Releases of phosphate fertilizer industry in the surrounding environment: Investigation on heavy metals and polonium-210 in soil

Polonium-210 and lead-210 in the terrestrial environment: a historical review

“…Most of the contaminants are left in the solid gypsum waste, and some of the 210 Pb and 210 Po are transferred to the fertilizers (Aoun et al, 2010;Rutherford et al, 1994).…”

“…Disposing gypsum waste directly into the environment and the use of phosphate fertilizers may affect the levels of 210 Pb and 210 Po in water sediments and soil (Aoun et al, 2010;Barisic et al, 1992;Becker, 1985;Carvalho, 1995). The phosphate industry is claimed to be a major source of enhancement of 210 Pb and 210 Po in the surrounding environment (Jimenez et al, 2007).…”

Temporal variation in chemical composition of Dictyota dichotoma (Hudson) J.V. Lamouroux (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) from Red Sea Coast, Egypt

“…The contribution of phosphatic fertilizers in contamination of soil with Cd, Zn, Cr, Cu and Pb has been demonstrated by ElTaher and Althoyaib [16]. In this regard, Aoun et al [17] demonstrated that the heavy metals Zn, Pb, Cu and Cr were mainly concentrated inside the fine fraction (particle size < 50 μm) of the phosphatic ore, which facilitates its transport by air to remote distances and the precipitation in sea water. In agreement with our results, high concentrations of Mn [18] as well as of Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu [19] were encountered at Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt; and this was attributed to both anthropogenic sources as a result of landfilling activities and natural sources in the form of sediment derived from the confining wadies sources.…”

210Pb and 210Po in Geological and Related Anthropogenic Materials: Implications for Their Mineralogical Distribution in Base Metal Ores

“…The risks associated with mining, milling and manufacturing of phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers have been widely documented at different sites around the world. Solid waste products of the phosphate industry, notably gypsum (CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O), termed phosphogypsum, but also dusts generated during milling, can carry particularly high concentrations of 226 Rn, 210 Pb and 210 Po (e.g., [74,[98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109]. Although waste from the phosphate industry has, in some cases, been disposed of in the marine environment (e.g., [101]), elsewhere, most spectacularly in Florida, where the World's largest phosphoric acid industry is centred, huge waste piles (gypstacks) have been generated, creating serious waste management issues.…”