uranium in fertiliser: overview

le:///Volumes/Jonathan/Documents/Agriculture/Uranium/fsu...

http://www.ballance.co.nz/fsuranium.html 9 captures
28 Feb 03 - 28 Sep 06

Go

JAN

FEB

JUN

Close Help

28
2002 2003 2004

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

1 of 2

29/03/13 10:46 PM

uranium in fertiliser: overview

le:///Volumes/Jonathan/Documents/Agriculture/Uranium/fsu...

http://www.ballance.co.nz/fsuranium.html
Nitrogen use - dairy farms Phosphate poisoning Radiation in phosphate rocks Reactivity of BG4 Moroccan RPR Relative agronomic effectiveness of rpr's Sulphur Total amounts of nutrients in soils in relation to soil tests The importance of scientifically designed trials Timing of N fertiliser for spring growth Rangataiki Plains Uranium in fertiliser: Overview Ballance : tools : fact sheets : uranium in fertiliser: overview Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited

Go

JAN

FEB

JUN

Close Help

9 captures
28 Feb 03 - 28 Sep 06

28
2002 2003 2004

2 of 2

29/03/13 10:46 PM