Dangerous Experiment Unleashing Radioactive Road Risks Under EPA’s Watchful Eye
Florida’s Toxic Waste Problem: A Road to Controversy
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given the green light to Mosaic Fertilizer to explore a highly controversial solution to Florida’s toxic-waste problem. As part of a pilot program, the company received permission to build a small stretch of road using a radioactive substance, phosphogypsum.
What is Phosphogypsum?
Phosphogypsum is a solid waste byproduct, according to the EPA. It’s a byproduct of the manufacturing process for phosphate fertilizers and contains radium gas, which decays to form radon gas. Both radium and radon are radioactive and can cause cancer. In 2023, Florida had approximately a billion tons of radioactive phosphogypsum stored across 25 stacks, with 30 million tons added every year.
The Road to Controversy
The road, located on a Mosaic Fertilizer-owned property in New Wales, Florida, will be built using phosphogypsum as the road base. The EPA approved the project in December 2024, citing that it would be at least as protective of public health as placement in a stack. The project involves a two-lane test road with four inches of asphalt pavement above 10 inches of road base containing phosphogypsum, followed by existing soil and subgrade, and the water table with monitoring wells located on either side of the road.
Environmental Concerns
Not everyone agrees that using phosphogypsum in roads is a good idea. Critics argue that it increases the potential for harm to road crews and water quality. Ragan Whitlock, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, stated that the EPA has bowed to political pressure from the phosphate industry and paved the way for this dangerous waste to be used in roads all over the country.
What’s Next?
As of this writing, there’s no word on how long it will take to pave the road, and Mosaic Fertilizer hasn’t announced additional paving projects. Only time will tell if this experimental project will pave the way for more radioactive roads across the country.
Get Involved
Do you have tips or concerns about this project? Send them to [email protected].
Figure 1: Phosphogypsum Road
[EPA Image: Phosphogypsum road]
