Radiation protection in the proximity nuclear - Identification of activities and characterization of the radiological risk. Management elements for the Champagne-Ardenne region

To set up the inspection of the radioprotection of 'nearby nuclear' in the regions, the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Divisions (DSNR), entities of the French General Directorate for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (DGSNR), attach themselves to set up 'mapping missions' in their region. This is particularly the case of the DSNR Chalons en Champagne which began its identification of nearby nuclear activities in March 2004. This paper identifies the different ionizing radiation users and characterizes the various nuclear activities in the context of Champagne-Ardenne region. A qualitative study of the radiological risks, by family of activities, made it possible to show that the nearby nuclear industry, which mainly uses sealed sources or ionizing radiation electrical generators, presents a high risk of irradiation for the workers, while that for the medical activities, the radiation protection must take into account the superposition of the risks of irradiation and contamination. A reflection on health indicators was then undertaken showing that hierarchization of nearby nuclear activities could be established from dose rates or incorporation limit values in case of contamination. The dosimetric monitoring of workers by the IRSN appears as an effective means of estimating health risks: special attention must be paid to industrial radiography and nuclear medicine services in terms of radiation protection. Jointly, a reflection on radiological risk management was initiated, identifying the different local and national institutional actors dealing with radiation protection. Initial contacts have been established and some lines of cooperation with the DSNR have been set up, in the interests of 'administrative agreement' rather than a sharing of responsibilities for understanding radiological risks in their entirety