TITLE:
Gross alpha and beta activities and trace heavy elemental concentration levels in chemical fertilizers and agricultural farm soils in Nigeria
AUTHORS:
N. N. Jibiri, K. P. Fasae
KEYWORDS:
Chemical Fertilizers; Gross Alpha Activity; Gross Beta Activity; Trace Heavy Elements; Farm Soil; Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Science,
Vol.5 No.1,
January
15,
2013
ABSTRACT: The gross alpha (α)
and beta (β) activities and trace heavy elemental concentrations have
been determined in Single Super Phosphate
(SSP) and Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium (NPK) fertilizers samples used
for agricultural purposes in Nigeria. Cultivated farm soil samples from two
regions (north and south) in the country and samples of phosphate rocks were
also analyzed for gross α and β radioactivity and elemental
concentrations. The beta activity concentration in the NPK (15-15-15)
fertilizers was found to vary from 2410.0 ± 80.0 Bq·kg–1 to 4560 ± 140.0 Bq·kg–1, between 1340.0 ± 70.0 Bq·kg–1 and 1440.0 ± 70.0 Bq·kg–1 in the Single Super phosphate
fertilizers while in the farm soil it ranged between 360.0 ± 40.0 Bq·kg–1 to 570.0 ± 50.0 for the north samples and 200.0 ± 50.0 to 230.0 ± 20 Bq·kg–1 for the south samples. The alpha activities in the NPK fertilizers was found to
vary from 20.0 ± 10.0 to 90.0 ± 20.0 Bq·kg–1, in the SSP it varied
from 60.0 ± 20.0 to 100.0 ± 20.0 Bq·kg–1 while in the soil samples
it varied from 8.0 ± 6.0 to 40.0 ± 10.0 Bq