A radiological evaluation of phosphogypsum

Health Phys. 1991 May;60(5):691-3. doi: 10.1097/00004032-199105000-00008.

Abstract

Phosphogypsum is the by-product resulting from phosphoric acid or phosphate fertilizer production. The phosphate are used in these chemical processes contains the naturally occurring radioactive material U and all its subsequent decay products. During processing, the U generally remains in the phosphoric acid product, while the daughter, 226Ra, tends to be concentrated in the phosphogypsum. Phosphogypsum has physical properties that make it useful as a sub-base for roadways, parking lots, and similar construction. A radiological evaluation, to determine exposures to workers mixing this material with a stabilizing agent (portland cement), was performed at a South Louisiana phosphoric acid chemical plant. Measurements of the 226Ra content of the phosphogypsum showed an average of 1.1 +/- 0.3 Bq g-1 (0.7-1.7 Bq g-1). The average measured gross gamma exposure rate on the phosphogypsum pile corresponded to a dose equivalent rate of 0.368 +/- 0.006 mu Sv h-1 (0.32-0.42 mu Sv h-1). Radon daughter concentrations measured on top of the phosphogypsum pile ranged from 0.0006 to 0.001 working levels. An analysis of the airborne 226Ra concentrations showed only background levels.

MeSH terms

  • Bismuth / analysis
  • Calcium Sulfate*
  • Chemical Industry*
  • Lead / analysis
  • Occupational Exposure*
  • Phosphoric Acids*
  • Polonium / analysis
  • Radioactive Waste*
  • Radium / analysis
  • Radon Daughters
  • Refuse Disposal*

Substances

  • Phosphoric Acids
  • Radioactive Waste
  • Radon Daughters
  • Lead
  • Polonium
  • Bismuth
  • Radium
  • Calcium Sulfate