Radiological implications of fertilizers used for different agriculture activities

Measurement of hazards of terrestrial radioactivity due to K/sup 40/, Ra/sup 226/ and Th/sup 232/ in different domestic as well as imported phosphatic fertilizers used in Pakistan have been carried out. For detection, analysis and data acquisition a high purity germanium detector and PC based MCA was used. The measured values of the specific activity due to Ra/sup 226/ were found to be very high and varied from 307.7 Bq Kg/sup -1/ to 617.5 Bq Kg/sup -1/. The minimum and maximum values of the radium equivalent activities for different brands of phosphatic fertilizers resulting from all the three detected radionuclides were estimated to be 338.8 and 929.8 Bq Kg/sup -1/ respectively. This enhanced level of the radioactivity can cause a significant radiation exposure if these fertilizers are handled in places with poor ventilation and consequently can lead to radon accumulation. Moreover, this data can also be used to assess the hazards of radioactivity being spread along with fertilizers in the soil during different agricultural activities. (author)