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Implicações radiológicas da utilização de fosfogesso como material de construção

1997; Associação Nacional de Tecnologia do Ambiente Construído; Volume: 1; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

1678-8621

B. P. Mazzilli, C. H. R. Saueia,

Radioactivity and Radon Measurements

Large quanties (approximately 30 million tons by 1991) of phosphogupsum are produced as a by-product of the fertilizer industry in Brazil. Although phosphogypsum is mainly clacium sulfate duhydrate, it contains a high level of impurities, wich originate primarily from the source phosphate rock used in fertilizer procuction. Among these impurities, relatively high concentrations of some uranium Ra-226 and Th-232, prevent is use as a construction material or for other purposes. Phosphogypsum can replace some of the natural components of building materials. However, it contains a higher radioaticvity concentration than the natural products and its use in houses may lead to increased radiation dises ti the inhabitants. The material is stockpiled in huge stacks which are a potencial threat to the surronding air and especially groundwater resouces. Although a considerable amount of compositional data exist in countries where phosphogypsum presents highet levels of radioactivity, comparatively few data are available concerning the Brazilian phosphogypsum. Furthermore, regulatory measures to limit such increases may be envisaged by competent national authorities, since there use and handing of this material. Such measure may imply certain authorised limits as well as a suitable control system. Some preliminary results concerning the use of Brazilian phosphogypsum are presented and discussed in this paper.