I N F O R M A T I O N
F16.v1

EFFECTS ON HEALTH

Mean doses received by
the French population fromthe Chernobyl accident were low
In the most affected area in the east of France, the annual individual dose due to the fallout
from the accident fell from nearly 1 mSv in 1986 to 0.01 mSv in 2006. In 1986, the dose wasmainly related to the ingestion of contaminated foodstuffs. But from 1987 onwards, it wasexposure to radiation from deposition which was the key contributing factor.

CONTAMINATED AIR, SOIL AND FOODSTUFFS ARE THE THREE SOURCESOF EXPOSURE TO RADIATION■ From26 April, the population of mostof Europe was exposed to fallout from theChernobyl accident. Initial exposure wasfrom radioactive dust contained in theair (external exposure to air radiation andinternal exposure due to inhalation). Thesechannels of exposure gradually disappearedas the masses of air were renewed and thevery short-lived contaminants disappeared.
■ The population was then exposed to theradiation from radioactive deposition in soiland plants (external exposure to deposition
radiation), and to contamination in the foodchain resulting from this (internal exposure
through ingestion). While these two exposure
channels have signiﬁcantly diminished overthe years, they continue to persist due tocaesium 137’s long half-life (30 years).

Radiation exposure channels

External exposure
to air radiation
Internal exposure
after inhalationand ingestion ofcontaminated elements

External exposure
to deposition
radiation

THE QUANTITY OR «DOSE» OF RADIATION RECEIVED
IS USED TO ASSESS EFFECTS ON HEALTHHigh doses have systematic and immediate
consequences on health. They are expressedin grays (Gy). The lowest doses have random
and more long-term effects on health.

They are expressed in millisievert (mSv).
In France, the mean doses from fallout fromthe Chernobyl accident were low and thus
expressed in mSv.

CONTACTEnvironment and Response
Division
Philippe Renaud
Tel. +33 (0)4 42 19 96 60
philippe.renaud@irsn.fr

www.irsn.org

AFTERMATH

OFTHE

CHERNOBYL

ACCIDENTIN

FRANCE

I N F O R M A T I O NTHE DOSE FROM FALLOUT FROM THE ACCIDENT FELL FROM
1 TO 0.01 MSV/YR IN 20 YEARS, IN THE WORST AFFECTEDAREA IN THE EAST OF FRANCETotal whole-body dosemSv/yr(Bq/m2)

2,4 mSv/yr : exposure
to natural radioactivity (source: UNSCEAR)

101

40,000The colour graduation represents
the range of doses, from the worst affectedarea to the least affected area.
20,0000.1
0.01

10,000

0.001

t

0

20

2006

01

619
919
819
96

1

5,000

Map of France showing caesium 137
deposition in May 1986
mSv/yr

2,4 mSv/yr : exposure
to natural radioactivity (source: UNSCEAR)101

The colour graduation represents
the range of doses, from the worst affected2,4 mSv/yr:
exposure■ In 1986,area
thetomeandoses
received
the least
affectedarea. by people living in the east of the country rose to nearly 1
to natural radioactivity (source: UNSCEAR)

mSv/yr0.1
100.0110.001
0.1

20

20

19
906

01

6106

20

19
9t

2001

61
19
919
86

Inhalation
Ingestion

Contribution of pathways to the total dose (%),
for all radionuclides<1<1015

2070

Postal address :Institut de Radioprotection
et de Sûreté Nucléaire
DEI/SESURE/LERCM
Philippe Renaud
B.P. 313115 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance Cedex
Head ofﬁce :85
Vegetables and fruits
Cereals
1986
2006
Milk and dairy products
Exposure to air radiation
MeatExposure to deposition radiation
Inhalation
Ingestion
Exposure to air radiation
Exposure to deposition radiation
Inhalation
Ingestion

Contribution from foodstuffs to the dosethrough ingestion (%)

It was mainly the ingestion of contaminatedfood that contributed to the doses received in1986.
There was a reversal of the trend as of 1987.
With contamination of the food chain being ata much lower level, it was exposure to radiationfrom what was left of the deposition whichcontributed most to the annual doses.

Dairy products, vegetables and beef were themain contributors to the doses received in1986.

1530401055
Vegetables and fruits
20<1020Cereals
Milk and dairy products
19862006
MeatVegetables and fruits
Cereals
Milk and dairy products
Meat77, av. du Général-de-Gaulle
92140 Clamart
Switchboard +33 (0)1 58 35 88 88
Registered at the Nanterre Trade andCompanies Register under no. B 440 546 018

AFTERMATH

OFTHE

CHERNOBYL

ACCIDENTIN

FRANCE

IRSN. Communications Department/CPRP; DEI. Printing: OPAG. 2006 F16.v10.001

t e.g. excessive consumption of mushrooms or game from thecase of highly speciﬁcExposure
eating tohabits,
air radiationeast of the country. Exposure to deposition radiation

1996The colour graduation represents
the range of doses, from the worst affected■ Today, the mean dose received by the French population is less than 0.01 mSv/yr, except in thearea to the least affected area.

1980.01

mSv for the year, values which are close to the lowest doses due to natural radioactivity.