Evaluation of the physicochemical, heavy metal and radiological contamination from phosphogypsum discharges of the phosphoric acid production unit on the coast of El Jadida Province in Morocco

Abstract This work assesses potential physicochemical, metallic, and radiological contamination of liquid discharges from the phosphoric acid (PA) production unit at coast El Jadida Province in Morocco. The physicochemical parameters: pH, conductivity, salinity, turbidity, total hardness, nitrate, nitrite, orthophosphate, heavy metals were analyzed PA beach samples. 238 U, 232 Th, 226 Ra determined by gamma spectrometry, Radon contents using solid state detectors (LR-115). It is concluded that phosphate effluents are strongly acidic with a mean pH-value 1.8 still contain relatively high levels fluoride, phosphorus substances.