Continued operation of 900 MWe nuclear power plants: ASN has issued its first review following the third ten-year inspection at the Fessenheim and Tricastin plants

In May 2009, Reactor 1 at the Tricastin nuclear power plant in the Drôme département was shut down for four months for the “third ten-year inspection”.

Quarterly assessment of radiotherapy events, classified as level 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale, reported between 1 January and 31 March 2010

Twenty events, classified as level 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale, were reported between 1 January and 31 March 2010. Although these events are not expected to have any impact on patients' health, they are analysed to see if any lessons can be learnt from them (particularly in terms of organisation) and to avoid any recurrence.

ASN aims to reduce radon activity concentration in homes

ASN has just published and submitted to the French Government its report on the 2005-2008 action plan on radon-related risks (Radon Action Plan [1]). A second plan, currently being prepared, will focus primarily on reducing radon activity concentration in homes.

ASN issues its first conclusions on exposure to ionising radiation in professional activities implementing raw materials containing naturally occurring radionuclides not used because of their radioactive properties

Some industrial processes concentrate natural radionuclides contained in raw materials, manufactured products or production waste. ASN worked in collaboration with IRSN, the French National Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety, to assess the exposure of workers and the population at large to this “technologically enhanced natural radioactivity” [1].

ASN has presented its report on “the status of nuclear safety and radiological protection in France in 2009” to the OPECST (II). All the major issues concerning nuclear safety and radiation protection in France and abroad were addressed during a high-level debate

ASN presented its report on “the status of nuclear safety and radiological protection in France in 2009” to the members of the French Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technical Choices (OPECST).