In the heart of Polk County, Florida, a company is diligently examining the potential of a road constructed from an unusual source—radioactive materials. This initiative, undertaken by The Mosaic Company, has sparked curiosity and concern among local residents.

The crux of their research involves the use of phosphogypsum (PG), a byproduct generated during the conversion of phosphate ore into phosphoric acid, a key ingredient in fertilizers. This innovative approach raises the question of safety for the surrounding community.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has highlighted that phosphogypsum contains radium, a radioactive element known for its cancer-causing potential. As radium decays, it produces radon gas, recognized for its link to lung cancer. However, it’s important to note that once phosphogypsum dries, it forms a crust that generally limits the escape of radon.

While the endeavor pushes boundaries in material use, it also underscores the need for careful evaluation and monitoring to ensure public safety and environmental protection. As this project unfolds, the community watches closely, awaiting further insights from Mosaic’s ongoing studies.

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According to Mosaic, the road is constructed entirely on the company’s property near Mulberry, and it uses a mix of PG and several other materials for its road base. For now, the road is only being used for testing, so it’s not available to public traffic.

EPA officials reported that PG is only being used in the road base, covered in 4-inch-thick asphalt pavement.

A Mosaic spokeswoman explained that once construction finishes this fall, each section of the test road will be evaluated over the course of 18 months to determine what impacts it may have on the environment, as well as how effective PG works as a road base.

“During this period, we’ll be working closely with and providing data to multiple regulatory agencies, including the EPA,” she told News 6.

The project was officially approved by the EPA last year after the agency determined that “the proposed use of phosphogypsum is as protective of human health as placement in a stack.”

That approval came after weeks of public comment, the majority of which opposed the use of PG in public roads.

“Some comments were critical of the current state of phosphogypsum management and regulation,” EPA officials stated. “These comments were determined to be outside the scope of this action, which is limited to this small-scale pilot project on a private road.”

But despite the pushback, researchers with the University of Florida said the project could help determine a new use for PG, potentially turning the waste material into a sustainable building block for future roadways.

In 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on a bill (HB 1191) that pushed for researching PG use as a building material and allowed its use in roadways. Legislative analysts at the time pointed to the 1 billion tons of PG in Florida taking up space.

“PG is a durable product,” analysts wrote. “It is stacked while wet and hardens to hold its shape. In the United States, the use of PG has been limited to certain agricultural applications and scientific research. In other countries, PG is looked at as a beneficial material that can be used in agriculture, forestry, building materials, concrete, and more.”

Mosaic Spokeswoman Chloe Renard recently noted that PG is already being reused “safely and effectively” in over 20 countries, involving projects like agriculture, road construction and reforestation programs.

“Countries like Canada and Belgium, for example, have successfully used (PG) in construction,” she explained.

In March, Mosaic provided the following statement to News 6 regarding the test road project:

“Trust the science. A host of regulators are involved throughout the process. Federal regulations require the EPA to perform a rigorous scientific risk analysis when evaluating a request to use phosphogypsum beneficially. The impacts to human health and the environment are the primary focus of that analysis.

At the end of the day, we welcome robust testing. We want people to know this is a safe and worthwhile resource not a waste, and we are decades behind others who long ago realized just that.

We believe there is great value in the principles of a circular economy whereby materials formerly viewed as wastes can be used or recycled beneficially. PG has value in the right circumstances, and we expect the results of the road trial to reflect that.”

The Mosaic Company