El Samad O, Aoun M, Nsouli B, Khalaf G, Hamze M. Investigation of the radiological impact on the coastal environment surrounding a fertilizer plant.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014;
133:69-74. [PMID:
23768871 DOI:
10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.05.009]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Revised: 05/21/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
This investigation was carried out in order to assess the marine environmental radioactive pollution and the radiological impact caused by a large production plant of phosphate fertilizer, located in the Lebanese coastal zone. Natural radionuclides ((238)U, (235)U, (232)Th, (226)Ra, (210)Po, (210)Pb, (40)K) and anthropogenic (137)Cs were measured by alpha and gamma spectrometry in seawater, sediment, biota and coastal soil samples collected from the area impacted by this industry. The limited environmental monitoring program within 2 km of the plant indicates localized contamination with radionuclides of the uranium decay chain mainly due to the transport, the storage of raw materials and the free release of phosphogypsum waste.
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