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Radioactivity of phosphate rocks and products used in Serbia and assessment of radiation risk for workers

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Abstract

The activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in 56 phosphate samples (phosphate rocks, monocalcium, and dicalcium phosphates) used in Serbia were determined using gamma spectrometry to assess the exposure level of workers. Radium equivalent index (Raeq), absorbed gamma dose rate (DR), annual effective dose (AED), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were evaluated. The highest external exposure was recorded when working with phosphate rocks, as Raeq, DR, and ELCR exceed the recommended/average values. The annual effective doses for workers in the phosphate industry are below 1 mSv y−1 and comparable to the values from other studies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, Grant No. 451-03-9/2022-14/ 200125.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 4, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Predrag Kuzmanović, Jan Hansman, Sofija Forkapić, Dušan Mrđa & Jovana Knežević Radić

  2. Laboratory for Physics, Department of Medical and Business-Technological Studies, Academy of Applied Studies Šabac, Hajduk Veljkova 10, 15000, Šabac, Serbia

    Predrag Kuzmanović & Leposava Filipović Petrović

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  1. Predrag Kuzmanović
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Correspondence to Predrag Kuzmanović.

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Kuzmanović, P., Petrović, L.F., Hansman, J. et al. Radioactivity of phosphate rocks and products used in Serbia and assessment of radiation risk for workers. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 699–712 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08785-9

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