Uranium ((234)U, (235)U and (238)U) contamination of the environment surrounding phosphogypsum waste heap in Wiślinka (northern Poland).
The aim of this work was to determine the uranium concentration ((234)U, (235)U and (238)U) and values of the activity ratio (234)U/(238)U in soil samples collected near phosphogypsum waste heap in Wiślinka (northern Poland). On the basis of the studies it was found that the values of the (234)U/(238)U activity ratio in the analyzed soils collected in the vicinity of phosphogypsum dump in Wiślinka are in most cases close to one and indicate the phosphogypsum origin of the analyzed nuclides. The obtained results of uranium concentrations are however much lower than in previous years before closing of the phosphogypsum stockpile. After this process and covering the phosphogypsum stockpile in Wiślinka with sewage sludge, phosphogypsum particles are successfully immobilized. In the light of the results the use of phosphate fertilizers seems to be a major problem. Prolonged and heavy rains can cause leaching accumulated uranium isotopes in the phosphogypsum stockpile, which will be washed into the Martwa Wisła and on the fields in the immediate vicinity of this storage.
Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland. Electronic address: grzegorz.olszewski@ug.edu.pl.
Grzegorz
G
Olszewski
Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
Alicja
A
Boryło
Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
Bogdan
B
Skwarzec
D002133:Calcium Sulfate; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010758:Phosphorus; D011044:Poland; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*
D005308:Fertilizers; D007220:Industrial Waste; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; C077769:phosphogypsum; D010758:Phosphorus; D014501:Uranium; D002133:Calcium Sulfate
Activity ratio (234)U/(238)U, (235)U/(238)U; Northern Poland; Phosphogypsum stockpile; Soil samples; Uranium isotopes (234)U, (235)U, (238)U