivity in consumer goods and construction materials The addition of natural or artificial radionuclides, including by activation, in addition to those naturally present, in all consumer goods, foodstuffs and livestock feedstuffs is prohibited (Article R. 1333-2 of the Public Health Code). The principle of this ban does not therefore concern radionuclides naturally present in the initial components or in the additives used for the preparation of foodstuffs (for example potassium-40 in milk). The addition of artificial radionuclides and NORM is also prohibited in construction materials. In addition, the use of substances from a nuclear activity is also banned if they are contaminated or liable to be contaminated by radionuclides utilised or generated by the nuclear activity. This ban however makes provision for waivers which may be granted by the Minister responsible for Health after receiving the opinion of the French High Council for Public Health and ASN, except with respect to foodstuffs and materials placed in contact with them, livestock feedstuffs, cosmetic products, toys and personal ornaments. The Government Order of 5th May 2009 specifies the content of the waiver application file and the consumer information procedures stipulated in Article R. 1333-5 of the Public Health Code (see chapter 10). Further to a proposal from ASN, the French High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Security (HCTISN) set up a working group for the information and consultation procedures in the event of a request for waivers concerning the ban on the intentional addition of radionuclides in consumer goods or construction products. Radioactivity and the environment A National Network for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (RNM) was set up in 2002 (Article R. 1333-25 of the Public Health Code). A centralised system for collection of these measurements was implemented in 2009. The data collected must be used to help estimate the doses received by the population. The network’s orientations are defined by ASN and it is managed by IRSN (ASN resolution 2008-DC- 0099 of 29th April 2008, amended, on the organisation of a national network for the measurement of environmental radioactivity and setting the conditions for laboratory approval). To guarantee the quality of the measurements, the member laboratories of this network must meet approval criteria, which in particular include participation in inter- laboratory comparison tests. A detailed presentation of the RNM ( www.mesure-radioactivite.fr ) is given in chapter  4. The radiological quality of water intended for human consumption Pursuant to Article R. 1321-3 of the Public Health Code, water intended for human consumption is subject to radiological quality inspection. The conditions for these inspections are specified by the Order of 12th May 2004 as amended, setting the conditions for the control of the radiological quality of waters intended for human consumption. They form part of the sanitary monitoring carried out by the Regional Health Agencies. The Order of 11th January 2007, as amended, concerning the quality limits and references for raw water and water intended for human consumption introduces four indicators (total alpha and beta activities, tritium and total dose) for the radiological quality of these waters. With regard to the transposition of Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom of 22nd October 2013, which sets requirements for protecting the health of the population with respect to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption, the Order of 11th January 2007 was modified in 2015 by the Order of 9th December 2015 to introduce a quality reference for radon in groundwater. The Order of 9th December 2015 also sets procedures for measuring radon in water intended for human consumption, including packaged water, with the exception of natural mineral water, and in water used in a food company which does not come from the public mains supply, for the purposes of health checks pursuant to Articles R. 1321-10, R. 1321-15 and R. 1321-16 of the Public Health Code. The Order of 19th October 2017 concerning analysis methods used for the health checks on water regulates the use of analysis methods and sets detection limits for the various parameters measured.