WPB: Radioactive hot zones are silently forming beneath our roads. These aren’t large reactors or military waste dumps—they stem from tiny bits of industrial waste containing uranium and radium, embedded directly into the asphalt. In some cases, these areas even emit toxic gases where the surface is damaged. One resident of Lower Austria discovered this unsettling truth purely by accident.
To save money, leftover substances from fertilizer production—specifically those tainted with radioactive radium—are being used in road construction. Rather than paying for proper disposal, some companies appear to be hiding the problem under our feet.
In a striking case, a dosimeter unexpectedly registered extreme radiation levels in the heart of a city. Panic followed. What force beneath the ground could produce such a dangerous emission? The radiation was so intense that lead sheets were laid over the site. When workers dug deeper, they found the culprit: a single piece of phosphogypsum, small but powerful, had slipped past machinery and kept its radioactive energy intact.
New Year’s Celebration Uncovers a Hidden Hazard
This scenario mirrors an earlier case in Thuringia, Germany, from four years prior—one that was quietly forgotten. Asphalt materials are manufactured by wealthy industrial players. Demand is enormous. While research is ongoing, few question the ingredients used in these materials.
In Austria, there had been no public outcry over such contamination—until a man from Göllersdorf stumbled onto something unexpected. After celebrating New Year’s Eve, he noticed he still had his company’s dosimeter on him. During a casual stroll to watch fireworks, the device later revealed two massive radiation spikes. The celebration had turned into a shocking revelation.
Curious and concerned, he checked the area again and detected more elevated readings, especially around newly repaired asphalt sections. After reading about a similar incident in Germany, he began to suspect that phosphogypsum might be quietly finding its way into Austrian roads as well.
No Transparency from Asphalt Producers
There’s little clarity about what exactly goes into the asphalt. While Austria imports 70,000 tons of phosphogypsum annually, there’s no easy way to trace where it all ends up. Even directories of suppliers don’t reveal who’s using what.
Despite official claims that radiation levels are safe, experts know that when radioactive materials clump together, the emission levels increase dramatically. Yet, no one wants to take responsibility. Officials direct questions to contractors, who then deflect them to suppliers. Specific recipes used in asphalt production remain confidential and protected by industry secrecy.
Meanwhile, Across the Ocean… It’s Already Approved
As Austria’s asphalt output climbs to about seven million tons per year, the concerned citizens fear the situation might start to mirror what’s happening in the U.S. Just last April, Florida approved the use of phosphogypsum in asphalt across the entire state—despite heavy public opposition.
This trend raises serious questions: are the Austrians paving their roads with materials that pose long-term risks to public health—and keeping it hidden?
By Bitumenmag
Asphalt, Bitumen, Road
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