Global Nuclear Protective Clothing Market to Grow at CAGR 4%

Tech Textiles & Nonwovens

Global Nuclear Protective Clothing Market to Grow at CAGR 4%

Technavio has published a new report on the global nuclear protective clothing market from 2017-2021. Technavio analysts forecast the global nuclear protective clothing market to reach US$ 275.23 million by 2021, according to their latest report. The research study covers the present scenario & growth prospects of the global nuclear protective clothing market for 2017-2021. The report further segments the market based on application (power plants & research) and geography (the Americas, APAC, and EMEA).

The nuclear industry poses several threats, including emission of hazardous radiation and severe nuclear accidents. In the past, incidents such as Chernobyl in Ukraine and Fukushima in Japan disasters have added to the safety concerns in the industry. The highly-regulated nature of the nuclear industry has driven the market for nuclear protective clothing, globally. International organisations, such as International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU), promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and publishes both standards and recommendations for radiation safety.

Technavio analysts highlight the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the global nuclear protective clothing market:

1. High regulated industry

2. Demand for protective clothing from nuclear research

3. Recurring demand for nuclear protective clothing

High regulated industry

The occurrence of occupational exposure to ionizing radiation is very common in nuclear power plants and nuclear research institutes. It is mandatory to protect the workers from getting exposed to harmful radiations while working at nuclear power plants and research labs. This radiation can cause deterministic effects, leading to harmful tissue reactions, causing radiation sickness, and stochastic effects, which are severe effects caused by radiation on an individual leading to hereditary effects and cancer.

Sayani Roy, a lead power research analyst at Technavio, says, "ICRP, IAEA, and ICRU are the three international organisations that recommend radiation protection levels. These organisations define the requirements for safety and healthy work environment including the use of protective clothing."

Demand for protective clothing from nuclear research

The operating of about 243 research reactors in 55 countries globally is driving the growth of protective clothing for safer handling of radioactive particulates. These research reactors are smaller than nuclear power plants and are not used for power generation. University campuses harbour most of the nuclear research labs. The year 2016 shows the presence of 243 operational research reactors, out of which 89 are in the developing countries.

"Research reactors have a wide range of applications, such as testing, analysis, and production of radioisotopes used in nuclear industry; fusion research; environmental science; and nuclear medicine. The high demand for protective clothing during applied research, which is carried out at various research centers around the world, where employees deal with hazardous particles, will drive the nuclear protective clothing market," adds Sayani.

Recurring demand for nuclear protective clothing

Due to reasons such as high rate of personnel contamination events, the protective clothing used in the nuclear industry are majorly for single use. Single use protective garments reduce the chance of cross-contamination with radioactive particles. The garments are designed to minimise the penetration of radioactive particles and offer body coverage free of radioactive materials. There is a constant demand for disposable nuclear protective clothing because of the existence of operable nuclear plants as well as nuclear plants that are planned and under construction. Top vendors of nuclear protective wear include 3M, DuPont, Honeywell, Lakeland Industries.