[en] This news is based on the following article: Jephcote C, Brown D, Verbeek T, Mah A. 'A systematic review and meta-analysis of haematological malignancies in residents living near petrochemical facilities', Environmental Health 2020; 19, 53; doi: 10.1186/s12940-020-00582-1. Petrochemical industries are significant pollutant emitters. Associations with blood disorders in workers in these industries have been observed for even low-dose exposures to some of these pollutants, and people living close to petrochemical plants may be affected. This article is a systematic review of the epidemiological literature, followed by a meta-analysis, to assess the potential excess risk of the onset of hematologic neoplasms near these sites. (author)

[en] Introduction: Radon is a natural radioactive gas, classified as a lung carcinogen to humans. Radon constitutes the major contribution of the exposure of the French population to ionizing radiation, before the medical one. This study aims to evaluate the radon levels within French dwellings and their determinants based on a representative sample of the French dwellings. This work is complementary to that carried out by IRSN from measurement campaigns of indoor radon. Materials and methods: The dwelling characteristics and indoor concentrations of pollutants, including radon, were collected between 2003 and 2005 during the campaign conducted by the 'Observatoire de la qualite de l'air interieur' of a representative sample of principal residences in mainland France. A generalized linear regression model was used to determine the factors affecting radon levels measured inside dwellings. The analysis was performed taking into account the sampling design and seasonal correction factor. Results: The arithmetic mean of the radon concentration was of 61 Bq.m^-3 [95% CI: 50, 71] and the geometric mean of 37 Bq.m^-3 [95% CI: 33, 41]. Determinants significantly associated with the indoor radon levels were: the sub soil geology, the presence of a heating or air conditioning system, the floor, the presence of a fireplace and the nature of the building material. The regression model explained 40% of variability in indoor radon levels. A significant correlation was also observed between indoor radon levels and dose rate of gamma radiation (r=0.22). Conclusion: This study allows a better characterisation of the determinants of indoor radon levels in France. These results are in overall concordance with findings from other studies. (authors)

[en] The French Society of Radiation Protection (SFRP) celebrated its 50 anniversary at the occasion of the 10. national radiation protection (RP) congress. This document brings together the abstracts of the different talks given at the congress. A - Invited talks: A1 - Forward through the rearview mirror: Reflections on ICRP Past and Future (C. COUSINS); A3 - Origin and evolution of the intervening parties involvement approach in RP (J. LOCHARD); A4 - Knowledge influence and biological uncertainties on RP evolution (R. MASSE); A5 - RP history in nuclear industry: EDF an anticipation example (L. STRICKER); B - Tutorial presentations: B1 - Environment RP: towards its explicit integration in French law? (K. BEAUGELIN-SEILLER, J. GARNIER-LAPLACE); B2 - Scanner exposure in child and radio-induced risk: recent epidemiological results (M.O. BERNIER); B3 - Ionizing radiations professional exposure dose measurement: goals and evolutions (A. BIAU, J.M. BORDY); B4 - Workers RP at dismantling sites (B. BOUSSETTA, L. VAILLANT); B5 - Environment RP (part 2): EDF's methodology and experience feedback (C. BOYER, G. GONTIER, P.Y. HEMIDY); B6 - Revision of SCENIHR's 2009 opinion about the potential health impact of electromagnetic fields, from the 2011 European inaugural meeting to its 2015 publication (P. HARTEMANN); B8 - Advances in low dose epidemiological knowledge (D. LAURIER); B9 - Use of ionizing radiations at the operating theatre: what RP issues? (P. MENECHAL, S. MOUGNIOT); Session 1: RP regulations and standards, RP and society (6 presentations); Session 2: effects of Ionizing radiations on men and ecosystems (6 presentations); Session 3: patients RP (7 presentations); Session 4: Populations and ecosystems RP (4 presentations); Session 5: Occupational RP - Industry (8 presentations); Session 6: non-ionizing radiations (5 presentations); Session 7: Occupational RP - Medical (6 presentations); Session 8: Advances in dosimetry and metrology (4 presentations)