Internal dosimetry in France -: scientific status and regulations:: past, present and future

An overview is given of the situation in France in relation to internal dosimetry including research in biokinetics and decorporation. From the establishment of the French nuclear safety and protection programmes to the development of an integrated internal contamination programme, the approach to internal dosimetry and biokinetics research is described. A number of problems have not yet been fully understood, and these need further efforts in research. The future of internal dosimetry will, however, rely significantly on international collaboration.