Les activités anthropiques liées à l'industrie nucléaire contribuent à des rejets continus de radionucléides dans les écosystèmes terrestres et aquatiques. Les travaux réalisés au cours de ce doctorat visent à apporter de nouvelles connaissances relatives aux effets des radiations ionisantes au cours d’une exposition multigénérationnelle de l’invertébré aquatique, Daphnia magna. Une irradiation gamma externe à des débits de doses pertinents du point de vue environnemental a été réalisée sur D. magna pendant trois générations successives. Les résultats mettent en évidence une accumulation et une transmission d’altérations de l’ADN au fil des générations, en parallèle d’une augmentation de la sensibilité des daphnies. Les données d’irradiation gamma et celles d’une étude antérieure de contamination alpha ont été analysées à l’aide du modèle mathématique DEBtox. Le modèle montre que les deux types de rayonnements agissent différemment sur les daphnies au cours des générations. Ce projet de recherche indique clairement qu’à l’avenir il est important d’étudier et de comprendre les effets transgénérationnels des radiations ionisantes à faibles doses. / Anthropogenic activities related to the nuclear industry contribute to continuous discharges of radionuclides into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The aim of this PhD was to bring new knowledge on the effects of ionizing radiation during a multigenerational expose of the aquatic invertebrate, Daphnia magna. An external gamma radiation at environmentally relevant dose rates was performed on D. magna over three successive generations. Results show an accumulation and a transmission of DNA alterations over generations, in parallel of an increase in sensitivity of organisms. Gamma radiation data and those of a previous study of alpha contamination were analyzed using the mathematical model DEBtox. The model shows that the two types of radiation act differently on daphnia over generations. This research clearly indicates the importance of further studying and understanding transgenerational effects induced by low doses radiation in the future.

L'évaluation de l'impact écologique d'une exposition aux rayonnements ionisants est devenue une préoccupation majeure. L'objectif de ce doctorat était d'étudier les effets multigénérationnels d'une irradiation gamma chronique selon une approche intégrée, des traits d'histoire de vie aux mécanismes subcellulaires chez un organisme modèle, le nématode Caenorhabditis elegans. L'étude des effets d'une irradiation gamma chronique sur les traits d'histoire de vie de C. elegans a d'abord été effectuée. Pour cela, trois générations ont été exposées et deux générations ont été placées en environnement « contrôle » après exposition parentale. Puis, différents mécanismes subcellulaires pouvant expliquer les effets observés sur les traits d'histoire de vie ont été par la suite caractérisés. Les résultats obtenus ont mis en évidence que (i) la reproduction était le critère d'effet le plus sensible, (ii) une augmentation de la radiosensibilité était observée sur trois générations exposées et (iii) les effets de la génération parentale étaient transmis aux générations non-exposées. Une augmentation de l'apoptose, une diminution du stock de spermatozoïdes et du nombre de cellules mitotiques semblent expliquer la diminution de la reproduction dans les générations exposées. Seule une diminution du nombre de spermatozoïdes a été observée en parallèle d'une diminution de la reproduction dans les générations placées non exposées. Ce projet de recherche a permis d'apporter des connaissances sur les effets multigénérationnels d'une irradiation gamma et montre l'intérêt d'utiliser une approche intégrée pour mieux comprendre les mécanismes d'action liés à l'action d'un polluant. / The environmental risk assessment of chronic exposure to ionizing has become a major concern. The aim of this PhD was to study the multigenerational effects of chronic gamma radiation in an integrated manner (to the life history traits from the subcellular mechanisms) in a model organism, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. First, studying the effects of chronic gamma radiation on the life history traits of C. elegans was performed. For that, three generations have been exposed to different dose rates and two generations have been placed in "control" environment after parental exposure. The second part of this thesis aimed to characterize the different subcellular mechanisms that could explain the observed effects on the life history traits after multigenerational exposure. The results showed that (i) the reproduction was the most sensitive endpoint to gamma radiation, (ii) an increase in radiosensitivity was observed over three exposed generations and (iii) the effects of the parental generation were transmitted to the non-exposed generations. An increase in apoptosis, a reduction in the stock of sperm, and to a lesser extent, a decrease in the number of mitotic cells, could explain the observed decrease in reproduction for the exposed generations. Only a decrease in sperm number was observed in parallel with a reduction in the cumulative number of larvae in the non-exposed generations. This research contributes to our knowledge on the multigenerational effects of gamma irradiation and shows the importance of an integrated approach to better understand the mechanisms of action related to the action of a pollutant and improve the environmental risk assessment.

O suco de laranja possui características que dificultariam ou mesmo impediriam o crescimento de microrganismos, mesmo assim já foram isolados fungos filamentosos, leveduras, bem como bactérias lácticas e termorresistentes. Dentre as bactérias termorresistentes e deteriorantes está a Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris que tem causado prejuízos no setor de suco de laranja concentrado e congelado. Esta bactéria está apta a crescer em temperaturas abaixo de 35°C, constituindo um risco aos sucos de laranja que estejam contaminados. Mesmo os que já passaram por tratamento térmico, se forem estocados em local sem refrigeração, podem sofrer deterioração. Como os métodos tradicionais de descontaminação e conservação não têm se mostrado eficientes na inviabilização dessa bactéria, outras formas de esterilização tornam-se necessárias, dentre elas destacam-se as radiações gama e ultra-sônica. A radiação gama é capaz de esterilizar alimentos e reduzir as cargas microbiológicas, permitindo assim ampliar o período de armazenamento. A aplicação de ultra-som tem sido utilizada atualmente com o objetivo de controle microbiológico, sendo essa técnica eficiente por causar a destruição das células microbianas. Sendo o Brasil o maior produtor e exportador de suco de laranja concentrado congelado, no presente trabalho foram conduzidos dois experimentos com o objetivo de determinar a resistência da bactéria A. acidoterrestris às radiações gama e ultra-sônica, em suco de laranja previamente contaminado. As amostras de suco de laranja foram diluídas a 11,5 °Brix e inoculadas com uma suspensão bacteriana, passando pelos processos de radiação gama com as doses de 0, 2; 4; 6 e 8, kGy e ultra-sônica com as freqüências de 25, 35 e 42 kHz e com os tempos de exposição de 0, 1, 5, 10 e 20 minutos. Após o tratamento, as amostras foram armazenadas em temperatura ambiente (25±2°C) e de refrigeração (4±1°C). Para as análises microbiológicas as amostras foram diluídas em escala decimal, plaqueadas pela técnica de \"pour plate\". As placas de Petri permaneceram em estufa a46±2°C, por 48 horas, após esse período procedeu-se a contagem das UFC mL-1. A qualidade microbiológica do suco foi avaliada em determinados períodos de armazenamento (1, 10, 20, 30 e 40 dias). Através de análise de variância dos experimentos conduzidos com as radiações, observou-se que houve efeito significativo (p<0,05) com relação à dose de radiação gama que apresentou uma redução da carga microbiana com o aumento da dose de radiação e à interação do período com a temperatura de armazenamento demonstrou que houve uma oscilação na contagem total para a temperatura ambiente, mas para a temperatura de refrigeração uma diminuição gradativa com o aumento do período de armazenamento, A freqüência do ultra-som mostrou uma diminuição da contagem microbiana com o aumento da freqüência e o período de armazenamento apresentou a maior contagem no primeiro dia. Os dois tratamentos mostraram-se eficientes na redução bacteriana, mas não na completa eliminação da A. acidoterrestris. / The orange juice has attributes could make that hard or even block the growth. of microorganisms, even so already have been isolated filamentous fungi, yeast, as well lactics and heat resistant bacteria. Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is a heat resistant bacteria that has done damage in the orange juice concentrated and frozen business. This bacterium is able the grown in temperatures below 35°C constituting a risk to orange juices that have been contaminated. Even those that already pass trough thermal treatment may deteriorated, if they are storage in place without refrigeration. As the traditional methods of decontamination and conservation have not been effective in inviabilizated this bacterium, others methods of sterilization are need, among them are gamma and ultrasound radiation. The gamma radiation is able to sterilize foods and reduce the microbiology density, allowing in this way to enhance the period of storage. The ultrasound application has been used currently with the aim to microbiology control, been this technique effective in the microbial cell destruction. The Brazil, are the major producer and exporter of concentrated frozen orange juice, due to it, the present work was carried out to two experiments with the aim to determinate the resistance of the bacterium Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris to gamma and ultrasound irradiation, in the orange juice, priory contaminated. The orange juice samples was diluted to 11,5°Brix and the bacteria suspensions was added, passed by process of radiation gamma with dose of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 kGy and ultrasonic with the frequency of 25, 35 and 42 kHz and with the time of exposition of 0, 1, 5, 10 and 20 minutes. After the treatment, the samples were storaged in room temperature (25±2°C) and of refrigeration (4±1°C). For the microbial analyses, the samples were diluted in to decimal scale, plated by \"pour plate\" technique. The Petri plates were storage in warn temperature (46±2°C) by 48 hours, after it the UFC was counted mL. The microbiological quality of the juice was evaluated in determinated period of storaged (1, 10, 20, 30 e 40 days). By statistical of variance of the experiment conducted with the radiations, it was noted that has been significant effect (p>0,05) to gamma radiation doses where occurred microbial density reduction with the raised of radiation doses and the interaction of the period with the storage temperature, where at room temperature occurred a oscillation in the total counting of bacteria, but for refrigeration temperature the total counting of bacteria reduced with the raised of storage period. The ultrasound frequency showed also reduction to the microbial counting with the raised of the ultrasound frequency and the period of storage showed the highest bacteria counting in the first day. Both treatment, were effective to promote bacteria reduction, but not completed elimination of A. acidoterrestris.

O caldo de cana é uma bebida saborosa, energética, não alcoólica que conserva todos os nutrientes presentes na cana-de-açúcar, muito apreciado no Brasil que, se devidamente explorado, pode alcançar um mercado consumidor com proporções ainda maiores. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar o grau de aceitação do mercado consumidor e a estabilidade do caldo de cana puro e adicionado de suco de frutas, submetido ao processamento térmico (70&#176;C/ 25 min) e/ ou à radiação gama (2,5 kGy), armazenado em garrafas de polietileno de alta densidade sob refrigeração (5 &#177; 1&#176;C). O teste de mercado do caldo de cana processado e embalado foi avaliado através da aplicação de 350 questionários em seis municípios paulistas. A qualidade do caldo de cana foi avaliada através dos parâmetros: microbiológicos (contagem de aeróbios psicrotróficos, bactérias lácticas e fungos filamentosos e leveduriformes), físico-químicos (pH, cor, acidez titulável, teor de sólidos solúveis, ratio e atividade da polifenoloxidase) e sensoriais (teste hedônico). Foi determinada a composição centesimal das bebidas elaboradas analisando-se: umidade, valor calórico, carboidratos totais, açúcares totais e redutores, extrato etéreo, proteínas, teor de ácido ascórbico, cinza e minerais. A vida útil foi determinada a cada 7 dias analisando o produto armazenado sob refrigeração durante 42 dias. Os resultados foram avaliados através de análise de variância e comparação das médias pelo teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Entre as 350 pessoas entrevistadas, mais da metade interessa-se e preocupa-se com a segurança de sua alimentação habitual e rotineira e apresenta receio em se alimentar em comércio de alimentos de rua. Os lanches foram os alimentos citados como os rotineiramente consumidos, seguidos pelo caldo de cana e pastel. Entre os entrevistados, 80% mencionaram apreciar caldo de cana, não havendo correlação entre idade e escolaridade e a preferência pela forma de consumo foi com adição de suco de limão. Cerca de 55% dos entrevistados mencionaram que consumiriam com maior freqüência o caldo de cana puro ou adicionado de suco de frutas, processado e embalado. Os processamentos aplicados ao caldo de cana não alteraram significativamente o aroma e o sabor da bebida. O teste sensorial para a escolha das melhores concentrações de suco de frutas a ser adicionado ao caldo de cana elegeu a adição de 4% de suco de limão e 10% de suco de abacaxi. A adição dos sucos de frutas ao caldo de cana nas concentrações propostas não alterou sua composição centesimal. No entanto, a adição do suco de abacaxi ao caldo de cana incrementou significativamente o teor de manganês e o de açúcares redutores quando comparado com o caldo de cana puro e adicionado de suco de limão. Considerando os resultados do teste de mercado, elegeu-se o caldo de cana adicionado de suco de limão como o preferido entre os provadores para a análise da vida útil do produto. As bebidas elaboradas pela mistura de caldo de cana e suco de limão submetidas à irradiação, pasteurização combinada com radiação e pasteurização mantiveram qualidade microbiológica, físico-química e sensorial satisfatória durante os períodos de 28, 35 e 42 dias, respectivamente, após o processamento. O tratamento térmico isolado foi considerado a melhor forma de conservação da bebida. / Sugarcane juice is a taste drink, energetic, no alcoholic that conserves all the nutrients in cane sugar. It was very appreciated by the Brazilian population and its production has been shown to be a highly lucrative business. This research had the following objectives: evaluate the acceptance of the consuming market and the stability of pure sugarcane juice or added with natural fruit juices, submitted of heat treatment (70&#176;C/ 25 min) and/ or gamma radiation (2,5 kGy) and stored in high density polyethylene bottles, under refrigeration (5 &#177; 1&#176;C). Sugarcane juice market test was evaluated through the application of 350 questionnaires on six São Paulo cities. Sugarcane juice stability was evaluated through microbiological (psicrothrophic count, lactic bacteria and yeasts and molds count), physical-chemical (pH, color, titratable acidity, soluble solids, ratio and polyphenoloxidase activity) and sensory (hedonic test) parameters. Centesimal composition was determined analyzing: humidity, caloric value, total carbohydrates, total and reducing sugars, lipids, proteins, ascorbic acid, ash and minerals. Sugarcane juice shelf life period was determinate ever 7 days over a period of 42 days stored under refrigeration. The data were submitted to the variance analysis and compared by Tukey&#39;s test (p<0,05). Among the 350 interviewed people, more of the half one is interested about its habitual food safe and care about street foods. Sandwiches had been cited foods as routinely consumed, followed for the sugarcane juice and &#34;pastel&#34;. Among the interviewed ones, 80% had mentioned to appreciate sugarcane juice. It had not correlation between age and school age and the preference for the consumption form was with lemon juice addition. About 55% of the interviewed ones had mentioned that would more frequently consume sugarcane juice processed and packed. Sugarcane juice processament didn&#39;t modify the flavor and taste of the drink. It was concluded from the sensory analyses that the best mixture was that formulated with sugarcane juice and 4% of lemon juice as well as 10% of pineapple juice. Sugarcane juice centesimal composition wasn&#39;t altered by fruit juice concentration addition. However, sugarcane juice added with 10% pineapple juice incremented manganese and reducing sugars when compared with pure sugarcane juice and added with 4% lemon juice. The market test prefered mixture was shown to be that containing sugarcane juice and natural lemon juice for evaluation the shelf life. Sugarcane juice added with 4% of lemon juice submitted to gamma radiation, heat treatment combinated with gamma radiation and heat treatment remaining satisfactory microbiological, sensory and physicalchemical characteristics until 28, 35 and 42 days respectively, after processing. These results indicated that the heat treatment was effective for sugarcane juice preservation.

This thesis deals with the design, implementation and testing of an equipment that performs spectral analysis of a gamma radiation, based on the evaluation of pulses from a scintillation detector. The pulzes are pre-amplified and digitized, and their further processing takes place numerically in an FPGA, which allows a simple modification of the function of the developed device. After an introduction to the issue of gamma radiation spectroscopy with a focus on its detection, the thesis is devoted to the development of a multichannel analyzer hardware, whose individual parts are further described later. Next, the development of a digital signal processing system in the FPGA is described. Followed by an analysis of a microcontroller firmware, and a text protocol for the controlling of the device. Finally, the results of the work are discussed, with a focus on the test measurement of gamma radiation.

Dedicated sensors are widely used throughout many industries to monitor everyday operations, maintain safety, and report performance characteristics. In order to adopt a more sustainable solution, much research is being applied to self-powered sensing, implementing solutions which harvest wasted ambient energy sources to power these dedicated sensors. The adoption of not only wireless sensor nodes, but also self-powered capabilities in the nuclear energy process is critical as it can address issues in the overall safety and longevity of nuclear power. The removal of wires for data and power transmission can greatly reduce the cost of both installation and upkeep of power plants, while self-powered capabilities can further reduce effort and money spent in replacing batteries, and importantly may enable sensors to work even in losses to power across the plant, increasing plant safety. This thesis outlines three harvesting opportunities in the nuclear energy process from: thermal, vibration, and radiation sources in the main structure of the power plant, and from thermal and radiation energy from spent fuel in dry cask storage. Thermal energy harvesters for the primary and secondary coolant loops are outlined, and experimental analysis done on their longevity in high-radiation environments is discussed. A vibrational energy harvester for large rotating plant machine vibration is designed, prototyped, and tested, and a model is produced to describe its motion and energy output. Finally, an introduction to the design of a gamma radiation and thermal energy harvester for spent nuclear fuel canisters is discussed, and further research steps are suggested. / Master of Science / In this work multiple energy harvesters are investigated aimed at collecting wasted ambient energy to locally power sensor nodes in nuclear power plants, and in spent nuclear fuel canisters. Locally self-powered, wireless sensors can increase safety and reliability throughout the nuclear process. To address this a thermal energy harvester is tested in a radiation rich environment, and its performance before and after irradiation is analyzed. A vibrational energy harvester designed for use on large rotating machinery is discussed, manufactured, and tested, and a mathematical model describing it is produced. Finally, an introduction to harvesting radiation and heat given off from spent nuclear fuel in dry cask canister storage is investigated. Power capabilities for each design are considered, and the impact of such energy harvesting for wireless sensor nodes on the longevity, safety, and reliability of nuclear power plants is discussed.

No description available.

Résumé : Il est généralement admis que les cassures double-brin (CDB) de l’ADN sont parmi les lésions les plus toxiques induites par les radiations ionisantes (RI). Les CDBs non ou mal réparées peuvent conduire à une instabilité génomique et à la mort cellulaire. La chimioradiothérapie concomitante est l’une des modalités la plus efficace pour le traitement de certains cancers surtout en stade avancé. Le rendement des CDBs a augmenté quand l’ADN a été irradié en présence de cisplatine avec des électrons de basse énergie (EBEs). Notre étude a pour objectif de réévaluer la contribution des CDBs et d’autres lésions induites par les RI dans la létalité cellulaire. L'effet des RI sur la fonctionnalité de l’ADN plasmidique modifié ou non de façon covalente par le cisplatine a été étudié par mesure de l'efficacité de transformation du plasmide dans E. coli. Les complexes cisplatine-ADN ont été préparés de telle sorte qu’il y avait en moyenne deux adduits de cisplatine par plasmide tel que mesuré par ICP-MS. Nos échantillons ont été irradiés en solution avec des doses croissantes de rayonnements gamma (137Cs). La présence de cisplatine a augmenté la formation des CDBs par un facteur de 2.6 par comparaison avec l'ADN non modifié. Malgré cette augmentation, le rendement des CDBs reste très faible et ne peut pas expliquer la perte de fonctionnalité observée. Alors que, les dommages multiples localisés (LMDS) (non-DSB cluster damage) donnant naissance à des CDBs sous l’action des enzymes de réparation la formamidopyrimidine [fapy]-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) et l’endonuclease III (Nth) où leur rendement a été augmenté d’un facteur de 2.1 lorsque l’ADN a été irradié en présence de cisplatine, ont pu expliquer la perte de fonctionnalité observée. Ces résultats suggèrent que le cisplatine peut agir, non seulement comme un agent chimiothérapeutique, mais aussi comme un radiosensibilisateur efficace par addition d’autres lésions à l’ADN. Aussi, pour la première fois nous avons pu évaluer l’effet des EBEs sur la létalité cellulaire. Des films d'ADN ont été préparés en utilisant la méthode d’adsorption douce sur un substrat de graphite pyrolytique, en présence de 1,3- diaminopropane (Dap[indice supérieur]2+) et ont été irradiées avec des EBEs 10 eV. Nous avons pu conclure, qu’en plus des CSBs, CDBs et des dommages de base, les EBEs sont capables aussi d’induire des LMDS (non-DSB cluster damage) et induire la perte de fonctionnalité de l’ADN. Le rendement des CDBs est très faible d’où ils n’ont pas pu expliquer la perte de fonctionnalité de plasmide observée, après irradiation avec les EBEs. Le rendement très faible des LMDS (non-DSB cluster damage) ne peut pas expliquer la perte de fonctionnalité de l’ADN. Il semble que les EBEs sont capables d’induire des dommages très proches les uns des autres et qui ne peuvent pas être révélés par les enzymes de réparation Fpg et Nth. Plus les dommages sont proches les uns des autres, plus leur réparation est difficile, car une de ces lésions peut inhiber la réparation de l’autre la plus proche. // Abstract : It is generally accepted that DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) are among the most toxic lesions induced by ionizing radiation (IR). Unrepaired or misrepaired DSB can lead to genomic instability and cell death. It is known that concomitant chemoradiation therapy is one of the most preferred methods for the treatment of certain cancers especially in advanced stage. The yield of DSBs was increased when DNA was irradiated with low energy electron (LEEs). The aims of our study was to reassess the contribution of DSBs and other lesions induced by indirect and direct effect of IR in cell lethality. The effect of IR on the DNA functionality of the plasmid modified covalently with cisplatin was studied by measuring the transformation efficiency of the plasmid in E. coli. Cisplatin-DNA complexes were prepared such that there was an average of two cisplatin adducts per plasmid as measured by ICP-MS. Aqueous solutions of the samples were irradiated with 137Cs [gamma]-rays at various doses. Gel electrophoresis analysis shows that cisplatin enhances, by a factor of 2.6, the formation of DSB by [gamma]-rays relative to those in unmodified DNA. Despite this increase, the yield of DSBs is very low and cannot explain the loss of functionality observed after transformation with plasmids modified with cisplatin. While locally multiple damaged sites (LMDS) revealed by repair enzymes Fpg (Formamidopyrimidine [fapy]-DNA glycosylase) and Nth (Endonuclease III) as DSB (nonDSB cluster damage), where their yield was increased by a factor of 2.1 when DNA was irradiated in the presence of cisplatin were able to explain the observed loss of DNA functionality. These results suggest that cisplatin may act not only as a chemotherapeutic agent, but also as an effective radiosensitizer by addition of other DNA lesions. For the first time, we could also evaluate the effect of low energy electrons (LEEs) on DNA functionality. Highly ordered DNA films were prepared on pyrolytic graphite by molecular self-assembly using 1,3-diaminopropane ions (Dap[superscript]2+) to bind together the plasmids and irradiated with LEE (10 eV). We concluded that in addition to CSBs, DSBs and base damage, LEEs induced the formation of non-DSB cluster damage and also induced the loss of DNA functionality under LEE irradiation. The yields of DSBs and of non-DSB cluster damage are too low and so one unable to explain the loss of DNA functionality. It seems that LEEs are able to induce a high complex damage that cannot be revealed by repair enzymes Fpg and Nth. The high complex damage is difficult to repair possibly because the repair of one lesion, may inhibit the repair of another.

Les rayonnements ionisants sont un facteur de risque reconnu pour les leucémies chez l'homme pour des fortes doses d'exposition médicale ou accidentelle. En revanche, l'hypothèse de l'existence d'un risque associé aux rayonnements ionisants à des niveaux d’exposition inférieurs, habituellement rencontrés dans l'environnement et de manière continue reste à démontrer. Notre travail propose d’évaluer l’hypothèse de l’existence d’une association entre les expositions environnementales aux radiations ionisantes d’origine naturelle et le risque de leucémie de l’enfant (LA) en utilisant des observations réalisées en France métropolitaine.Les cas de leucémie inclus dans ce travail sont toutes les LA du Registre National des Hémopathies malignes de l’Enfant, qui enregistre l'ensemble des cas de moins de 15 ans diagnostiqués en France métropolitaine, sur la période étudiée.Un premier travail a consisté à étudier la répartition spatiale de l’incidence des leucémies de l’enfant au niveau des 1 916 bassins de vie (BV) définis par l’INSEE. Des méthodes de détection de cluster ont été appliquées sur les 7 675 cas de leucémies de l'enfant diagnostiqués entre 1990 et 2006 afin d’identifier les zones potentiellement associées à un plus fort risque de leucémies aiguës de l’enfant. Cette étude n'a pas mis en évidence d’hétérogénéité spatiale des taux d'incidence des LA de l'enfant au cours de la période 1990-2006 au niveau des BV. Cependant, quelques clusters spatiaux ont été identifiés dans des lieux et périodes spécifiques. Bien que les niveaux de significativité de ces clusters ne soutiennent pas fortement l'existence de facteurs de risque localisés, les clusters peuvent montrer un léger impact de facteurs de risque partagés à l'échelle des BV.Pour tester l’hypothèse de l’existence d’une association entre l’exposition aux radiations ionisantes d’origine naturelle et l’incidence des leucémies de l’enfant, une étude d’incidence basée sur les 9 056 cas de LA de la période 1990-2009 a été réalisée. Cette étude a été complétée par une étude cas-témoins en population fondée sur les 2 763 cas de LA enregistrés sur la période 2002-2007 et un ensemble témoin de 30 000 sujets constituant un échantillon contemporain représentatif de la population pédiatrique française. Dans cette approche, la géolocalisation des adresses des cas et des témoins ainsi que celle des sources d'exposition et leur caractérisation permet de définir les critères de l'intensité d'exposition aux facteurs d'intérêt et de les mettre en relation avec le statut cas vs témoins des sujets.Les données concernant l'exposition à la radioactivité d’origine naturelle ont été produites par l'IRSN (Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire). Une cartographie du potentiel d’exhalation du radon émis par le sol et un échantillon national de 10 843 points de mesures localisés dans des habitations ont permis d’estimer l’exposition résidentielle au radon au niveau de la commune et du domicile. L’exposition aux rayonnements gamma telluriques et cosmiques a été estimée par zone d’emploi à partir d’un ensemble de 28 000 mesures issues de la campagne nationale IRSN et de mesures réalisées dans approximativement 1 000 sites couvrant la France entière, dans un but de surveillance de la radioactivité ambiante.Notre étude n’a pas montré d’association entre les leucémies de l’enfant et l’exposition aux radiations ionisantes d’origine naturelle estimée au diagnostic et de façon cumulée pendant l’enfance. Elle avait une bonne puissance pour mettre en évidence les risques attendus d’après les modèles de risque actuels (UNSCEAR) issus des études sur les risques observés à forte dose. Cette question reste néanmoins suffisamment importante et peu explorée pour mériter des études complémentaires dans d’autres pays. / Ionizing radiation due to medical or accidental exposure to high doses is an established risk factor for leukemia in humans. However, the evidence of a risk associated with exposure to ionizing radiation at lower levels usually encountered in the environment remains to be demonstrated. Our work aims to evaluate the hypothesis of the existence of an association between natural background ionizing radiation and the risk of childhood leukemia (CL) using observations made in France.Leukemia cases included in this study are all the CL recorded in the National Registry of Childhood Hematological Malignancies, an exhaustive repository of all cases of patients younger than 15 years old in France over the studied period.First step was the study of the spatial distribution of the incidence of CL at the level of the 1,916 Living Zone (LZ) defined by INSEE. Cluster detection methods have been used on 7,675 cases of CL diagnosed during the period 1990-2006 to identify areas potentially associated with a higher risk of acute childhood leukemia. The study did not show any spatial heterogeneity of incidence of CL during the period at LZ level. However, some spatial clusters were highlighted in specific places and times. Although the levels of significance of these clusters do not strongly support the existence of risk factors, localized clusters can show a slight impact of risk factors shared across LZ, including contextual environmental exposures.To test the hypothesis of the existence of an association between environmental exposure to ionizing radiation of natural origin and incidence of childhood leukemia, an incidence study based on 9,056 cases of CL for the period 1990-2009 was conducted. This study was complemented by a record-based cases-controls study based on the 2,763 cases of CL recorded over the 2002-2007 period and a control set of 30,000 subjects constituting a representative sample of the contemporary French pediatric population. In this approach, localizations of cases and controls and exposure identifications were geocoded and compared to the status cases vs control population.Data of exposure to natural background radiation were produced by the IRSN (Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety). Mapping of the “potential radon exhalation emitted by the ground” and a national sampling of 10,843 measurement points located in dwellings were used to estimate residential exposure to radon at a level of granularity of cities and houses. Exposure to terrestrial gamma and cosmic rays was estimated by zone d’emploi based on a set of more than 28,000 environmental measurements in approximately 1,000 sites covering whole France, and by the IRSN national campaign data. Our study did not show any association of childhood leukemia with exposures to natural background radiation estimated nor at diagnosis nor cumulatively during childhood. However it had a good power to highlight the risks expected from current models of risk (UNSCEAR) built from studies on the observed high doses risks. If this work does not support the hypothesis that there is an association between exposure to ionizing radiation from natural sources observed and the incidence of childhood leukemia which may be directly observable at the epidemiologic level, this question remains important enough and not investigated enough to merit further complementary studies in countries where it has not been investigated.

No presente trabalho foram estudadas as propriedades mecâncias (resistência à tração e porcentagem de alongamento na ruptura e resistência à perfuração), propriedades ópticas, permeabilidade ao gás oxigênio e ao vapor d\'água, migração total em simulante aquoso (ácido acético 3%) e gorduroso (n- heptano), e a formação de produtos voláteis da radiólise, com vistas à avaliar o efeito da radiação ionizante (raios gama e feixe de elétrons) em filmes flexíveis mono e multicamadas comerciais, fabricados no Brasil para a indústria de produtos cárneos. Os filmes estudados foram: um monocamada de polietileno de baixa densidade (LDPE) e um multicamadas coextrusado composto de polietileno de baixa densidade (LDPE), copolímero de etileno e álcool vinílico (EVOH) e poliamida (PA), ou seja, a estrutura: LDPE/EVOH/PA. As irradiações foram realizadas em uma fonte de 60Co do tipo Gammacell e em um acelerador de elétrons do tipo eletrostático (l,5MeV), com doses de até 30 kGy, na temperatura ambiente e presença de ar. As alterações nas propriedades foram avaliadas de acordo com a dose de radiação aplicada, oito dias após a irradiação e novamente, dois a três meses após a irradiação. Os resultados mostraram que as reações de cisão predominaram sobre as reações de reticulação para ambos os filmes estudados, irradiados com raios gama ou com feixe de elétrons. As variações observadas em função da irradiação, nas propriedades avaliadas não limitam a aplicação final desses filmes, uma vez que não ultrapassaram o limite de segurança especificado pelo fabricante em nenhuma dose e período em que foram estudadas. Concluiu-se que os filmes estudados podem ser utilizados, sob o ponto de vista das propriedades avaliadas, como embalagens para produtos pasteurizáveis por radiação e radioesterilizáveis usando irradiadores gama ou aceleradores de elétrons, nas doses de radiação estudadas. / In this study the mechanical properties (tensile strength and percentage elongation at break and penetration resistance), optical properties, gas oxygen and water vapor permeability, the overall migration tests into aqueous food simulant (3% aqueous acetic acid) and fatty food simulant (n-heptane), as well as the formation of volatile radiation product tests were used to evaluate the effects of ionizing radiation (gamma irradiation or electron-beam irradiation) on commercial monolayer and multilayer flexible plastics packaging materials. These films are two typical materials produced in Brazil for industrial meat packaging, one of them is a monolayer low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and other is a multilayer co extruded low-density polyethylene (LDPE), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyamide (PA) based film (LDPE/EVOH/PA). Film samples were irradiated with doses up to 30 kGy, at room temperature and in the presence of air with gamma rays using a 60Co facility and electron beam from 1.5 MeV electrostatic accelerator. Alterations of these properties were detected according to the dose applied initially eight day after irradiation took place and new alterations of these values when the properties were evaluate two to three months after irradiation process. The results showed that scission reactions are higher than cross-linking process for both studied films, irradiated with gamma rays and electron beam. The evaluated properties of the irradiated films were not affected significantly with the dose range and period studied. The monolayer Unipac PE-60 and the multilayer Lovaflex CH 130 films can be used as food packaging materials for food pasteurization and in the sterilization process of by ionizing radiation using a gamma facilities and electron beam accelerators in commercial scale.