Uranium in Fertilizers

 

Uranium in Nuclear Fuel Industry Waste Solutions

Several steps in the uranium fuel industry produce waste solutions that are used as fertilizers. During the wet conversion process of uranium ore concentrate to uranium hexafluoride (UF₆), an ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) waste solution is produced. During the reconversion of UF₆ to UO₂, an ammonium hydroxide ((NH₄)OH) solution is produced.
These solutions contain trace amounts of uranium and other toxic constituents.

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IMPACTS

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Rough estimates for the uranium uptake and related radiation hazard from consumption of food grown on soil containing elevated concentrations of uranium can be obtained with the Uranium in Soil and Building Material Individual Dose Calculator. For more sophisticated assessments, see Dose calculation software.

http://www.nuclearfreeplanet.org/wise-fact-sheet-uranium-in-fertilizers.html