After beneficiation, the separated phosphate ore is treated with sulfuric acid to produce phosphoric acid, which is used in synthetic fertilizer. The process also creates phosphogypsum, a radioactive ...

“These are ticking time bombs.” Phosphogypsum, a solid waste byproduct from processing phosphate ore to make chemical fertilizer, contains radium, which decays to form radon gas. Both radium ...

“These are ticking time bombs.” Phosphogypsum, a solid waste byproduct from processing phosphate ore to make chemical fertilizer, contains radium, which decays to form radon gas. Both radium ...

“These are ticking time bombs.” Phosphogypsum, a solid waste byproduct from processing phosphate ore to make chemical fertilizer, contains radium, which decays to form radon gas. Both radium ...

The substance at the center of the controversy is called "phosphogypsum" and is created in large quantities by the fertilizer industry, as a byproduct of the creation of important phosphorus.