[en] Within the project on optimization of site recovery measures after nuclear accidents which is being sponsored by the Commission of European Communities (CEC), two different models have been developed: URBAPAT and AGROPAT. Both models are a more realistic approach to deposited radionuclides performance and resultant doses either via external exposure at urban areas and via food products from rural areas, than other current codes on analysis of effects. Those models could support the adoption of protection measures in the aftermath of a radioactive accident, (by using, for instance, cost/profit analysis techniques or multiatribute tools), in order to improve the existing situation and to obtain the best solution for individuals and society. Developed models are flexible enough to be adapted to different sites and include the possibility to make sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of all parameters, as well as to consider a wide variety of protection measures

[en] Published in summary form only

[en] Short communication

[en] Short communication

[en] Short communication

[en] The R+D program a radiological protection for the year 1992 has lied basically on three areas: I .- Radiological exposure of man II .- Radiation effects on man (evaluation, prevention and treatment) III.- Risks and management of radiation exposure

[en] In France, weekly, 250 nuclear medicine departments receive an average of 6560 GBq of unsealed sources of radionuclides. In vivo and in vitro uses result in few releases when radiopharmaceuticals are prepared, radioactive wastes and, for most administered activities, in dispersal by the patient into his environment. There are practically no direct gaseous effluents into the environment and liquid releases are very limited and occur after decay in storage vessels and regulatory control at the time of drainage. Constraints linked to the management and collection of long-lived radionuclides by ANDRA are subject to well established procedures. Most releases originate from patients, i.e. over 80% of the activities used in vivo for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Most radionuclides have short half-lives and belong to the low-toxicity class (⁹⁹mTc: 6 h, ¹³³Xe: 5.4 d, ²⁰¹T1: 3.4 d). Iodine 131 widely used for therapeutic purposes has a high radiotoxicity (class 2) and must be considered separately; when high activities are delivered - about 3.7 GBq - the patient is maintained in controlled area, mainly for urine collection, but he remains a source of releases after his exit. (authors). 8 refs., 7 tabs

[en] Ionizing radiation occurs naturally and ubiquitously, mainly as a result of decay of atoms with too few or too many neutrons in relation to their number of protons. The most common decay modes are alpha radiation (emission of helium nuclei to increase the proportion of neutrons), beta radiation (emission of electrons to decrease the proportion of neutrons), and gamma radiation (electromagnetic waves). X rays (also electromagnetic waves) are usually artificially induced. The activity of a source is measured in becquerel (1/s), the effective dose to a person is measured in sievert (J/kg). The average annual effective dose of, say, 5 mSv to a typical European consists of 1 mSv or so from natural background radiation, 1 or a few mSv from naturally occurring radon in dwellings, 1 mSv or 2 from medical uses of radiation, and a minute fraction of 1 mSv from other artificial uses of radiation, such as a nuclear power. (author). 10 refs., 7 figs., 1 tab

[en] The author analyses and compares the ecological consequences of the Kyshtym and Chernobyl nuclear accidents

[en] Radon is the main source of man's exposure to natural ionizing radiation. This document summarizes the general knowledge of the origin of radon 222 and its development in various air environments. It presents several methods for measuring radon activity concentration and the potential alpha energy from its short life daughters. It has been prepared by the commission M60-3, of the Office for the standardization of nuclear equipments (BNEN in French) under the French association for standardization (AFNOR in French). (author)