Abstract
Radon concentrations and effective radium contents were measured using CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors. In this study, 27 local and imported phosphate fertilizer samples (liquid and solid) were collected from markets in eastern Saudi Arabia. The radon concentrations were found to vary from 3.23 ± 1.2 to 1547 ± 162 Bq m−3. The radon exhalation rates and effective radium contents ranged from 1.77 ± 0.7 to 848 ± 89 mBq m−2h−1 and from 3.53 ± 1.1 to 2246 ± 236 Bq m−3, respectively. The highest annual effective dose was from a local fertilizer sample (39 ± 9.8 mSv y−1); this value was higher than the world allowed dose. Therefore, these fertilizers can be a significant source of radiological hazards to human health. Strong correlations were found between the radon concentrations, exhalation rates and annual effective doses from the local and imported phosphate fertilizers. The radon concentrations in all fertilizer samples were compared with the recommended value from ICRP (200 Bq m−3).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lambert R., Grant C., Sauve C.: Cadmium and zinc in soil solution extracts following the application of phosphate fertilizers. Sci. Total. Environ. 378, 293–305 (2007)
Tufail M., Akhtar N., Wagas M.: Radioactive rock phosphate: the feed stock of phosphate fertilizers used in Pakistan. Health Phys. 90(4), 296–276 (2003)
UNSCEAR: Sources effects and risks of ionizing radiation. United Nations Scientific Committee on the effects of Atomic Radiation, Report to the general Assembly, with annexes, United Nations, New York (2000)
Hamdy, A.; Diab, H.M.; El-Fiki, S.A.; Nouh, S.A.: Natural radioactivity in the cultivated land around the fertilizer factory. The second All African IRPA Regional Radiation Protection Congress 22–26 April Ismailia Egypt (2007)
Akbari K., Mahmoudi J., Ghanbari M.: Influence of indoor air conditions on radon concentration in a detached house. J. Environ. Radioact. 116, 166–173 (2013)
Ajmal P.Y., Bhangare R.C., Tiwari M., Sahu S.K., Pandit G.G.: External gamma radiation levels and natural radioactivity in soil around a phosphate fertilizer plant at Mumbai. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 300(1), 23–27 (2014)
Henderson S.B., Rauch S.A., Hystad P., Kosatsky T.: Differences in lung cancer mortality trends from 1686–2012 by radon risk areas in British Columbia, Canada. J. Health Sci. 106(5), 608–613 (2014)
Klervi K., Maria S., Ladislav T., Nezahat H., Margot T., Bernd G., Michaela K., Dominique L.: Radon, smoking and lung cancer risk: results of a joint analysis of three European case–control studies among uranium miners. Radiat. Res. 176, 375–387 (2011)
Lazar I., Toth E., Marx G., Cziegler I., Kotdes G.J.: Effects of residential radon on cancer incidence. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 258(3), 519–524 (2003)
Dajawa D., Goswami A.K., Laskar I.: Radon exhalation rate studies in Makum coalfield area using track-etched detectors. Indian J. Phys. 83(8), 1155–1162 (2009)
El-Taher A., Mohamed A.A.: Elemental analysis of phosphate fertilizer consumed in Saudi Arabia. Life Sci. J. 10(4), 702–708 (2013)
Boukhenfouf W., Boucenna A.: The radioactivity measurements in soils and fertilizers using gamma spectrometry technique. J. Environ. Radioact. 102, 336–339 (2011)
El-Taher A., Al thoyaib S.S.: Natural radioactivity levels and heavy metals in chemical and organic fertilizers used in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 70, 290–295 (2011)
AlZahrani J.H., Alharbi W.R., Abbady A.G.E.: Radiological impacts of natural radioactivity and heat generation by radioactive decay of phosphorite deposits from Northwestern Saudi Arabia. Aust. J. Basic Appl. Sci. 5(6), 683–690 (2011)
Marques A.L., Santos W.D., Geraldo L.P.: Direct measurements of radon activity in water from various natural sources using nuclear track detectors. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 60, 801–804 (2004)
Baykara O., Dogru M.: Measurements of radon and uranium concentration in water and soil samples from East Anatolian Fault Systems (Turkey). Radiat. Meas. 41, 362–367 (2006)
Khater-Ashraf E.M., Higgl R.M., Pimpi M.: Radiological impacts of natural radioactivity in Abu-Tartor Phosphate deposit, Egypt. J. Environ. Radioact. 55, 255–267 (2001)
AlShahri F.: Measurement of 222Rn concentration and exhalation rate from phosphate rocks using SSBD detector in Saudi Arabia. Arab. J. Sci. Eng. 39, 5765–5770 (2014)
Hilal M.A., El Afifi E.M., Nayl A.A.: Investigation of some factors affecting on release of radon-222 from phosphogypsum waste associated with phosphate ore processing. J. Environ. Radioact. 145, 40–47 (2015)
Kadi W.M., Al-Eryani A.D.: Natural radioactivity and radon exhalation in phosphate fertilizers. Arab. J. Sci. Eng. 37, 225–231 (2012)
ICRP: Protection against radon-222 at home and at work. International Commission on Radiological Protection. Oxford: Pergamon Press. ICRP Publication No. 65 (1993)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alshahri, F., Alqahtani, M. Radon Concentrations and Effective Radium Contents in Local and Imported Phosphate Fertilizers, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Sci Eng 40, 2095–2101 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-015-1688-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-015-1688-8