Phosphorus Fertilizer in Your Lawn or Garden
Fertilizers containing phosphorus are a major source of groundwater contamination and radiation exposure during lawn maintenance.
The most common method for making fertilizer, that contains phosphorous, leaves behind a waste called phosphogypsum, which emits radon, a radioactive gas. It also contains uranium and radium, which are radioactive elements.
Phosphorous is an essential nutrient for plants and a common ingredient in many fertilizers. However, the processing of phosphate rock to make phosphate-based fertilizer may leave radium (Ra-226) in the end product. The levels of Ra-226 vary depending upon the type of fertilizer blend and the origin of the phosphate rock.
Starter fertilizer can contain higher phosphorus levels.
Reality Decoded 
I have heard of this before. Isn’t it funny that we poison ourselves and our families, just trying to control our own grass? Grass, that’s how good life is here in America, that we are obsessed with grass!!!
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Exactly!! This is why I say we don’t value our families.
How can you value someone while you try to kill them for vanity?
When I stopped using that garbage I got flack from a host of people in my neighborhood. Because my lawn doesn’t look “Perfect” anymore. It looks good just not perfect.
It’s not that super creepy green anymore, and the grass is mingled with wild grass like plants but it looks good.
Something sick is going on in America and they have us chanting these strange phrases like “Family first” to keep us convinced that everything is ok.
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We cannot control life or death, what makes us think we can control the grass on our own property. Yet, some still think we are gods who can control the weather, storms and atmosphere.
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Exactly!!
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Coffee, we don’t always agree, but I agree 100% with you in this one. Kids and pets play on the grass. Don’t dump poison on it!
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I also agree
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Not using it in my garden but interesting post!
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Eggshells, man, eggshells. Crush them up as finely as you can, and spread them over anything you grow.
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Damn. If it ain’t roundup, it’s this.
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Right!!! Why are they making lawns death traps?! It’s sick!
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Because folks were convinced that perfectly manicured lawns were the American dream…even if they lived in the f****** desert. Screw the natural terrain.
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I’m not too concerned. Radon has a half-life of 3.8 days and dissipates quickly in open air. You’ll receive higher exposures sitting in a closed environment — especially if your house is situated on clay soils — or sitting in a hot spring. I don’t know anyone who eats their grass, and few people spend much time on their lawns other than to mow, weed and water them.
From Wikipedia:
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You Stated — “few people spend much time on their lawns other than to mow, weed and water them.”
My Response — I’ve seen kids spend hours across multiple lawns. They will play on them right after the soil is treated.
The decay of radon gas produces radioactive particles. Once inhaled, these particles may be retained in the lungs. Further particle decay emits ‘bursts’ of energy, damaging lung tissue and potentially resulting in lung cancer (U.S Environmental Protection Agency, 1992). The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 10 percent of lung cancer deaths (15,000 deaths each year) in the United States are related to residential radon (National Cancer Institute, 1997). Reports indicate that children are at higher risk for certain cancers from radon (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1992).
Your wiki clip is about natural Radon, it doesn’t address dumping tons on communities year round with kids rolling around in it.
I think the EPA and NCI are better sources for the health impact of Radon over Wiki.
Just saying
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From the EPA website:
https://www.epa.gov/radtown/radioactive-material-fertilizer-production
IOW, most of the radioactive materials are left behind in the waste product. And unless your using a starter fertilizer (which are applied to new lawns which are off limits to everyone until the lawn is well established), the P portion of the N-P-K ratio is very small (and quite often 0). Moreover, the seasonal application rate is usually between 3 – 6 lb of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft for warm weather grasses and 1 – 3 lb per 1000 sq ft for cool weather grasses.
So I stand by my original comment: the radon concentrations in your home are likely to be higher than the radon concentrations in your yard.
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Your added understanding actually makes the situation worse since it acknowledges that natural radon already in 5he environment is being amplified by our unnatural processes.
Let’s also note that many home owners have now adopted the process of renewing the lawn once a year with a full fertilizer burn.
You’re just exposing the situation to be worse than what I reported on. Oo
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How so? Per the information given in the link, most of the radioactive materials are left behind as waste byproducts at the processing facility. What little radioactive phosphorous you get in the bag (if anything at all) is but a tiny fraction of the original. And that’s assuming your fertilizer contains Florida-based phosphate rock.
As for improper application, that’s what we call a user error. Any product can be dangerous if it’s misused or misapplied.
Moreover, if you’re truly concerned about your fertilizer,shouldn’t you be equally concerned about all the other products in your home that contain phosphorous?
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