Average exposure to ionizing radiation in France 2021, by source

The presence of radon was one of the main sources of ionizing radiation exposure to the general population in France, with an average exposure of 1.5 millisievert in 2021. Radon is an unstable chemical element naturally present in nature, produced by the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium. Medical treatments were the second source of ionizing radiation exposure in France as of that year. For instance, they include radiotherapy, tomography, and radiology. Radon exposure, terrestrial radiation, and cosmic radiation are natural sources of ionizing radiation. In comparison, radiation discharge from nuclear facilities was only a minor source of ionizing radiation in France.