Abstract
Radiological characterization of phosphogypsum waste demonstrated measurable activity concentrations of the naturally occurring radionuclides U-238, Th-232, Ra-226, and K-40. The corresponding absorbed dose rates ranged between 37–104 nGy/h, yielding annual effective doses of 0.05- 0.13 mSv/y. It might be stressed the need for continuous monitoring of radiological emissions associated with this widely generated industrial by product. To provide a comprehensive understanding of its environmental behavior, these radiological findings were complemented with non-destructive analytical techniques, including XRF, XRD, and SEM-EDX, which enabled precise chemical and mineralogical profiling. The analyses identified gypsum as the dominant crystalline phase, while microstructural observations revealed heterogeneous morphology and secondary mineral assemblages enriched with hazardous trace elements. Furthermore, contamination indicators such as the Enrichment Factor (EF), Contamination Factor (CF), and Pollution Load Index (PLI) demonstrated elevated levels of arsenic and strontium, identifying them as key priority pollutants with significant anthropogenic influence. This integrated radiological, chemical, and biophysical framework provides a robust scientific basis for environmental risk assessment and supports the safe regulated, reuse of phosphogypsum in controlled industrial applications.