Professional activities which use materials which naturally contain radioelements not used for their intrinsic radioactive properties but which are likely to create exposure such as to harm the health of workers and the public ("enhanced" natural exposure) are subject to the provisions of the Labour Code (art. R. 231-114 of the Labour Code) and the Public Health Code (art. R. 1333-13 of the Public Health Code).

The order of 25 May 2005 defines the list of professional activities using raw materials naturally containing radioelements, the handling of which can lead to significant exposure of the population or of workers. The following are therefore concerned:

1. coal combustion in thermal power plants;
2. processing of tin, aluminium, copper, titanium, niobium, bismuth and thorium ores;
3. the production of refractory ceramics as well as glassmaking, foundry, steelmaking and metallurgical activities employing them;
4. the production or use of compounds comprising thorium;
5. the production of zircon and baddeleyite, and foundry and metallurgical activities employing them;
6. the production of phosphated fertilisers and the manufacture of phosphoric acid;
7. processing of titanium dioxide;
8. processing of rare earths and production of pigments containing them;
9. treatment of underground water by filtration intended for the production of:
– water intended for human consumption
– mineral waters;
10. Spas.

For these activities, the Public Health Code now contains an obligation to proceed with a study to estimate the doses to which the population is subjected. The Minister for Health may also implement measures to protect the public against ionising radiation, should this prove necessary in the light of the estimations made. When these activities fall into the category of classified installations, these measures will be defined by the corresponding applicable regulations.

In addition, and if protection of the public so warrants, it will also be possible to set radioactivity limits for the construction materials and consumer goods produced by some of these industries (art. R.1333-14 of the Public Health Code). This measure complements the ban on the intentional addition of radioactive substances to consumer goods.

For professional exposure resulting from these activities, a dose evaluation process, under the responsibility of the head of the facility, was introduced into the Labour Code. Should the dose limit of 1 mSv/year be exceeded, steps to reduce exposure should be taken. The above-mentioned order of 25 May 2005 offers clarification of the technical measurement procedures for evaluating the doses received by the workers.

Finally, the Labour Code (art. R. 231-116) stipulates that for aircrews likely to be exposed to more than 1 mSv/year, the head of the facility must evaluate the exposure, take steps to reduce the exposure (particularly in the event of a declared pregnancy) and inform the personnel of the health risks. The order of 7 February 2004 defines the procedures for implementing these measures.