Article

Heavy elements in the phosphorite from Kalaat Khasba mine (North-western Tunisia): potential implications on the environment and human health.

Geobiosciences, Geotechnologies and Geoengineering Research Center, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Journal of hazardous materials (impact factor: 4.14). 10/2010; 182(1-3):232-45. DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.06.020 pp.232-45
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Tunisia is one of the largest phosphate producers in the world (more than 10 million tons per year since the early nineties). The Kalaat Khasba mine (NW of Tunisia) has operated from 1893 until 1993 and data demonstrate that, in the phosphorites of Kalaat Khasba, Cd is enriched 105-208 times, when compared with shales, and U is enriched by a factor varying between 18 and 44. The general trend shows an increase in heavy elements content with decreasing particle size. On the other hand, concentrations of Sr, Cr and U exhibit the same distribution for the different size fractions. It was found that Cd concentrations exceed the allowed EC soil limits for growing crops. Hence, owing to the tailings exposure and to the mobilisation of the finest particles by rainfall and wind, Cd could have detrimental effects on human health and on the environment because a significant portion of Cd was found in the exchangeable form.

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    Article: Investigation of Cd contents in several phosphate rocks used for the production of fertilizer
    Swe Swe Mar, Masanori Okazaki
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    ABSTRACT: Phosphate rocks (PRs) can be a source of cadmium pollution in soil and food chain. PRs are mainly used for the manufacturing of phosphate fertilizers. The characteristics of PRs with special reference to cadmium, which are important phosphate fertilizer source, were investigated. In my field of study, PR of USA (PR1: from Wyoming, PR2: from Florida PR3: from Idaho), Morocco (PR4: from Qued Zem), Russia (PR5 from Slyudanka), and Japan (PR6: from Okinawa) were selected and compared using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Elemental analysis results of PR samples showed that they were mainly composed of Ca, P, Si, Al, S and Fe. Total phosphate concentration in all PRs was 6 to 38% on the average. The Cd concentration levels in all PR samples ranged from 0.15 to 507 mg kg − 1 . PR4 sample exhibited about two times higher Cd concentration than those of the literatures so far published. XRD analysis revealed that; fluorapatite ((Ca 5 (PO 4) 3)F), hydroxyapatite (Ca 10 (PO 4) 6 (OH) 2) and carbonate fluorapatite (Ca 5 (PO 4 ,CO 3) 3 F) were the dominant minerals. This study also confirmed that PR3 and PR4 exhibited higher Cd content and prominent mineral component was carbonate fluorapatite, suggesting that Cd might be exchanged to Ca and/or occluded in carbonate fluorapatite during its formation by sedimentation.
    Microchemical Journal 09/2012; 104(17-21-1). · 3.05 Impact Factor
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

10 million tons
 
allowed EC soil limits
 
Cd concentrations
 
concentrations
 
Cr
 
crops
 
decreasing particle size
 
exchangeable form
 
finest particles
 
Kalaat Khasba
 
largest phosphate producers
 
mobilisation
 
nineties
 
rainfall
 
significant portion
 
tailings exposure