Proposal of a quantitative approach integrating radioactive and chemical risks

Abstract

A number of situations lead to risks associated with both radionuclides and chemicals exposures: management of contaminated sites, NORM industries, management of indoor air quality, occupational risks, etc. Risk assessment and risk management associated with chemical and radioactive substances are based on different approaches and risk metrics, making it possibly hard to compare those risks and to manage risks in a commensurate way. This article presents a method to express health risk using a common metric, the DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year), which is used among others by WHO to guide public health policies. The proposed approach, allowing for comparison, hierarchy and aggregation of risks associated with exposure to ionizing radiations and chemical substances, can support communication and dialog between stakeholders on complex situations.