Various activities are tending to disappear, mainly because of technological progress: this is the case with determining the dew point, level measurements and density measurements, for which techniques based on X-rays or ultrasounds are tending to replace those based on radionuclides. This is also the case with measuring snow height or the position of cable cars using a radionuclide source incorporated into the splices of the support cable.

The manufacture and sale of lightning arresters containing radionuclides was prohibited by the order of 11 October 1983 concerning the ban on the use of radioelements in the manufacture of lightning arresters and on the sale and import of these lightning arresters, applicable as of 1 January 1987, in response to the concerns mentioned in article L. 1333-2 of the Public Health Code, which specifies that "certain activities and certain processes, devices or substances exposing persons to ionising radiation may, owing to the scant benefits they offer or the degree of harm they cause, be prohibited by the regulations or may be regulated".

No intentional addition of radionuclides in consumer goods and construction products is therefore authorised (articles R. 1333-2 and 3 of the Public Health Code). In this respect, the manufacture, import and trade in irradiated precious stones, which contain residual activity following activation designed to improve their aesthetic quality and sale value, are not authorised.

The same applies to accessories such as key-rings, hunting equipment (sighting devices) or equipment for river fishing (floats) fitted with sealed tritium sources.

Case of watches containing tritium

Consideration is being given to the justification for the use of tritiated paint applied to watch faces and hands to make them luminescent or the use of ampoules containing tritium inserted into watch faces or hands. It should be noted that the health impact of watches marked with tritium is very low for their wearers (a few µSv/year) in normal conditions of use and that, for this reason, such watches may be freely purchased in many countries, including in Europe. Discussions are taking place between the ASN and the DGCCRF to obtain a clearer picture of this market and identify the companies active on it. It is worth noting that in France, there are no companies still manufacturing tritium paint.

On this subject, and in the presence of its Swiss counterpart, the ASN met the two leading Swiss companies manufacturing tritiated paint and ampoules. It would appear that tritium paint has been replaced on a massive scale by photoluminescent paint (no radioactivity), but that tritium ampoules, with offer better containment of radioactivity and more persistent luminescence, are still used in numerous applications. The ASN formally reminded these companies of the main requirements of the French regulations, in particular the need for a licence to import any radioactive source from Switzerland.