Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of radiological impact on the surrounding environment and biota for phosphogypsum waste stockyard in Korean facility

  • Research
  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, the effects of deposited gypsum residues on the surrounding environment and radiation exposure in plants and animals were evaluated under various exposure situations. A waste stockyard in a Korean facility (surrounded by mountains and sea) was used to store phosphogypsum, a byproduct of phosphoric acid processes, in a slurry form in a large gypsum storage facility (provided separately on the facility site). The ERICA tool was used to evaluate the impact of radiation on nonhuman environments for mineral processing and waste storage for risk estimation. The impact of radiation on the environment due to the phosphogypsum stockyard was negligible with a screening dose of less than 10 μGy h−1. However, to conservatively evaluate the environmental impact of rain and wind in the phosphogypsum stockyard, the soil at the interface of the stockyard, where plants could not grow, was considered as an input value, and the estimated dose rate of shrubs was found to be 45 μGy h−1. The effects of the phosphogypsum stockyard on the surrounding environment accounted for 95–100% of the total dose for internal exposure in biota. In general, radium was found to be the highest contributor to biota, and the next lead and polonium were contributors to the dose. The findings contribute to an understanding of the radiological impact of waste stored and disposed of at the facility on the environment and biota (all routes of exposure) and to developing sustainable operations and pollution monitoring policies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Code availability

Not applicable.

References

  • Andersson, P., Garnier-Laplace, J., Beresford, N. A., Copplestone, D., Howard, B. J., Howe, P., . . . Whitehouse, P. (2009). Protection of the environment from ionising radiation in a regulatory context (PROTECT): Proposed numerical benchmark values. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 100(12), 1100–1108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.02.025

  • Aoun, M., El Samrani, A., Lartiges, B., Kazpard, V., & Saad, Z. (2010). Releases of phosphate fertilizer industry in the surrounding environment: Investigation on heavy metals and polonium-210 in soil. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 22(9), 1387–1397. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1001-0742(09)60247-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bituh, T. (2014). The environmental behaviour of radium: Revised edition (Technical Reports Series No. 476). Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 65(2), A20-A20.

  • Borges, R. C., Ribeiro, F. C. A., da Costa Lauria, D., & Bernedo, A. V. B. (2013). Radioactive characterization of phosphogypsum from Imbituba, Brazil. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 126, 188–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.07.020

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. E., Alfonso, B., Avila, R., Beresford, N. A., Copplestone, D., Pröhl, G., & Ulanovsky, A. (2008). The ERICA tool. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 99(9), 1371–1383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.01.008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. E., Alfonso, B., Avila, R., Beresford, N. A., Copplestone, D., & Hosseini, A. (2016). A new version of the ERICA tool to facilitate impact assessments of radioactivity on wild plants and animals. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 153, 141–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.12.011

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho, F., Fernandes, S., Fesenko, S., Holm, E., Howard, B., Martin, P., . . . Twining, J. (2017). The environmental behaviour of polonium (Vol. 484). International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna, Austria.

  • Chen, J., Zhu, Y., & Yang, J. (1993). Determination of radioactivity in Chinese phosphate rock and fertilizer. (In Proceedings Of Asia Congress on Radiation Protection)

  • Copplestone, D., Hingston, J., & Real, A. (2008). The development and purpose of the FREDERICA radiation effects database. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 99(9), 1456–1463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.01.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garnier-Laplace, J., Copplestone, D., Gilbin, R., Alonzo, F., Ciffroy, P., Gilek, M., . . . Jaworska, A. (2008). Issues and practices in the use of effects data from FREDERICA in the ERICA integrated approach. Journal of environmental radioactivity, 99(9), 1474–1483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.04.012

  • Guimond, R. J., & Hardin, J. M. (1989). Radioactivity released from phosphate-containing fertilizers and from gypsum. International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation. Part C. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 34(2), 309–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/1359-0197(89)90238-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haridasan, P., Pillai, P., Tripathi, R., & Puranik, V. (2009). An evaluation of radiation exposures in a tropical phosphogypsum disposal environment. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 135(3), 211–215. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncp098

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, N., Kim, Y., Jang, J., Chang, B., & Chae, J. (2018). Comparative study of precise measurements of natural radionuclides and radiation dose using in-situ and laboratory γ-ray spectroscopy techniques. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32220-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, I. (2011). Naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM VI). Proceedings of an International Symposium.

  • Hull, C., & Burnett, W. (1996). Radiochemistry of Florida phosphogypsum. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 32(3), 213–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/0265-931X(95)00061-E

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IAEA. (2003). Extent of environmental contamination by naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) and technological options for mitigation. International Atomic Energy Agency.

  • IAEA. (2004). Occupational radiation protection in the mining and processing of raw materials. International Atomic Energy Agency.

  • IAEA. (2007). Assessing the need for radiation protection measures in work involving minerals and raw materials. International Atomic Energy Agency.

  • IAEA. (2013a). Management of NORM residues. International Atomic Energy Agency.

  • IAEA. (2013b). Radiation protection and management of NORM residues in the phosphate industry. International Atomic Energy Agency.

  • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). (1992). Effects of ionising radiation on plants and animals at levels implied by current radiation protection standards. Technical Reports Series No. 332. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency.

  • KIM, H. E. A. (2018). Investigation and analysis of actual state of safety management for radiation in the natural environment. (Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety).

  • Lecomte, J., Shaw, P., Liland, A., Markkanen, M., Egidi, P., Andresz, S., . . . Okyar, H. (2019). ICRP publication 142: Radiological protection from naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in industrial processes. Annals of the ICRP, 48(4), 5–67.

  • Lee, G.-J., Koh, S.-M., Chang, B.-U., Kim, T.-K., & Kim, Y.-U. (2010). Investigation on the natural radioactive industrial materials [Report]. KINS/HR-1033(Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety), 1–28.

  • Louw, I. (2020). Potential radiological impact of the phosphate industry in South Africa on the public and the environment (Paper 1). Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 217, 106214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, A., Mead, S., & Wade, B. O. (1997). Materials containing natural radionuclides in enhanced concentrations. Materials containing natural radionuclides in enhanced concentrations.

  • Mourad, N., Sharshar, T., Elnimr, T., & Mousa, M. (2009). Radioactivity and fluoride contamination derived from a phosphate fertilizer plant in Egypt. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 67(7–8), 1259–1268. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0969-8043(00)00380-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Othman, I., & Al-Masri, M. (2007). Impact of phosphate industry on the environment: A case study. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 65(1), 131–141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parfenov, Y. D. (1974). Polonium-210 in the environment and in the human organism. Atomic Energy Review, 12(1), 75–143.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pelegrina, J. A., & Martı́nez-Aguirre, A. (2001). Natural radioactivity in groundwaters around a fertilizer factory complex in South of Spain. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 55(3), 419–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0969-8043(00)00380-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prlić, I., Mostečak, A., Surić Mihić, M., Veinović, Ž, & Pavelić, L. (2017). Radiological risk assessment: An overview of the ERICA integrated approach and the ERICA Tool use. Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada i Toksikologiju, 68(4), 298–307. https://doi.org/10.1515/aiht-2017-68-3020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Protection, R. (2007). ICRP publication 103. Ann ICRP, 37(2.4), 2.

  • Radiation, U. N. S. C. o. t. E. o. A. (1982). Ionizing radiation: Sources and biological effects. 1982 report to the general assembly, with annexes.

  • Radiation, U. N. S. C. o. t. E. o. A. (1993). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 1993 report: Report to the general assembly, with scientific annexes. United Nations.

  • Radiation, U. N. S. C. o. t. E. o. A. (2008). Effects of ionizing radiation, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 2006 report, volume I: Report to the general assembly, scientific annexes A and B. United Nations.

  • Radiation, U. N. S. C. o. t. E. o. A. (2011). United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation(2008) report to the general assembly, with scientific annexes (Vol. 2). United Nations Publications.

  • Sheppard, S., Sheppard, M., Ilin, M., Tait, J., & Sanipelli, B. (2008). Primordial radionuclides in Canadian background sites: Secular equilibrium and isotopic differences. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 99(6), 933–946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2007.11.018

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szajerski, P. (2020). Distribution of uranium and thorium chains radionuclides in different fractions of phosphogypsum grains. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(13), 15856–15868. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08090-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UNSCEAR. (1996). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to the general assembly with scientific annex A/AC.82/R.54. Vienna: United Nations 

  • UNSCEAR. UNSCEAR (2000) Sources, effect and risks of ionising radiation. Report to the general assembly with scientific annexes. United Nations. New York.

  • Vandenhove, H., i Batlle, J. V., Sweeck, L. (2015). Potential radiological impact of the phosphate industry on wildlife. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 141, 14-23.https://doi.org/10.1016/0265-931X(95)00061-E

  • Villa, M., Mosqueda, F., Hurtado, S., Mantero, J., Manjón, G., Periañez, R., . . . García-Tenorio, R. (2009). Contamination and restoration of an estuary affected by phosphogypsum releases. Science of the Total Environment, 408(1), 69–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.09.028

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea

    JuHyun Lee & Sung Chul Yi

  2. Department of NORM Analysis, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    JuHyun Lee

Authors
  1. JuHyun Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sung Chul Yi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

JuHyun Lee: Writing, original draft; writing — reviewing and editing. Sung Chul Yi: Conceptualization, writing — reviewing and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sung Chul Yi.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lee, J., Yi, S.C. Assessment of radiological impact on the surrounding environment and biota for phosphogypsum waste stockyard in Korean facility. Environ Monit Assess 195, 767 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11387-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11387-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation