Radon discovery in a house in Bessines-sur-Gartempe
Description
In March 2014, a control carried out in a house in Bessines-sur-Gartempe revealed very high levels of radon, in the order of 40 to 90 times those observed on average in the habitat in Haute-Vienne (Central France) with a potentially very significant health impact. A few surveys conducted around it have highlighted the presence of uranium ore processing residues, reused as embankments. According to the analyses, the origin of radon emanations is the presence of 'cyclone sands', a residue produced by the uranium processing plant operating in Bessines between 1958 and 1993. Documents show that there was no awareness that the radioactivity of these residues could be opposed to their use being trivialized. The regulation did not oppose it through legally binding provisions and other uses cannot be excluded. This conclusion is reinforced by the observation that some mining tailings could cause similar emanations. The plan engaged appears adapted, it should help identify the situations of concern. It would be useful to undertake a thorough screening operation that complies with normal radon detection protocols and involves a higher number of sites
Abstract (French)
En mars 2014, un controle effectue dans une maison de Bessines-sur-Gartempe a revele des teneurs en radon tres importantes, de l'ordre de 40 a 90 fois celles observees en moyenne dans l'habitat en Haute-Vienne avec un impact sanitaire potentiellement tres significatif. Quelques sondages faits autour de celle-ci ont mis en evidence la presence de residus de traitement de minerais d'uranium. Ce controle avait ete organise dans le cadre du plan d'action relatif a la gestion des anciennes mines d'uranium lance par l'Etat en 2009 qui vise notamment a repertorier les endroits ou des steriles issus de ces mines et marques radiologiquement ont ete reutilises comme remblais. Le rapport presente les conclusions de la mission sur les actions mises en place suite a ce controle. La mission a degage des orientations qui pourront etre precisees ou amendees lorsque les travaux de sondage sur le site auront ete realises. Selon les analyses de prelevements, l'origine des emanations de radon est la presence de 'sables cyclones', residus produits par l'usine de traitement d'uranium ayant fonctionne a Bessines entre 1958 et 1993. Des documents montrent qu'il n'y avait pas conscience que la radioactivite de ces residus pouvait s'opposer a ce qu'ils fassent l'objet d'un usage banalise. La reglementation ne s'y opposait pas a travers des dispositions juridiquement contraignantes et on ne peut exclure d'autres utilisations. Cette conclusion est renforcee par le constat que certains steriles miniers pourraient provoquer des emanations similaires. Le plan engage apparait adapte, il devrait permettre d'identifier les situations preoccupantes. Il serait utile d'engager une operation de depistage approfondie respectant les protocoles normaux de detection de radon et portant sur un nombre plus eleve de sites
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Additional details
Additional titles
- Original title (French)
- Decouverte de radon dans une maison a Bessines-sur-Gartempe
Publishing Information
- Imprint Pagination
- 46 p.
- Report number
- INIS-FR--20-0587
INIS
- Country of Publication
- France
- Country of Input or Organization
- France
- INIS RN
- 51038562
- Subject category
- S61: RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY; S11: NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; S12: MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES;
- Descriptors DEI
- ACTIVITY LEVELS; BUILDING MATERIALS; CONTAMINATION REGULATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; FRANCE; HISTORICAL ASPECTS; HOUSES; INVENTORIES; LEGAL ASPECTS; LEGISLATION; MINING LAWS; ORE PROCESSING; RADIATION DETECTION; RADIATION HAZARDS; RADIATION MONITORING; RADIATION PROTECTION; RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; RADIOACTIVITY; RADON; TAILINGS; URANIUM ORES
- Descriptors DEC
- BUILDINGS; DETECTION; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; ELEMENTS; EUROPE; FLUIDS; GASES; HAZARDS; HEALTH HAZARDS; LAWS; MANAGEMENT; MATERIALS; MONITORING; NONMETALS; ORES; PROCESSING; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RARE GASES; REGULATIONS; RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS; SOLID WASTES; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; WESTERN EUROPE
Optional Information
- Notes
- Available from the INIS Liaison Officer for France, see the INIS website for current contact and E-mail addresses
- Secondary number(s)
- CGEDD--009681-01