I
N
F
O
R
M
A T
I
O
N
F16.v1
EFFECTS ON HEALTH
Mean doses received by
the French population from
the Chernobyl accident were low
In the most affected area in the east of France, the annual individual dose due to the fallout
from the accident fell from nearly 1 mSv in 1986 to 0.01 mSv in 2006. In 1986, the dose was
mainly related to the ingestion of contaminated foodstuffs. But from 1987 onwards, it was
exposure to radiation from deposition which was the key contributing factor.
CONTAMINATED AIR, SOIL AND FOODSTUFFS ARE THE THREE SOURCES
OF EXPOSURE TO RADIATION
From 26 April, the population of most
of Europe was exposed to fallout from the
Chernobyl accident. Initial exposure was
from radioactive dust contained in the
air (external exposure to air radiation and
internal exposure due to inhalation). These
channels of exposure gradually disappeared
as the masses of air were renewed and the
very short-lived contaminants disappeared.
■
■ The
population was then exposed to the
radiation from radioactive deposition in soil
and plants (external exposure to deposition
radiation), and to contamination in the food
chain resulting from this (internal exposure
through ingestion). While these two exposure
channels have significantly diminished over
the years, they continue to persist due to
caesium 137’s long half-life (30 years).
Radiation exposure channels
External exposure
to air radiation
Internal exposure
after inhalation
and ingestion of
contaminated elements
External exposure
to deposition
radiation
THE QUANTITY OR «DOSE» OF RADIATION RECEIVED
IS USED TO ASSESS EFFECTS ON HEALTH
High doses have systematic and immediate
consequences on health. They are expressed
in grays (Gy). The lowest doses have random
and more long-term effects on health.
They are expressed in millisievert (mSv).
In France, the mean doses from fallout from
the Chernobyl accident were low and thus
expressed in mSv.
CONTACT
Environment and Response
Division
Philippe Renaud
Tel. +33 (0)4 42 19 96 60
[email protected]
www.irsn.org
AFTERMATH
OF
THE
CHERNOBYL
ACCIDENT
IN
FRANCE
I
N
F O
R
M
A T
I
O
N
THE DOSE FROM FALLOUT FROM THE ACCIDENT FELL FROM
1 TO 0.01 MSV/YR IN 20 YEARS, IN THE WORST AFFECTED
AREA IN THE EAST OF FRANCE
Total whole-body dose
mSv/yr
(Bq/m2)
2,4 mSv/yr : exposure
to natural radioactivity (source: UNSCEAR)
10
1
The colour graduation represents
the range of doses, from the worst affected
area to the least affected area.
0.1
40,000
20,000
0.01
10,000
0.001
t
0
20
20
06
01
6
19
9
19
8
19
9
6
1
5,000
Map of France showing caesium 137
deposition in May 1986
mSv/yr
2,4 mSv/yr : exposure
to natural radioactivity (source: UNSCEAR)
10
1
The colour graduation represents
the range of doses, from the worst affected
2,4 mSv/yr
:
exposure
■ In 1986,area
thetomean
doses
received
the least
affected
area. by people
to natural radioactivity (source: UNSCEAR)
mSv/yr
0.1
10
0.01
1
0.001
0.1
20
20
19
9
06
01
6
1
06
20
19
9
t
20
01
6
1
19
9
19
8
6
Inhalation
Ingestion
Contribution of pathways to the total dose (%),
for all radionuclides
<1
<10
15
20
70
Postal address :
Institut de Radioprotection
et de Sûreté Nucléaire
DEI/SESURE/LERCM
Philippe Renaud
B.P. 3
13115 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance Cedex
Head office :
85
Vegetables and fruits
Cereals
1986
2006
Milk and dairy products
Exposure to air radiation
Meat
Exposure to deposition radiation
Inhalation
Ingestion
Exposure to air radiation
Exposure to deposition radiation
Inhalation
Ingestion
Contribution from foodstuffs to the dose
through ingestion (%)
It was mainly the ingestion of contaminated
food that contributed to the doses received in
1986.
There was a reversal of the trend as of 1987.
With contamination of the food chain being at
a much lower level, it was exposure to radiation
from what was left of the deposition which
contributed most to the annual doses.
Dairy products, vegetables and beef were the
main contributors to the doses received in
1986.
15
30
40
10
55
Vegetables and fruits
20
<10
20
Cereals
Milk and dairy products
1986
2006
Meat
Vegetables and fruits
Cereals
Milk and dairy products
Meat
77, av. du Général-de-Gaulle
92140 Clamart
Switchboard +33 (0)1 58 35 88 88
Registered at the Nanterre Trade and
Companies Register under no. B 440 546 018
AFTERMATH
OF
THE
CHERNOBYL
ACCIDENT
IN
FRANCE
IRSN. Communications Department/CPRP; DEI. Printing: OPAG. 2006 F16.v1
0.001
population is less than 0.01 mSv/yr, except in the
t e.g. excessive consumption of mushrooms or game from the
case of highly specificExposure
eating to
habits,
air radiation
east of the country. Exposure to deposition radiation
19
9
6
The colour graduation represents
the range of doses, from the worst affected
■ Today, the mean dose received by the French
area to the least affected area.
19
8
0.01
living in the east of the country rose to nearly 1
mSv for the year, values which are close to the lowest doses due to natural radioactivity.