centres. Owing to their radiological nature, these events mobilise considerable response resources and specific operational and support procedures, even if the health implications remain limited. Their increased frequency in 2024 is a subject of concern, given the expected rise in the number of patients eligible for these treatments. ASN calls on the professionals to be extremely attentive to preventing such situations. Anticipating and supporting innovation in the medical field The deployment of new techniques and practices in therapy is a source of hope for the patients, but a subject requiring vigilance in order to ensure that they are integrated into the health care system rapidly and safely. This entails being fully aware of the corresponding radiation protection issues, for the patient, their entourage, the workers and the environment, and identifying and then implementing the means needed to manage them. This vigilance is particularly important given the growth of ITR, the arrival of the ZAP-X® platform, or the development of flash radiotherapy, pulsed fields and adaptive radiotherapy. ASN recalls that the radiation protection issues are not limited to the performance of the procedure, but begin as of the design phase and, as applicable, continue up to management of waste and effluents. These radiation protection issues must be integral to the thinking at each step along the way. This means that data pertinent for radiation protection must be input and, as applicable, looked for or studied by the designers and developers. In 2025, ASNR will continue its research, expert assessment and regulation work, with the assistance of its Advisory Committees of Experts, such as the Committee for the analysis of new medical techniques and practices using ionising radiation, or the Advisory Committee of Experts for Radiation Protection, together with the various institutional stakeholders in the field of health and the professional organisations. It will capitalise on the lessons learned from European projects in order to mobilise all stakeholders and develop the regulation and oversight system, both nationally and at the European level, so that radiation protection issues remain at the heart of the decisionmaking process in an innovative and constantly evolving health system. Sustained international activity International activities continued apace. Numerous meetings with its counterparts enabled ASN to discuss its practices and share the challenges linked notably to the launch of new projects and the use of innovative technologies – such as Artificial Intelligence – in the nuclear sector. Work relative to the second thematic peer review (TPR ENSREG), chaired by an ASN representative, concerning protection of nuclear facilities against fire risks, has ended and will enable each country to draft its national action plan in 2025. Two seminars, held in Luxembourg, were a forum for discussions on best practices and identifying areas for improvement in each country. With regard to radiation protection, ASN – which is chairing the Heads of the European Radiological Protection Competent Authorities association (HERCA) – the aim of which is to promote a high level of radiation protection in Europe, was actively involved in encouraging sharing of experience between the European authorities regarding the practical implementation of international standards and contributing to balanced updating of them. Finally, the creation of ASNR will make it possible to reinforce France’s representation internationally on the subject of nuclear safety and radiation protection. With this in mind, the international teams at ASN and IRSN together laid the groundwork for the creation of a unified international department that is operational as of 1 January 2025. n Editorial by the Commission ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 7
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