Monitoring of Workers Occupationally Exposed to Radionuclides in France: Results from February to August 1997 in the Non Nuclear Energy Field

Abstract

In France, OPRI, the radiation protection office of the Ministry of Health, collects the individual results of monitoring for workers occupationally exposed to radionuclides at a national level. It directly monitors the workers using unsealed sources in the medical field (nuclear medicine), biological and research laboratories, and non-nuclear industries. During the period February-August 1997, 4404 workers in the non-nuclear energy field have been monitored for intakes of radionuclides. A total of 50 radioisotopes were assessed, and the six most frequent of them ( 125 I, 3 H, 32 p, 131 I, 99 Tc m , 35 S) were requested respectively for 36%; 35%, 29%, 23%, 21% and 17% of the workers. Of the workers manipulating 131 I 11% had at least one measurement with a result above the detection limit during the studied period. This national database is used for studies aimed at improving the monitoring programmes for internal contamination.