Abstract
The radionuclides present in phosphate fertilizers used in Southeast Nigeria were identified and their activity concentration determined to assess the potential radiological impact on the environment due to fertilizer applications in agricultural farm lands. The radioactivity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the fertilizer samples range from 13.22±1.83 to 87.37±8.98 Bqkg-1 for 226Ra (mean: 31.71±5.4 Bqkg-1), 0.78±0.07 to 47.65±6.05 Bqkg-1 for 232Th (mean: 10.88±3.06) and 575.07±18.08 to 1234.80±36.61 Bqkg-1 for 40K (mean 876.91±20.03 Bqkg-1). The mean activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides of 226Ra and 232Th in the superphosphate fertilizer formulation were found to be above the world’s average. This will have potential health impact on humans if the fertilizers are applied in crops cultivation. The absorbed dose range from 31.01±0.03 to 75.11±0.49 nGyh-1 (mean: 68.66±0.35 nGyh-1). The super phosphate brand of fertilizer with the highest value of activity concentration has its value of annual effective dose as 0.08μ SvGyh-1.
Highlights
Food is one of the cardinal needs of man
The increasing world population has become a threat to the global food security
The radioactivity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the fertilizer samples range from 13.22±1.83 to
Summary
Food is one of the cardinal needs of man. The increasing world population has become a threat to the global food security. There is, the need to increase food production to ensure food security for the growing world population. Chemical fertilizers are employed in agriculture to reclaim land and enhance crop yield (Alharbi, 2013). Chemical fertilizers are chemical compounds that provide necessary elements and nutrients to the plants (Uosif et al, 2014). Phosphorus and potassium are essential nutrients necessary for plant growth and form major raw materials for the production of chemical fertilizer. The application of phosphate fertilizer globally for increased crop production and land reclamation has risen to more than 30 million tons annually (El-Taher and Althoyaib, 2012)
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