Environmental monitoring Tritium monitoring in the environment and throughout the food chain must be supplemented as follows: measurements performed must take into account the physico-chemical forms present. The ASN will consequently ask operators to characterise the physico-chemical forms of tritium in the discharges, particularly with regard to any possible organic precursors (small tritiated organic molecules); sampling plans in the different compartments of the environment must be undisputed and shared. In particular, the choice of animal and plant species to be measured must be reviewed in order to remove any species bias. Impact assessment Some studies mention the potential for underestimating the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of tritium radiation. The ASN will ask the ICRP to review the value of the tritium weighting factor (wR) used in calculating effective doses. Even before the ICRP’s response is known, the ASN will ask operators to supplement the radiological impact studies for their projects with a critical study in which a variant using a tritium weighting factor (wR) of two is included. Research themes Current knowledge about the biological effects of tritium is in some areas rather fragmentary. The following topics should be investigated further by research bodies in order to answer all the questions: Harmonisation of dose assessment methods according to the physico-chemical form of the tritium, contamination pathway and length of exposure; Studies into the effects of tritium exposure on embryos and foetuses; Investigation of new approaches to the potential induction of hereditary effects. In most cases, this research will require international cooperation. *** Finally, the ASN believes that all stakeholders must continue to think about and discuss these issues and to this end suggests the establishment of a supervisory committee to oversee the actions undertaken following the recommendations of the working groups.
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