Radioactive impact of some phosphogypsum piles in soils and salt marshes evaluated by γ-ray spectrometry

Abstract

A generalized transmision method has been applied for the evaluation of the radioactive impact generated by a very large extension of phosphogypsum piles (about 1200 Ha) on their surrounding soils and salt-marshes. The results obtained show that the radioactive impact is produced through natural radionuclides that had previously been mainly leached/dissolved from the piles by waters that temporarily flood them.