Manufacturing and distribution companies for certain discharge lamps are renewing their request for a derogation from the ban on the addition of radionuclides, as set out in Article R.1333-2 of the French Public Health Code.

Krypton-85 is used in some discharge lamps and fluorescent tubes to facilitate their ignition (or starting) — that is, the initiation of the electrical discharge. Thorium-232, unlike krypton-85, has no role in ignition by radiation. It serves to extend the lifetime of the electrodes, stabilize the discharge, and make the cathode more robust and less prone to degradation.

The HCSP notes, on one hand, that although LED technology offers potential alternative solutions to replace these lamps (e.g. high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps), technological and economic constraints remain significant. On the other hand, the HCSP emphasizes that the users of these lamps are mainly professionals, who therefore have better control over radioactive and electrical risks, through authorized and legally regulated use, supported by specialized disposal channels and traceability.