engleski

Radon progeny measurements at phosphogypsum disposal pond

Natural radioactivity is a part of our natural surrounding and concentrations of natural radionuclides in the environment increase with the development of technologies. This is the case with phosphate ore processing in fertilizer industry, where a major source of exposure to the population results from inhalation of radon progeny. The basic phosphate material used to produce phosphate fertilizers is very insoluble and practically unavailable as a plant phosphorus source. For that reason, drastic chemical treatment with strong acids is necessary to produce soluble phosphate products. The phosphate rock is treated with sulphuric acid, and the phosphogypsum is filtered from the acid and hydraulically transported from the Phosphoric acid plant to the land disposal site. One of the biggest problems is safe phosphogypsum disposal, until used as secondary raw material. This paper presents the summary of results of radon progeny measurements at the site of the phosphogypsum disposal pond, as a part of the Fertilizer plant, situated in the north part of Croatia. Working levels were measured as "grab samples" for several years at phosphogypsum disposal pond. The average mean values of working levels are presented

fertilizer industry; phosphogypsum; radon progeny; working level

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