An evaluation of radiation exposures in a tropical phosphogypsum disposal environment

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2009;135(3):211-5. Epub 2009 May 30.

An evaluation of radiation exposures in a tropical phosphogypsum disposal environment.

Haridasan PP, Pillai PM, Tripathi RM, Puranik VD.

Environmental Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Health Physics Unit, IREL, Udyogamandal, Kerala 683 501, India. haripadmam@gmail.com
Environmental radiological aspects of phosphatic fertiliser production with particular reference to disposal of phosphogypsum at two sites in India are examined. Concentration of uranium and its decay products in the rock phosphate and products are presented. External gamma exposure and inhalation of radon and progeny are found to be the major routes of exposure to public in phosphogypsum disposal environment. An estimate of the committed effective dose to a representative person gives an average additional dose of 0.6 mSv annually in the study sites.

PMID: 19483206 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]