Natural radioactivity in mineral phosphate fertilizers and its impacts on human health: an overview

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 30; no. 56; pp. 118149 - 118160
• Main Authors: e Silva, Camila Rodrigues, de Oliveira, Fabiana Monteiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural production; agricultural productivity; Agrochemicals; anthropogenic activities; Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Chemical elements; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth crust; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Fertilizers; Fertilizers - analysis; human health; Human influences; Humans; Ionizing radiation; laws and regulations; Legislation; Minerals; Natural radioactivity; Phosphates; Potassium Radioisotopes; Public health; radioactive series; Radioactivity; Radioisotopes; Radium - analysis; Review Article; Soil Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis; Soil water; Thorium; Thorium - analysis; Uranium; Uranium - analysis; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; K; Th; Effective annual dose; U; Phosphate mineral fertilizers; Ra; 238U; 226Ra; 232Th; 40K
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30467-y

Humans are constantly exposed to radioactivity present in rocks, soils, and water, mainly from materials in the Earth’s crust that contain chemical elements belonging to the radioactive series of uranium and thorium. An important anthropogenic source of these natural radioisotopes to the environment is fertilizers, widely used to increase agricultural productivity. Exposure to ionizing radiation can become a public health problem worldwide, since it is related to the development of different cancers in humans. The present study aimed to survey research on the radioactive content in different types of mineral phosphate fertilizers used around the world through a comprehensive review of the Scopus and Web of Science databases. About 80 scientific articles fit the purpose of this review. The concentration activity values found varied widely from one country to another, and there is no specific legislation that determines the maximum allowed limits of radioisotopes in these agricultural inputs. In addition, there are still uncertainties regarding the impact of natural radioactivity from fertilizers on human health, highlighting the need for further investigations on the subject.