Naslov
Radioactive contamination of the environment due to phosphate fertilizer production

Autori
Marović, Gordana ; Kovač, Jadranka ; Senčar, Jasminka ; Bronzović, Maja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u zbornicima skupova, cjeloviti rad (in extenso), znanstveni

Izvornik
IRPA 11 Full papaers. 11th International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association / - Madrid : International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA), 2004

Skup
11th International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association

Mjesto i datum
Madrid, Španjolska, 23.05.2004. - 28.05.2004

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
phosphate fertilizer production; radium; environmental contamination; surface water; ground water

Sažetak
Phosphate ore is starting material for all phosphate products and is the main source of phosphorus for fertilizer production. Prior to processing, phosphate ore contains radium and its decay products, which tends to stay in phosphogypsum produced during the wet phosphoric acid process. Most of the phosphogypsum is considered waste and is disposed at local dump sites or used as by-products. The local dump sites, containing radium are often unprotected and may be a source of contamination to surface or ground waters. Practical implications of this finding are important in view of possible environmental contamination of the area around a fertilizer plant. This study was carried out in the area of a phosphate fertilizer factory in central Croatia, within systematic radioactive measurements of the Croatian environment performed by the Radiation Protection Unit of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb. The purpose of this paper was to determine radium specific activity resulting from the phosphate fertilizer production and evaluate possible environmental contamination of the area. Distribution of total radium by the components of the production process was assessed from the values of the radium initial concentrations in raw material, and mean values of radium concentrations measured in waste water, trickling water from piezometers, phosphogypsum deposit and final products.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

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