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Al-Jundi, J.* ; Al-Ahmad, N.* ; Shehadeh, H.* ; Afaneh, F.* ; Maghrabi, M.* ; Gerstmann, U. ; Höllriegl, V. ; Oeh, U.

Investigations on the activity concentrations of U-238, Ra-226, Ra-228, Pb-210 and K-40 in Jordan phosphogypsum and fertilizers.

Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 131, 449-454 (2008)
DOI
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
The activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides (U-238, Ra-226, Ra-228, Pb-210 and K-40) in Jordanian phosphate ore, fertilizer material and phosphogypsum piles were investigated. The results show the partitioning of radionuclides in fertilizer products and phosphogypsum piles. The outcome of this study will enrich the Jordanian radiological map database, and will be useful for an estimation of the radiological impact of this industrial complex on the immediate environment. The activity concentration of Pb-210 was found to vary from 95 +/- 8 to 129 +/- 8 Bq kg(-1) with a mean value of 111 +/- 14 Bq kg(-1) in fertilizer samples, and from 364 +/- 8 to 428 +/- 10 Bq kg(-1) with a mean value of 391 +/- 30 Bq kg(-1) in phosphogypsum samples; while in phosphate wet rock samples, it was found to vary between 621 +/- 9 and 637 +/- 10 Bq kg(-1), with a mean value of 628 +/- 7 Bq kg(-1). The activity concentration of Ra-226 in fertilizer samples (between 31 +/- 4 and 42 +/- 5 Bq kg(-1) with a mean value of 37 +/- 6 Bq kg(-1)) was found to be much smaller than the activity concentration of Ra-226 in phosphogypsum samples (between 302 +/- 8 and 442 +/- 8 Bq kg(-1) with a mean value of 376 +/- 62 Bq kg(-1)). In contrast, the activity concentration of U-238 in fertilizer samples (between 1011 +/- 13 and 1061 +/- 14 Bq kg(-1) with a mean value of 1033 +/- 22 Bq kg(-1)) was found to be much higher than the activity concentration of U-238 in phosphogypsum samples (between 14 +/- 5 and 37 +/- 7 Bq kg(-1) with a mean value of 22 +/- 11 Bq kg(-1)). This indicates that Pb-210 and Ra-226 show similar behaviour, and are concentrated in phosphogypsum piles. In addition, both isotopes enhanced the activity concentration in phosphogypsum piles, while U-238 enhanced the activity concentration in the fertilizer. Due to the radioactivity released from the phosphate rock processing plants into the environment, the highest collective dose commitment for the lungs was found to be 1.02 person nGy t(-1). Lung tissue also shows the highest effect due the presence of Ra-226 in the radioactive cloud (0.087 person nGy t(-1)).
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Keywords natural radioactivity; phosphate rock; impact; plant
Language english
Publication Year 2008
HGF-reported in Year 2008
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0144-8420
e-ISSN 1742-3406
Quellenangaben Volume: 131, Issue: 4, Pages: 449-454 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Oxford University Press
Publishing Place Oxford
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
POF-Topic(s) 30504 - Mechanisms of Genetic and Environmental Influences on Health and Disease
Research field(s) Radiation Sciences
PSP Element(s) G-501100-002
Scopus ID 57249107915
Erfassungsdatum 2008-12-31