Final storage of radioactive waste and radiological protection

For operational effectiveness, ICRP built a dosimetric system based on the additivity of the effects whatever are the nature of the radiation and the origin of the exposure, external or internal. This system fulfilled the assigned role; the assessment of the protection against radiation is good. Today, the challenge to overcome with regard of the nuclear energy is to make the demonstration that the management of disposed wastes in geological formations will be without risk to the future generations. The scenario considered is related to the return towards the biosphere and an internal contamination by ingestion of long-lived radionuclides. Is the current radiological protection system adapted to this situation? What means irradiation alpha? What does one really know in dosimetric and risk terms for the chronicity of internal exposures? As many questions for which we always do not have the answer and that it is thus necessary to consider at the time when one recommends a dialogue with the stakeholders and that recent scientific observations call into question many certainties. New research programmes in radio toxicology appear absolutely necessary to answer these legitimate questions. The example of the step of pharmaceutical industry for obtaining the marketing authorizations of the drugs is to be meditated. (author)