US EPA

1434270 

Journal Article 

Radioactive contamination in Croatia by phosphate fertilizer production 

Bituh, T; Marovic, G; Franic, Z; Sencar, J; Bronzovic, M 

2009 

Yes 

Journal of Hazardous Materials
ISSN: 0304-3894
EISSN: 1873-3336 

162 

2-3 

1199-1203 

18619732 

10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.06.005 

WOS:000263370200084 

The contents of natural radionuclides (radium, uranium and
potassium) were measured in the area of a phosphate fertilizer factory in central Croatia, as a
part of extended and still ongoing monitoring program of radioactive contamination of human
environment in Croatia that is performed by the Radiation Protection Unit of the Institute for
Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb. Activity concentrations in all analysed media
(waste water, trickling water from piezometers, phosphogypsum deposit and final products)
considerably fluctuated, especially in phosphogypsum and waste water. Mean Ra-226 activity
concentration in waste phosphogypsum was measured to be 483 +/- 190 Bq kg(-1). Based on that
value, it was estimated that 4 million m(3) of phosphogypsum that have been deposited up to now
contain about 4.3 x 10(12) Bq, i.e. about 200 g of Ra-226. However, effective dose for an adult
that would be incurred by consumption of water from nearby wells was estimated to be 5.3 +/- 1.3
mu Sv. The results show that Ra-226 activities cause effective doses, which are below the
recommended maximum as the estimated annual Ra-226 effective dose does not exceed 0.1 mSv as
recommended by the World Health Organization. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 

Natural radionuclides; Phosphate ore; Phosphogypsum deposit; Effective dose