Chernobyl
Author : IRSN
Date published : 1998 - updated 2006
The Chernobyl accident, the radioactive discharge after the accident in Belarus,inUkraine, within the Russian Federation, as well as in Europe and in France, the state of contamination, the sanitary and ecological consequences in the contaminated territories around the Chernobyl power station and in France, and the state of the site today are described on the basis of confirmed information from local, French and international sources.
Download the PDF file
More information about the Chernobyl accident
Radioactive waste management
Author : IRSN
Date published : 2002 - updated 2010
Radioactive waste is generated not only by the electrical power industry, but also by hospitals, universities, and some industries outside the nuclear sector. All the regulations specifically applicable to waste in general also apply to radioactive waste. However, radioactive waste emits radiation, and is therefore considered as a specific human health hazard. For this reason, its management demands special precautions from source to final destination. The creation of specially adapted elimination processes is a major challenge for all concerned, for industry, regulatory authorities, government bodies, local authorities, and the general public.
Download the PDF file
Radon
Author : IRSN
Date published : 1997 - updated 2010
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the disintegration of the uranium and radium present in the earth’s crust. This radioactive gas is one of the triggers of lung cancer, although far behind tobacco. Radon can accumulate in confined spaces and in particular in homes. Methods of decreasing its concentration in houses are simple: houses, cellars and waste disposal units need to be aired and ventilated, and the water-tightness of walls and floors should be reinforced.
Download the PDF file
Radioecology
Author : IPSN
Date published : 2001
Naturally occuring and artificial radionuclides are present in a variety of environments and can affect human beings, primarily via food chains. The function of radioecology is to detect radionuclides, measure their concentrations, discover their transfer mechanisms and provide data for estimating radiation doses received by the population.
Download the PDF file
Transportation of radioactive materials
Author : IRSN
Date published : 2000 - updated 2010
A sensitive phase during the fuel cycle, the transportation of radioactive material must be afforded special attention by the control authorities. This presentation describes,in depth, the defence procedure implemented to ensure the safety of these transportations.
Download the PDF file