Environmental radioactive monitoring of the CEA research centres in France: Overview and perspectives

French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, Risk management unit, Nuclear safety and protection division, Centre de Fontenay-aux-Roses, 18 route du panorama, BP. 6, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France

Abstract

Environmental protection is a priority and a constant concern at CEA. Seven centres are subject to environmental radioactive monitoring, owing to their research activities entailing radioactive discharges. The continuous improvement approach helps to optimise these discharges and achieve negligible impact by these activities on the neighbouring populations and the environment. The environmental radioactivity levels are therefore very low and are indeed often undetectable using the most sophisticated measuring devices. These measures provide appropriate information regarding environmental monitoring. In addition, an evaluation of the dosimetric impact induced by CEA activities is carried out annually on each site and the highest levels recorded do not exceed one micro-sievert per year.