Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T07:01:29.389Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Assessment of radioactive pollution around a fertilizerfactory complex in the North-Eastern part of Bangladesh

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2013

S Ghose ,
M. Akhter ,
S.M. Azharul Islam ,
M. Shahabuddin  and
M. Mazibur Rahman
S Ghose*
Affiliation:
Nuclear Safety & Radiation Control Division, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, 4 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Ramna, Dhaka, Bangladesh
M. Akhter
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
S.M. Azharul Islam
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
M. Shahabuddin
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
M. Mazibur Rahman
Affiliation:
International Affairs Division, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh
*
* e-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The activity concentrations of soil, water and fertilizersamples were determined by using high-resolution gamma spectrometry(HPGe detector: 40% relative efficiency) with a PC-based MCA system.The samples were collected from the area of a urea fertilizer factory,lagoon and Shitalakhya river in Narsingdi, Bangladesh. The activityconcentrations of 226Ra ranged from 3.16 ± 0.32 to 10.28 ± 0.55Bq.kg-1, 1.22 ± 0.41 to 7.36 ± 0.42 Bq.L-1 and 3.55 ± 0.33 to 90.65± 3.17 Bq.kg-1 for soil, water and fertilizer samples, respectively.The 232Th activity concentrations ranged from 4.89 ± 0.45 to 15.82± 0.45 Bq.kg-1, 1.21 ± 0.06 to 8.59 ± 0.37 Bq. L-1 and 4.76 ± 0.25to 26.38 ± 1.40 Bq.kg-1 for soil, water and fertilizer samples, respectively.The 40K activity concentrations ranged from 24.96 ± 0.23 to 60.49± 0.56 Bq.kg-1, 7.48 ± 0.53 to 35.48 ± 0.24 Bq.L-1 and 3.55 ± 0.05to 3051.71 ± 19.53 Bq.kg-1 for these samples, respectively. Theradium equivalent activity, the hazard indices, the gamma activityconcentration index, the indoor absorbed dose rate and the correspondingannual effective dose were estimated for the potential radiological hazardof the collected samples. The calculated values of the representativelevel index values (Igr) for all samples of the study area are lowerthan unity except the MOP sample. The activity ratios were alsomeasured. These values are compared with reported values for othercountries of the world. The results of the comparison studies showthat the radioactivity concentrations and other radioactive indicesof the samples of the study area are below the internationally acceptedmaximum permissible values. Therefore, this region is safe fromany radiation hazard and no significant radiological threat was observedto the population of the study area.

Keywords

fertilizergamma spectrometryradiumthorium and potassium
Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 48 , Issue 4 , October 2013 , pp. 575 - 591
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abbady, A.G.E., Uosif, M.A.M., El-Taher, A. (2005) Natural radioactivity and dose assessment for phosphate rocks from Wadi El-Mashash and El-Mahamid Mines, Egypt, J. Environ. Radioact. 84 (1), 65-78.Google ScholarPubMed
Ahmed, N.K., El-Arabi, A.G.M. (2005) Natural radioactivity in farm soil and phosphate fertilizer and its environmental implications in Qena governorate, upper Egypt, J. Environ. Radioact. 84, 51-64.Google ScholarPubMed
Alam, M.N., Chowdhury, M.I., Kamal, M., Ghose, S., Banu, H., Chakraborty, D. (1997) Radioactivity in Chemical Fertilizers Bangladesh Used in Bangladesh, Appl. Radiat. Isotopes 48 (8), 1165-1168. Google Scholar
Alam, M.N., Chowdhury, M.I., Kamal, M., Ghose, S., Islam, M.N., Anwaruddin, M. (1999) Radiological Assessment of Drinking Water of the Chittagong Region of Bangladesh, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 82, 207-214.Google Scholar
Alcaraz Pelegrina, J.M., Martinez-Aguirre, A. (2001) Natural radioactivity in ground waters around a fertilizer factory complex in south of Spain, Appl. Radiat. Isotopes 55, 419-423. Google Scholar
Al-Saleh, F.S., Al-Berzan, B. (2007) Measurements of natural radioactivity in some kinds of marble and granite used in Riyadh region, J. Nucl. Radiat. Phys. 2 (1), 25-36.Google Scholar
Bolivar, J.P., Garcia-Tenorio, R., Vaca, F. (2000) Radioecological study of an estuarine system located in the south of Spain, Water Research 34 (11), 2941-2950. Google Scholar
Bolivar, J.P., Garcia-Tenorio, R., Mas, J.L., Vaca, F. (2002) Radioactive impact in sediments from an estuarine system affected by industrial wastes releases, Environment International 27, 639-645. Google Scholar
Brigden K., Stringer R., Santillo D. (2002) Heavy metal and radionuclide contamination of fertilizer products and phosphogypsum waste produced by the Lebanese chemical company, Lebanon, Greenpeace Research Laboratories, Technical Note 13.
Butchaiah, G., Bonnet, S., Menke, C., Garivait, S. (2009) Air pollutant emissions from rice straw open field burning in India, Thailand and the Philippines, Environmental Pollution 157, 1554-1558. Google Scholar
Cevik, U., Damla, N., Karahan, G., Çelebi, N., Kobya, A. (2006) Natural radioactivity in tap waters of Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 118 (1), 88-92.Google ScholarPubMed
Chowdhury, M.I., Alam, M.N., Hazari, S.K.S. (1999) Distribution of radionuclides in the river sediments and coastal soils of Chittagong, Bangladesh and evaluation of the radiation hazard, Appl. Radiat. Isotopes 51, 747-755. Google Scholar
Chowdhury, M.I., Kamal, M., Alam, M.N., Yeasmin, S., Mostafa, M.N. (2006) Distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides in soils of the southern districts of Bangladesh, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 118, 126-130.Google ScholarPubMed
Conceicao, F.T., Bonotto, D.M. (2006). Radionuclides, heavy metals and fluorine incidence at Tapira phosphate rocks, Brazil, and there by products, Environmental Pollution 139, 232-243.Google Scholar
El-Arabi, A.M., Abbady, A.G.E., Khalifa, I.H. (2007) Radioactive and geochemistry characteristics of the Garnetiferous Granite of Um Sleimat area, Egypt, J. Earth Sciences 1 (1), 9-20.Google Scholar
El-Aydarous, A. (2007) Gamma radioactivity levels and their corresponding external exposure of soil samples from Taif governorate, Saudi Arabia, Global J. Environmental Research 1 (2), 49-53.Google Scholar
El-Bahi, S.M., El-Dine, N.W., El-Shershaby, A., Sroor, A. (2004) Elemental analysis of Egyptian phosphate fertilizer components, Health Phys. 86 (3), 303-307.Google ScholarPubMed
Ghose, S., Alam, M.N., Islam, M.N. (2000) Concentrations of 222Rn, 226Ra and 228Ra in surface sea water of the Bay of Bengal, J. Environ. Radioact. 47, 291-300. Google Scholar
Huy, N.Q., Luyen, T.V. (2006) Study on external exposures doses from terrestrial radioactivity in Southern Vietnam, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 118, 331-336.Google Scholar
Hopke, P.K. (2009) Contemporary threats and air pollution, Atmos. Environ. 43, 87-93. Google Scholar
Khan, K., Khan, H.M., Tufail, M., Khatibeh, A.J.A.H., Ahmad, N. (1998) Radiometric analysis of hazara phosphate rock and fertilizers in Pakistan, J. Environ. Radioact. 38 (1), 77-84. Google Scholar
Khalifa, A.N. (2004) Natural Radioactivity of Ground and Drinking Water in Some Areas of Upper Egypt, Turkish J. Engineering and Environmental Science 28, 345-354. Google Scholar
Khater, A.E.M., Higgy, R.H., Pimpl, M. (2001) Radiological impacts of natural radioactivity in Abu-Tartor phosphate deposits, Egypt, J. Environ. Radioact. 55, 255-267.Google ScholarPubMed
Labidi, S., Dochraoui, M., Mahjoubi, H., Lemaitre, N., Salah, R.B., Mtimet, S. (2002) Natural Radioactive Nuclides in Some Tunisian Thermo-Mineral Springs, J. Environ. Radioact. 62, 87-96.Google Scholar
Loganathan, P., Tillman, R.W., Parfitt, R.L. (2007). Interactive effects of soil acidity and fluoride on soil solution aluminium chemistry and barley root growth, Environmental Pollution 145 (3), 778-786.Google Scholar
Mehra, R., Singh, S., Singh, K., Sonkawade, R. (2007) 226Ra, 232Th and 40K analysis in soil samples from some areas of Malwa region, Punjab, India using gamma ray spectrometry, Environ. Monit. Assess. 134, 333-342.Google Scholar
Mireles, F., Davila, J.I., Quirino, L.L., Lugo, J.F., Pinedo, J.L., Rios, C. (2003) Natural soil gamma radioactivity levels and resultant population dose in the cities of Zacatecas and Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico, Health Phys. 84, 368-372.Google ScholarPubMed
Mourad, N.M., Sharshar, T., Elnimr, T., Mousa, M.A. (2009) Radioactivity and fluoride contamination derived from a phosphate fertilizer plant in Egypt, Appl. Radiat. Isotopes 67, 1259-1268.Google Scholar
Nuclear Energy Agency Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, NEA-OECD (1979) Exposure to Radiation from Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials, Report by the NEA Group of Experts, OECD, Paris.
Ogunleye, P.O., Mayaki, M.C., Amapu, I.Y. (2002) Radioactivity and heavy metal composition of Nigerian phosphate rock: possible environmental implications, J. Environ. Radioact. 62, 39-48. Google Scholar
Olszewska-Wasiolek, M. (1995) Estimates of the occupational radiological hazard in phosphate fertilizers industry in Poland, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 58, 269-276.Google Scholar
Radenkovic, M.B., Alshikh, S.M., Andric, V.B., Miljanic, S.S. (2009) Radioactivity of sand from several renowned public beaches and assessment of the corresponding environmental risks, J. Serbian Chem. Soc. 74 (4), 461-470.Google Scholar
Righi, S., Betti, M., Bruzzi, L., Mazzotti, G. (2000) Monitoring of natural radioactivity in working places, Microchem. J. 67, 119-126. Google Scholar
Righi, S., Lucialli, P., Bruzzi, L. (2005) Health and Environmental Impacts of a Fertilizer Plant-Part I: Assessment of Radioactive Pollution, J. Environ. Radioact. 82 (2), 167-182.Google ScholarPubMed
Salbu, B., Skipperud, L. (2009) Speciation of radionuclides in the environment, J. Environ. Radioact. 100, 281-282.Google ScholarPubMed
Sam, A.K., Holm, E. (1995) The natural radioactivity in phosphate deposits from Sudan, Sci. Total Environ. 162, 173-178. Google Scholar
Santos, A.J.G., Mazzilli, B.P., Fávaro, D.I.T., Silva, P.S.C. (2006) Partitioning of radionuclides and trace elements in phosphogypsum and its source materials based on sequential extraction methods, J. Environ. Radioact. 87 (1), 52-61. Google ScholarPubMed
Saueia, C.H.R., Mazzilli, B.P., Fávaro, D.I.T. (2005) Natural radioactivity in phosphate rock, phosphogypsum and phosphate fertilizers in Brazil, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 264 (2), 445-448.Google Scholar
Saueia, C.H.R., Mazzilli, B.P. (2006) Distribution of natural radionuclides in the production and use of phosphate fertilizers in Brazil, J. Environ. Radioact. 89 (3), 229-239.Google Scholar
Somlai, J., Horvath, G., Kanyar, B., Kovacs, T., Bo-drogi, E., Kavasi, N. (2002) Concentration of Ra-226 in Hungarian Bottled Mineral Water, J. Environ. Radioact. 62, 235-240. Google Scholar
Tufail, M., Iqbal, M., Mirza, S.M. (2000) Radiation doses due to natural radioactivity in Pakistan marble, Radioprotection 34, 355-359.Google Scholar
Uchida, S., Tagami, K., Hirai, I. (2007) Soil-to-plant transfer factors of stable elements and naturally occurring radionuclides, J. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 44 (4), 628-640.Google Scholar
UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme Industry and Environment) (1998) Mineral fertilizer production and the environment, the fertilizer industry’s manufacturing processes and environmental issues. Technical Reports No. 26-Part 1.
UNSCEAR (1982) Ionizing radiation: sources and biological effects. United Nations, New York.
UNSCEAR (1988) Sources, effects and risks of ionizing radiation: 1988 report to the General Assembly, with annexes, New York.
UNSCEAR (1998) Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation, United Nations, New York.
UNSCEAR (2000) Effects and risks of ionizing radiations, New York.
Wang, X., Sato, T., Xing, B., Tao, S. (2005) Health risks of heavy metals to general public Tianjin, China via consumption of vegetables and fish, Sci. Total Environ. 350, 28-37.Google Scholar