Effect of radiological content for different types of phosphate fertilizers on the environment, soil acidity and soluble cations and anions content
摘要
Monoamonium phosphate, dia-ammonium phosphate, and single superphosphate are the main types of phosphate fertilizerused for plants in Egypt. The benefits of these phosphate fertilizers are assessed by their chemical changes in soil pH and the radiological levels of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the soil. Approximately 144 samples of soils from four sites in southern Giza governorate, El-Kebabat and Kafer-El-Wasleenareas in the eastern desert of Egypt were chemically and radiologically examined before and after the use of three phosphate fertilizers: mono-ammonium phosphate, di-ammonium phosphate, and single superphosphate. On the basis of the measured pH values and the concentrations of the radionuclides in the samples, The IAEA recommends maximum levels of 370 Bq/kg for 22⁶Ra and 259 Bq/kg for 232Th in soil to reduce health risks. UNSCEAR advises a public exposure limit of 1 mSv/year from natural radiation sources. The results show that single superphosphate fertilizer resulted in the highest radionuclide concentrations, measuring 7.53 Bq/kg for 22⁶Ra and 6.5 Bq/kg for 232Th, but these levels remain well below international limits.