Natural radioactivity in the environment of France: Levels free from human interference
Radioactivité d'origine naturelle dans l'environnement en France: Niveaux non perturbés par l'homme
Résumé
On the french territory which levels are characteristic of ionising radiation and which of radionuclides natural in origin? Is it possible to distinguish the portion of a measurement readily attributable to man-made sources? In an attempt to answer these questions, a questionnaire was sent to the various bodies measuring environmental radioactivity in France. Information contained in this paper relates solely to observation of the environment (open spaces) outside buildings and beyond the perimetre of nuclear facilities. Further more, it concerns the measurement of radiation or of radionuclides natural in origin where the results have not been influenced by human activity, with the exception of specifically mentioned cases. The survey illustrates the present difficulty of assessing the acquired data on the characteristics of natural radioactive background noise in the environment in France. Efforts exerted in France in the area of natural radioactivity lack coordination and a shared setting of priorities. In this regard, the measurement of 238U and 232Th precursors to 226Ra and 228Ra of solid alpha-emitting radon daughters (by measuring PAE of 22Rn and 220Rn), of post-emanation gamma emitters (214Pb, 214Bi, 212Pb) and of 210Pb, 210Po and 14C should be given top priority. © 2002 EDP Sciences.