Investigation and analysis of NORM source term in the phosphate industry based on the first nationwide pollution source survey

China has launched the First Nationwide Pollution Source Survey (FNPSS) during 2006-2009. Ministry Environmental Protection (MEP) sponsored the campaign of measuring the natural radionuclide contents in all factories and mines nationwide in relation to phosphate, rare-earth, niobium/tantalum, zircon, tin, lead/zinc, copper, iron, coal, aluminum and vanadium. This paper analyzes mainly the data on the contents of U, 232Th and 226Ra in phosphate ore and solid waste produced by the phosphate industry in China, as one of a series of papers on naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) investigation. It is concluded that the averages of U, 232Th and 226Ra in phosphate ore are 396 Bq/kg, 26 Bq/kg and 403.6 Bq/kg, respectively. The average of U and 226Ra contents in solid waste produced by the phosphate industry are both less than 200 Bq/kg, mostly. The range of U and 226Ra are 22.7-723.6 Bq/kg and 5.6-1042.1 Bq/kg, respectively. The 232Th content is very low. It is suggested that the phosphate industrial solid waste should be subject to sort management, and some phosphate industry factories and mines should carry out relevant investigation, radiation evaluation and research. (authors)