RADIOACTIVITYIN OUR SURROUNDINGS
2.1

Design: ASN and IRSN Communications Departments - October 2021
Graphic design and production: www.kazoar.fr - Pictograms: Freepik, Kazoar - Photos: David Claval/Médiathèque IRSN, Arnaud Bouissou/MEDDE/Médiathèque IRSN (multimedia library)
Reproduction prohibited without the agreement of ASN/IRSN. For further information: contact@irsn.fr

RADIOACTIVITYIN OUR SURROUNDINGSWHERE DOES RADIOACTIVITY

COME FROM?

Even though radioactivity was only discovered a little
over a century ago, it has always been here! From thedawn of the Earth, to the production of radioactive
elements for medical examinations, its origins are
manifold.

NATURALRADIOACTIVITYTERRESTRIAL RADIOACTIVITYCOSMOGENIC RADIOACTIVITY

The rocks that make up the Earth have contained
numerous radioactive elements since its formation.
Granite, for example, is known to contain uranium.

Our planet is also constantly bombarded by solar andinterstellar particles, cosmic rays, which are responsible
for some of the radioactivity measured on the ground andwhich increases with altitude. Also, under the influence of thisradiation, the atoms making up the atmosphere give rise toradioactive elements.

Potassium-40, thorium, uranium
and its by-products (radon, etc.)

Tritium, carbon-14, beryllium-7, etc.

ARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITYDISCHARGES FROM FACILITIESMEDICAL WASTE

Nuclear facilities in operation produce
liquid and gaseous discharges. They are
subject to regulations and are monitoredby the authorities.

In the medical field, certain applications such as scintigraphy,
require the injection of short-lived radioactive substances into
the patient. Even if their radioactivity decreases rapidly, some of
it is released into the environment through urine. Radioactive
product manufacturing facilities also induce small-scale
discharges, which are regulated and controlled.

Tritium, carbon-14, noble gases (krypton,etc.), iodine, caesium, cobalt, etc.

Fluorine-18, iodine-131, etc.

THE LEGACY OF THE PASTATMOSPHERICNUCLEAR TESTING
Since the discovery of radioactivity,
its use has evolved with the developmentof its applications, both civil and military.
During the Cold War, a large number ofatmospheric nuclear tests projected many
radioactive elements at high altitude dueto the reactions that occurred during the
explosions.

Caesium-137, strontium-90,
plutonium-239 and plutonium-240
still visible today

ACCIDENTS

HISTORIC POLLUTION

Major nuclear accidents, such as
those at Chernobyl and Fukushima,
have also disseminated radioactive
elements over small or large
territories. The radioactive elements
contained within the facilities at thetime of the accident were no longer
confined and caused radioactive
pollution.

Finally, industries that used or
produced radioactive substances(watchmaking, production of radium
objects, etc.) may have also caused
pollution, particularly in the first halfof the 20th century, on or near theirsites, which is still visible today.

Caesium-137 still visible
in France

2.2

Radium still present
today

Design: ASN and IRSN Communications Departments - October 2021
Graphic design and production: www.kazoar.fr - Pictograms: Freepik, Kazoar
Photos: Gérard Bouchez/Médiathèque IRSN, Scott Kelly/NASA, David Claval/Médiathèque IRSN, Jacques-Antoine Maisonobe/AP-HP, United States Department of Energy, Tim Porter, Noak/Le bar Floréal/ Médiathèque IRSN
Reproduction prohibited without the agreement of ASN/IRSN. For further information: contact@irsn.fr

RADIOACTIVITYIN OUR SURROUNDINGSRADIOACTIVITYIN THE AIR

Our atmosphere is penetrated by natural radiationfrom the ground and from space. Artificial radioactive
elements resulting from human activities are alsopresent.

NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY 
IN THE AIR

THE HIGHER YOU GO,
THE LESS PROTECTION
YOU HAVE AGAINST COSMIC
RADIATION.
When we fly, we are more exposed toradiation from space. A flight from
Paris to New York is roughly equivalent
to the dose of radioactivity received
during a panoramic dental X-ray. This is
not a very high dose of radiation, but it
can start to count when you travel veryfrequently, which is why flight crews
are monitored for exposure.

We are constantly receiving cosmic radiation from the far reaches of theuniverse. Tens of thousands of particles hit every square metre of the Earthevery second. When they come into contact with our atmosphere, these
cosmic rays and particles are responsible for the formation of radioactive
elements such as tritium, beryllium-7 and carbon-14.

COSMIC DOSE
Cosmic radiation accounts
for 15-20% of the doseof natural radioactivity
that each of us receives.
This represents
0.3 to 0.5 mSv/year.

EVALUATEYOUR DOSE
Scan the following QR codeand estimate the dose you will
receive on your next flight.
RADON
The uranium naturally present in rocks produces
radon, a radioactive gas that escapes into the air.
Granitic soils are the most affected, as in the
French regions of Brittany and Limousin.

ARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITYIN THE AIR
Between 1945 and 1980, more than 500 nuclear tests werecarried out in the atmosphere. The radioactive elements releasedby the explosions remained a few hours to several months in theatmosphere before falling back to earth.
Nuclear facilities also release radioactive elements into the airsuch as tritium, carbon-14 and iodine-131.

Doses due toatmospheric nuclear
testing
The concentrations of radioactive
elements in the air were at their highest
in 1963, leading to the largest radioactive
deposits, as well as significant
contamination of the food chain,
particularly by caesium-137 andstrontium-90.
In France, the average dose received by
the population that year was of the sameorder of magnitude as that of 1986, due
to fallout from Chernobyl, i.e. 0.3 mSv.

MONITORING RADIOACTIVITY 
IN THE AIR
Gaseous discharges from nuclear facilities are monitored by their operators, under thesupervision of ASN to ensure compliance with regulatory values. The impact of thesedischarges on the environment is assessed by the operators and IRSN.
Several systems exist for air monitoring: the IRSN Teleray network measures ambient
radioactivity, whereas the IRSN Opera-Air network collects aerosol particles on filters toanalyse the radionuclides present in the air.
It can detect minute traces of radioactivity, a few tens of nBq/m3 of air,i.e. just a few disintegrations in more than 100,000,000 m3 of air!
Other radioactive elements may be present in the form of gases, such as tritiumor carbon-14. Specific systems called "bubblers" or "passive samplers" are used.
Most OPERA-Air stations include iodine sampling devices on activated charcoal
cartridges, which would be used in case of a nuclear accident for example.

CONTINUOUS
MEASUREMENTS
Ambient dose rate iscontinuously measured by IRSN
using more than 400 Telerayprobes. The Teleray network
produces tens of millions ofmeasurements every year.

Map of the OPERA-Air network

Map of the Téléray network

2.3

Design: ASN and IRSN Communications Departments - October 2021
Graphic design and production: www.kazoar.fr - Pictograms: Freepik, Kazoar - Illustration: La-ƒabrique-créative - Photos/cards: IRSN
Reproduction prohibited without the agreement of ASN/IRSN. For further information: contact@irsn.fr

RADIOACTIVITYIN OUR SURROUNDINGSRADIOACTIVITYIN SOIL

From the early days of the Earth, soil has beennaturally rich in radioactive elements. Since the20th century, mankind has added a proportionof artificial radioactivity.

NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY 
IN SOIL
Many radioactive elements such as potassium, uranium, radium, and thorium are present in the earth's
crust. Their concentration varies according to the nature of the soil. Radioactivity is therefore 5 to20 times higher in granitic soils than in other soils.

ARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITY 
IN SOIL
During normal operation, nuclear facilities release very small quantities of radioactive elements into theair. These are deposited on soils and plants and are absorbed by them.
The artificial nuclides present in the soils of mainland France today essentially originate from fallout due
to nuclear tests conducted in the northern hemisphere and the Chernobyl accident.

Rain transfers radioactive
elements from the air into the soil.

Some rocks containuranium, thorium andradium, and radon gas
escapes from them.

Plants absorb radioactive elementsfrom the soil through their roots.

MONITORING RADIOACTIVITYIN SOIL
Monitoring radioactivity in the terrestrial environment is essentiallybased on sampling. To measure recently deposited radioactive
elements, the soil surface is sampled. To determine how they havemigrated over time, core samples are taken. They provide
information about the history of the soil, going back decades,
depending on the depth of the sample.
Other methods allow gamma rays emitted by the soil to bemeasured directly, without prior sampling: this is known as in situ
gamma spectrometry. Although less effective than laboratory
analysis, it can quickly provide valuable information about theradioactive elements present.

Example of a soil core sample.

Plants thatgrow in the groundare also valuable indicators,
as they draw the elements
they need to grow from the soil.
Root vegetables such as potatoes,
beetroot and onions will captureradioactive elements, both naturaland artificial, present in the soil.
In situ gamma spectrometry
measurements near the Saint-Alban
nuclear power plant.

2.4

Their analysis will provide information
about the cultivated soil.

Design: ASN and IRSN Communications Departments - October 2021
Graphic design and production: www.kazoar.fr - Pictograms: Freepik, Kazoar - Illustrations: La-ƒabrique-créative, B2 infographie - Photos: Maxime Morin/IRSN, Martial Chevreuil/Médiathèque IRSN
Reproduction prohibited without the agreement of ASN/IRSN. For further information: contact@irsn.fr

RADIOACTIVITYIN OUR SURROUNDINGSRADIOACTIVITYIN WATER

Water contains radioactive elements not only
from the earth, but also from the atmosphere.
It also reflects human activities involving
radioactivity.

NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY 
IN WATERARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITYIN WATER

Water naturally contains radioactive elements,
some of which come from the ground throughwhich it flows. These elements will end up in
groundwater and rivers.

During normal operation, nuclear power plants
release radioactive elements in liquid form, which
can find their way into rivers and the sea, andthen into living aquatic organisms.

Mineral water drawn from granitic soil may
contain potassium-40, radon or dissolved
uranium, and is therefore naturally moreradioactive than surface water.

Water also contains radioactive elements derived
from fallout due to nuclear testing and theChernobyl accident.
The total activity of seawater due to radioactive
elements is around 14 Bq/L. It is 90% due to thepotassium-40 naturally present in water. Theseradioactive elements can become concentrated
in seafood.

Seawater is also naturally radioactive: it contains
tritium and polonium, which are absorbed by fish,shellfish and crustaceans.

MONITORING RADIOACTIVITYIN WATER
Like gaseous emissions, discharges from nuclear facilities
are subject to threshold values set by ASN. Their impact
on the environment is also measured and monitored by
the operators and by IRSN.
In addition to the Hydrotéléray system, which measures
radioactivity in rivers, water samplers take high-frequency
samples of water downstream of nuclear sites and in the
discharge channels of nuclear power plants on the coast to
determine the radionuclides present in greater detail.

Sampling in the Lauzon,
south of the Tricastin site.

IRSN's facilities are also equipped with tanks for settlingsuspended matter in water, making it possible to analyse
the radionuclides present in these particles transported by
the current.
Manual sampling of water and sediment in river beds iscarried out. The latter, which result from the gradualdeposition of matter, are therefore representative of theradioactivity accumulated over time.
Aquatic flora and fauna are also monitored. Fish, molluscs,
algae and even plants absorb radioactivity, both naturaland artificial, throughout their lives. Taking and measuring
samples therefore provides valuable information, not only
about the different stages in the food chain, but also moregenerally about the radioactive elements present.

CONTINUOUS
MEASUREMENTS
Ambient radioactivity
in rivers is measured
continuously using
automatic detectors.
Seven Hydrotéléray stations
are dedicated to thecontinuous monitoring ofrivers downstream ofnuclear facilities.

DEBATESUBMERSIONOF RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Since 1946, many countries have dumped their waste into
the oceans. In Europe, the UK and Belgium have submerged
them in the Casquets trench north-west of Cap de La
Hague, and France in the open sea off Galicia and Brittany.
The submersion of radioactive waste in the seabed had
been considered safe by the scientific community. The
dilution and presumed duration of isolation provided by
the marine environment seemed sufficient.

Hydro-collector

The dumping of waste at sea is now prohibited under the
London Protocol, signed in 1996 and ratified in 2006 by
30 countries, including France.
France stopped dumping waste after 1969. It has built
storage and disposal centres on land.

2.5

Design: ASN and IRSN Communications Departments - October 2021
Graphic design and production: www.kazoar.fr - Pictograms: Freepik, Kazoar - Illustration: La-ƒabrique-créative - Photos: Noak/Le bar Floréal/ Médiathèque IRSN, Arnaud Bouissou/MEDDE/Médiathèque IRSN
Reproduction prohibited without the agreement of ASN/IRSN. For further information: contact@irsn.fr

RADIOACTIVITYIN OUR SURROUNDINGSFROM THEENVIRONMENT 

TO THE TABLE

Animals and plants draw their resources fromair, water and soil. Radioactive elements arethus found throughout the food chain.

NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY 
IN FOOD
Foodstuffs are naturally radioactive because they contain numerous
radionuclides, including potassium-40, carbon-14, or polonium-210.
One kilogram of potatoes, for example, contains around 130 Bq ofpotassium-40.

THE AVERAGE
DIET-RELATED
DOSE
is estimatedat 0.55 mSv/year.

Water, which naturally contains tritium or traces of uranium, is alsoradioactive.

Natural cosmogenic
radioactivity

Liquid releases

AtmosphericreleasesNatural terrestrial
radioactivity

Soil transfer

Rainfall-related
fallout

Irrigation

Transfer toplant roots

Transfer tomilk andmeat

External
exposurethrough airborne
elements

Internal exposure
by inhalation

ARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITYIN FOOD
Discharges from nuclear facilities during normal operation
are extremely low. The radioactive elements produced arelikely to be transferred to plants, and therefore to animals
and humans.

Internal exposure
by ingestion

MONITORING RADIOACTIVITYIN FOODSTUFFSRadiological monitoring takes into account discharges from nuclear facilities,
but also local and seasonal food production.
The operator monitoring program is required to integrate the radioactivity
analysis of local foodstuffs around the facilities.
At the national level, various bodies are involved in monitoring radioactivity infood: the Directorate-General for Food (DGAL), the Directorate-General for
Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) and IRSN,
with a joint national agreement between these three bodies.

REGULATEDDRINKING WATER
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimatesthat the total indicative dose per capita fromdrinking water should not exceed 0.1 mSv/year,
based on a consumption of 2 litres per day.
A number of water quality criteria and limits havebeen set. For example, water intended for humanconsumption must not contain more than
10,000 Bq/L of tritium.
In 2013, an IRSN study provided a comprehensive
overview of the radiological quality of bottled
water produced in France. Of the 75 springwaters and 67 mineral waters analysed,
6 exceeded the recommended threshold of
0.1 mSv/year for total indicative dose (TID).

2.6

Radiological quality assessment
Take a look at the radiologicalquality report on mineral waters
marketed in France by scanningthe following QR Code.

Design: ASN and IRSN Communications Departments - October 2021
Graphic design and production: www.kazoar.fr - Pictograms: Freepik, Kazoar - Illustrations: La-ƒabrique-créative/Bruno Bourgeois - Photos: Arnaud Bouissou/MEDDE/Médiathèque IRSN, rawpixel.com/Freepik
Reproduction prohibited without the agreement of ASN/IRSN. For further information: contact@irsn.fr

RADIOACTIVITYIN OUR SURROUNDINGSLEARN MOREABOUT RADIOACTIVITYAROUND YOU

Many different actors carry out radioactivity
measurements in the French environment: nuclear
facility operators, government departments, IRSN
and NGOs. ASN has set up the Réseau national demesures de la radioactivité de l'environnement(RNM - National network for environmental
radioactivity measurements), which centralises
all the data, ensures its quality and harmonisation,and makes it available via an Internet interface.

WHAT
MEASUREMENTS?
Nuclear operators are required to transmit and makeavailable to the public all the results of the regulatoryenvironmental monitoring they carry out around theirfacilities.
IRSN also transmits all the results obtained as part ofits national radiological monitoring.
Generally speaking, any data producer can send theresults of its environmental radioactivity analyses to
the RNM if it has the required ASN approval.

ARE THESE MEASUREMENTS
RELIABLE?
An ASN approval procedure ensures that the datatransmitted to the RNM complies with a high quality
standard. It includes compliance with international
standards and participation in comparisons between
laboratories organised by IRSN, and is also based on
inspections of the laboratories.

HOW CAN I ACCESS
DATA?
All data is available online at www.mesure-radioactivite.fr.
Understanding radioactivity is not always easy at first.
The data is therefore accompanied by graphics andexplanations to contextualise and enrich the measurement
results, making them easier to interpret and understand.

RADIOACTIVITY
NEAR ME
Since 2010, the www.mesure-radioactivite.fr
website has hosted the 300,000 measurements
taken each year in France in different environments(air, water, soil, fauna and flora) and in foodproducts to make them accessible to everyone, incomplete transparency.
You can consult statistical data for a departement
or around a nuclear site: number and type ofsamples and measurements (air, water, food, etc.),
local monitoring players. All the results are
displayed on a map, with the option of geolocation.
An expert mode gives you access to a wide rangeof filters, making it easy to obtain the information
you need by selecting multiple criteria.

2.7

Design: ASN and IRSN Communications Departments - October 2021
Graphic design and production: www.kazoar.fr - Pictograms: Freepik, Kazoar - Photos: www.mesure-radioactivite.fr, Freepik
Reproduction prohibited without the agreement of ASN/IRSN. For further information: contact@irsn.fr