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Environmental impact of fertilizer industries evaluated by PIXE

1995; Elsevier BV; Volume: 103; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0168-583x(95)00649-4

1872-9584

J.E. Martı́n, J.P. Bolı́var, M.Á. Respaldiza, R. Garcı́a-Tenorio, M.F. da Silva,

Nuclear Physics and Applications

In this paper the environmental impact of several phosphogypsum piles sited in the southwest of Spain is studied using multielemental analysis by PIXE of 12 salt marsh and soil samples collected in their surroundings. The piles are used to store the main by-product formed in the production of phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers. The samples collected were bombarded with 2.5 MeV protons from the 3 MV Van de Graaff accelerator in the ITN at Sacavem (Portugal), and 20 elements from Al to Pb were detected. The results obtained reinforce previous radioanalytical determinations concerning the significant radioactive contamination pathways (leaching or/and dissolution of elements by water from the piles) and the negligible pathways (atmospheric and direct aquatic transport).