Library

Here are main publications in english produced by IRSN. You can find more IRSN's documents on our french website (https://www.irsn.fr) or on HAL, the multidisciplinary open archive, for IRSN's scientific production (https://irsn.hal.science/).

Annual report

Assessing, researching, protecting, anticipating and sharing: these are IRSN's missions in the service of public authorities and the general public. Find out more about our strategic priorities and the projects that have marked our year in the annual report.


Information sheets

As part of its mission to inform the public (the general public, scientists, members of parliament, etc.), the IRSN provides information sheets to present its missions and areas of expertise and research.


IRSN barometer on risk and safety perception

The public's perception of risk is an integral part of the management, information and communication policy for activities that pose a risk to mankind, including those involving radioactive substances.

This is why IRSN (following on from IPSN) has been working since 1977 on the psycho-social aspects of industrial, technological, food and other risks. For the past twelve years, IRSN has been tracking changes in the general public's attitudes and opinions on risk and safety, through surveys carried out by specialized institutes.

These annual surveys have a common section, which includes questions on the general concerns of the French, risk perception, the credibility of information disseminated, the role of scientific experts and the image of nuclear energy. This is followed by questions often linked to current events or a specific issue. The results of these surveys are grouped together in the IRSN Risk and Safety Perception Barometer, a unique tool in France in terms of the number of data items and their tracking over time. IRSN is also making 30 years of data and analysis from the IRSN Barometer available to the public on a dedicated website.


Scientific books collection

Find below the Science and Technology Series and the Reference Documents Series published by IRSN.

Science and Technology Series

The Science and Technology Series includes monographs and overviews of current knowledge on radiological protection and nuclear safety. These books are written for the most part by IRSN authors with the participation of one or several outside authors and coordinated by an IRSN researcher or specialist. A Reading Committee monitors their quality.

Reference documents

The Reference Documents Series presents IRSN’s position regarding a given subject at a given moment.


Collaborative books

On this page you will find books written in collaboration with experts and scientists from IRSN and other French and international organisations.

Collaborative books

Aimed at a wide audience, this guide is positioned as an essential learning resource, providing a solid foundation for students, scientists and medical staff interested in radiobiology.


Assessment reports

Find here the main IRSN's assessment reports in the health, nuclear safety and environmental fields. 

Radiation protection and health reports

This page contains IRSN publications and reports on radiation protection.

Nuclear safety reports

This page contains IRSN publications and reports on nuclear safety.

Environment reports

This page contains IRSN publications and reports on radiation protection monitoring activities of the environment.


Highlights

Here are analysis and special contents produced by IRSN over the years about key events.

The New Safe Confinement over the Chernobyl NPP’s damaged Reactor 4 (source ChNPP: Viktor Kuchynskyi - 2021)

Chernobyl Accident (Ukraine - 1986)

The accident that occurred in 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine had a profound impact on public opinion in Europe. Since then, IRSN has worked constantly to improve understanding of that catastrophe and its consequences on public health and the environment and to act to improve the safety of the sarcophagus built over the damaged reactor in 1986. This page gives access to analysis and special contents produced by IRSN over the years.

fukushima daiichi

Fukushima Daiichi Accident (Japan, 2011)

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident of March 2011 was the first occurrence showing that an extreme natural event, that generated stress levels far beyond nuclear power plant design-basis values, could lead to a core meltdown accident. It also showed how the massive destruction of a site and of the surrounding infrastructures could delay and complicate all accident management operations.​ This page gives access to analysis and special contents produced by IRSN since the accident.

Map on nuclear installations in Ukraine

War in Ukraine - 2022

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, IRSN has mobilized its crisis organization to monitor the situation on site and the state of Ukrainian nuclear facilities. This page gives access to analysis and special contents produced by IRSN about this situation.