An evaluation of radiation exposures in a tropical phosphogypsum disposal environment.

Environmental radiological aspects of phosphatic fertiliser production with particular reference to disposal of phosphogypsum at two sites in India are examined. Concentration of uranium and its decay products in the rock phosphate and products are presented. External gamma exposure and inhalation of radon and progeny are found to be the major routes of exposure to public in phosphogypsum disposal environment. An estimate of the committed effective dose to a representative person gives an average additional dose of 0.6 mSv annually in the study sites.