uranium in fertiliser: overview

fact sheets to return to the fact sheets menu, click this link uranium in fertiliser: overview All soils and plants contain uranium, thorium and radium. In soil, uranium is naturally occurring. It enters plant tissue through absorption from the soil and atmosphere. All phosphate rock contains uranium. Phosphate rock is used in a processed form as Superphosphate and in an unprocessed form as Reactive Phosphate Rock (RPR). Traditional farmers most commonly use superphosphate, while a number of RPR blends have been approved for use by organic farmers. Research undertaken in many countries has shown that crops grown in soil fertilised with phosphate rock for greater than 50 years do not have higher concentrations of uranium than crops grown in non fertilised soil. This suggests that plant uptake of uranium from phosphate fertiliser is minimal. The radiation dose received by individuals from food is very low and does not pose a threat to human health. Radiation from food contributes to about 5% of the total background radiation dose for humans. The United States Food and Drug Administration estimates uranium in food contributes about 0.1% to the total cancer risk for individuals. New Zealand soils contain low levels of uranium. New Zealand phosphate fertilisers have low levels of uranium. While uranium in phosphate fertiliser will add to the natural level of uranium in soil, in New Zealand it would take nearly 150 years to double the uranium level. Even then, New Zealand soils would have the same rating as United States soils have today. Conclusion Uranium traces in soil and plants is a natural occurrence. While the levels of uranium are increasing, they represent no threat to human health. Uranium levels in New Zealand soils are between a third and a half of what they are in Russia, the United States and Britain. top fact sheets Biuret levels in urea Ballance Agri-nutrients peat trial Cadmium Excess sulphur? Fertiliser and nutrient requirements for pumice soils Fertiliser groundspreading: what is good spreading Fertiliser use – ready reference to code of practice Fluorine Granular trace element application rates Hauraki marine clay soils Hill country pasture development Lime reverted superphosphate Magnesium status slowly declining Managing P runoff: key points Nitrate poisoning in stock Nitrogen fertiliser strategies for sheep and beef farmers http://www.ballance.co.nz/fsuranium.html Go JAN FEB JUN 28 2002 2003 2004 9 captures 28 Feb 03 - 28 Sep 06 Close Help uranium in fertiliser: overview ﬁle:///Volumes/Jonathan/Documents/Agriculture/Uranium/fsu... 1 of 2 29/03/13 10:46 PM

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All that free Uranium in your superphosphate fertiliser! What a deal!

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fact sheets to return to the fact sheets menu, click thislink

uranium in fertiliser: overview

All soils and plants contain uranium, thorium and radium.In soil, uranium is naturally occurring. It enters plant tissue throughabsorption from the soil and atmosphere.

All phosphate rock contains uranium.

Phosphate rock is used in a processed form as Superphosphate and in anunprocessed form as Reactive Phosphate Rock (RPR). Traditional farmersmost commonly use superphosphate, while a number of RPR blends havebeen approved for use by organic farmers.

Research undertaken in many countries has shown that crops grown in soilfertilised with phosphate rock for greater than 50 years do not have higherconcentrations of uranium than crops grown in non fertilised soil. Thissuggests that plant uptake of uranium from phosphate fertiliser is minimal.

The radiation dose received by individuals from food is very low and doesnot pose a threat to human health. Radiation from food contributes toabout 5% of the total background radiation dose for humans.

The United States Food and Drug Administration estimates uranium in foodcontributes about 0.1% to the total cancer risk for individuals.

New Zealand soils contain low levels of uranium.

New Zealand phosphate fertilisers have low levels of uranium.

While uranium in phosphate fertiliser will add to the natural level ofuranium in soil, in New Zealand it would take nearly 150 years to doublethe uranium level. Even then, New Zealand soils would have the samerating as United States soils have today.

Conclusion

Uranium traces in soil and plants is a natural occurrence.

While the levels of uranium are increasing, they represent no threat to humanhealth.

Uranium levels in New Zealand soils are between a third and a half of what theyare in Russia, the United States and Britain.

top

fact sheets

Biuret levels in urea

Ballance Agri-nutrientspeat trial

Cadmium

Excess sulphur?

Fertiliser and nutrientrequirements forpumice soils

Fertilisergroundspreading: whatis good spreading