Abstract
The production of fertilizers from natural phosphate ore can lead to the redistribution of uranium and other radionuclides in products, by-products and residues and, hence, to environmental impacts and increased radiation exposures.
Uranium and other radionuclides are mainly found in the process residue phosphogypsum and to a lesser degree in the final fertilizer products. The input of radionuclides of natural origin into the food chain via phosphate fertilizers appears to be of lesser concern. Because the radionuclide activity concentrations in most of the process materials are only slightly above levels in soil, the need for specific measures to control radiological hazards to individuals and the environment is very limited. In most cases, normal occupational health and environmental protection measures designed for non-radiological hazards will be sufficient to protect against radiological hazards as well.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baetslé LH (1991) Study of Radionuclides Contained in Waste Produced by the Phosphate Industry and their Impacts of the Environment, CEC-Report EUR 13262, Luxembourg.
Banzi FP, Msaki P, Makundi IN (2002) A Survey of Background Radiation Dose Rates and Radioactivity in Tanzania, Health Phys. 82(1): 80–86.
Chernoff CB, Orris GJ (2002) Data Set of World Phosphate Mines, Deposits, and Occurrences — Part A: Geologic Data, Open-File Report 02-156-A, United States Geological Survey, Reston VA.
Hofmann J, Leicht R, Wingender R., Wörner J. (2000) Natural Radionuclide Concentrations in Materials Processed in the Chemical Industry and the Related Radiological Impact, CEC Report EUR 19264, Luxembourg.
Erkens WHH (1997) Electrothermal Phosphorus Production, Radioactivity in the Environment and Workplace, Proc. Internatl. Symp. on Radiological Problems with Natural Radioactivity in the Non-Nuclear Industry, European Commission/KEMA, Amsterdam, 8–10 September, 1997.
Florida Institute of Phosphate Research (1996) Proceedings of the Phosphogypsum Fact-Finding Forum, Dec. 7, 1995, Tallahassee, FL, FIPR Publ. No. 01-132-117, Bartow, FL.
Hull CD, Burnett WC (1969) Radiochemistry of Florida Phosphogypsum, J. Environ. Radioactivity 32(3): 213–238.
International Atomic Energy Agency (1996) International Basic Safety Standards for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources, IAEA Safety Series No. 115, IAEA, Vienna.
International Atomic Energy Agency (2002) Management of Radioactive Waste from the Mining and Milling of Uranium and Thorium Ores, IAEA Safety Guide No. WS-G-1.2.
International Atomic Energy Agency (2002) Monitoring and Surveillance of Residues from the Mining and Milling of Uranium and Thorium, IAEA Safety Report Series No. 27, IAEA, Vienna.
International Atomic Energy Agency (2003) Extent of Environmental Contamination by Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) and Technological Options for Mitigation, Technical Reports Series No. 419, IAEA, Vienna.
International Atomic Energy Agency (2004a) Application of the Concepts of Exclusion, Exemption and Clearance, IAEA Safety Guide No. RS-G-1.7, IAEA, Vienna.
International Atomic Energy Agency (2004b) Remediation of Sites with Dispersed Radioactive Contamination, IAEA TRS-424, IAEA, Vienna (2004).
International Atomic Energy Agency (in press) Remediation of Sites with Mixed Contamination of Radioactive and Other Hazardous Substances, IAEA-TRS-4XX, IAEA, Vienna.
International Fertilizer Development Center/ United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (1998) Fertilizer Manual’, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Makweba MM, Holm E (1993) The Natural Radioactivity of the Rock Phosphates, Phosphatic Products and Their Environmental Implications, Sci. Total Environ. 133: 99–110.
OECD-Nuclear Energy Agency/ International Atomic Energy Agency (2002) Uranium 2001, Resources, Production and Demand, OECD, Paris.
Osmond JK, Cowart JB, Humphreys CL, Wagner BE (1985) Radioelement Migration of Natural and Mined Phosphate Terrains, Report 05-002-027, FIPR, Bartow, FL.
Othman I, Al-Husari M, Raja G (1992) Radiation Exposure Levels in Phosphate Mining Activities, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 45(1–4): 197–201
Roessler CE, Smith ZA, Bolch WE, Prince RJ (1979) Uranium and Radium-226 in Florida Phosphate Materials, Health Phys. 37: 269–277.
Schmidt G, Kuppens C, Robinson P (1995) Handling of Radium and Uranium Contaminated Waste Piles and Other Wastes from Phosphate Ore Processing, CEC Report EUR 15448EN, Luxembourg.
United Nations Environment Programme/ United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (1998) Mineral Fertilizer Production and the Environment. Part 1. The Fertilizer Industry’s Manufacturing Processes And Environmental Issues, IFA/UNEP/UNIDO, Technical Report No.26 Part 1: 66 p.
US Environmental Protection Agency (1990) Report to Congress on Special Wastes from Mineral Processing, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Report EPA/530-SW-90-070C, Washington, DC.
Vandenhove H, Bousher A, Hedemann Jensen P, Jackson D, Lambers B, Zeevaert T (2000) Investigation of a Possible Basis for a Common Approach with Regard to the Restoration of Areas Affected by Lasting Radiation Exposure as a Result of Past or Old Practice or Work Activity-CARE, Final Report to the European Commission, Contract 96-ET-006, Radiation Protection 115: 285 p.
Van der Westhuizen R, Foskor Limited, Phalaborwa, South Africa (2002) Personal communication.
Van Straaten P (2002) Rocks for Crops: Agrominerals of Sub-Saharan Africa, International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, Nairobi, Kenya.
World Bank Group (1998) Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook — Phosphate Fertilizer Plants, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Falck, W.E., Wymer, D. (2006). Uranium in phosphate fertilizer production. In: Merkel, B.J., Hasche-Berger, A. (eds) Uranium in the Environment. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-28367-6_89
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-28367-6_89
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-28363-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-28367-6
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)