Le transport de matières radioactives

Commissariat général au développement durableJun 4, 2019

Parmi les 9 types de matières dangereuses transportées en France figurent les substances radioactives, matières dangereuses de classe 7. Ces marchandises représentent 6 % des colis de matières dangereuses transportés en France. De taille et de poids très diverses (quelques centaines de grammes à plus d’une centaine de tonnes), et d’activité radiologique comprise entre quelques milliers de becquerels et plusieurs millions de terabecquerels, ces colis sont destinés à l’industrie nucléaire, au secteur médical, à la recherche et à l’industrie non nucléaire. 66 événements significatifs concernant le transport de substances radioactives ont été déclarés à l’Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire en 2017.

Among the 9 types of dangerous goods transported in France are radioactive substances, hazardous materials of class 7. These goods represent 6% of dangerous goods packages transported in France. Ranging widely in size and weight (from a few hundred grams to over one hundred tons), and with radioactive activity ranging from a few thousand becquerels to several million terabecquerels, these packages are destined for the nuclear industry, the medical sector, research and non-nuclear industry. 66 significant events concerning radioactive substance transport were reported to the Nuclear Safety Authority in 2017.

2 chapters

Overview
Package volume
Approximately 980,000 packages of radioactive substances circulate in France each year.
Sector breakdown
Of these packages, 57% are destined for non-nuclear industries and research (for material testing and quality control, with radioactive sources included in measurement devices), 32% serve the medical field (radiotherapy, medical imaging) and 12% are part of the nuclear industry: new or irradiated fuel, waste, and equipment necessary for reactor maintenance.
Transport modes
• Radioactive materials transit primarily by road (90%). • 5% of radioactive material transport uses road and air. • 3% use road, sea and rail.
Events and accidents in radioactive substance transport
Event reporting and distribution
• Any significant event concerning radioactive substance transport (EST) must be reported to the Nuclear Safety Authority. • More than half of reported significant events concern the nuclear industry. • Approximately one-third concerns radioactive pharmaceuticals. • Other events concern transport related to non-nuclear industry activities. • However, the medical and non-nuclear industry sectors do not systematically report EST related to their activities.
INES scale classification
• In 2017, 64 EST level 0 and 2 level 1 events were reported to the ASN. • Since 2000, two level 2 events and one level 3 event have been recorded. • EST are systematically classified on the INES scale or, where applicable, using level 0 (below the INES scale).

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