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Activities involving a risk of human exposure to ionizing radiation are known as nuclear activities. These activities are subject to declaration, registration or authorization under the Public Health Code by the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN).
In the industrial sector, they generally concern the use of X-ray generators (used in particular for quality control) and sealed or unsealed radioactive sources (food irradiation, gamma radiography, calibration, etc.).
Note: these activities may be governed by other regulations, including basic nuclear installations (INB) and installations classified for environmental protection (ICPE), notably headings 1700, 1716, 17.35 2797 and 2798. We will not deal with these regulations in this article.
Why the ASN?
TheINRS explains that " Radioactivity is a natural phenomenon linked to the instability of certain atoms that make up matter. These unstable atoms ( radionuclides) emit radiation which, by interacting with matter, can ionize it, i.e. strip it of one or more electrons. This radiation is known as ionizing radiation, and can cause effects on living matter. These effects may be deterministic (short-term tissue damage) or stochastic (random, increased risk of cancer in the long term)".
The aim of ASN regimes is to protect people and the environment from the risks associated with radioactivity.
Which activities are concerned?
The following nuclear activities are subject to declaration, registration or authorization, unless otherwise exempted:
For radioactive sources and products and devices containing them:
- Manufacturing;
- Use or possession ;
- Distribution, import from outside the European Union or export from the European Union.
For all types of particle gas pedals and electrical equipment emitting ionizing radiation (e.g. X-ray generators):
- Manufacturing;
- Use or possession of devices in working order or containing activated parts;
- Distribution, with the exception of CE-marked devices used for medical applications.
What are the exemptions?
Q = weighted sum of radionuclide activities present at any time in the place where the activity is carried out or the object of the activity, divided by the exemption limit value set out in the second column of Table 2 of Appendix 13-8.
Qm = weighted sum of the radionuclide mass activities of each homogeneous or related group of radionuclides present at any time in the place where the activity is carried out or the object of the activity, divided by the exemption limit value set out in Table 1 or in the third column of Table 2 of Annex 13-8 for each of these radionuclides.
The different ASN regimes
(*) an activity may also be subject to declaration if the weighted sum of radionuclide activity mass concentrations divided by the declaration limit value set in the fourth column of Table 2 of Appendix 13-8 of the French Public Health Code for each of these radionuclides is less than 1, and the activity is not exempt.
Conclusion
In addition, the person in charge of the nuclear activity must appoint a radiation protection advisor. This person assists in setting up the radiation protection organization.
Regulations governing exposure to ionizing radiation must also be taken into account: risk assessment, zoning, checks, etc.
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