Phosphogypsum, a fertilizer industry by-product, contains naturally occurring radionuclides like uranium and radium. Its radioactivity varies based on source materials, requiring strict controls before any reuse in construction or agriculture.
Industrial By-product
FIC-Fighters in Barreiro: Field Work Photo Gallery
The following images document the field work and community engagement FIC-Fighters’ work in Barreiro, Portugal, one of the case studies where the project explores innovative approaches to phosphogypsum management. The gallery captures field research activities, site...
Case Study Cards
Intro In certain areas across Europe, phosphogypsum (PG) stacks have become enduring landmarks of industrial prosperity—and unresolved environmental risk. From the Danube towns of Prahovo (Serbia) and Turnu Măgurele (Romania), to coastal Cartagena (Spain), and from...
Integrated Summary of Scientific Studies on the Prahovo PG Stack
The Prahovo PG stack in Serbia is not an immediate radiation emergency, but it is clearly an environmental hot spot that requires careful management. Some pathways are being tested, like purification by recrystallization, or the ones in FIC-Fighters, to produce usable...
Barreiro Voices: turning an environmental legacy into a shared future
Intro Barreiro carries a proud industrial past shaped by factories and decades of work that built both livelihoods and identity. But alongside that history lies another legacy: vast deposits of phosphogypsum left behind by phosphate production, still marking the...
Voices for Change – Exploring Solutions for the Barreiro stack
Intro The second FIC-Fighters Citizen Event: “Voices for Change: exploring solutions for the Barreiro stack,” took place on the 11th of November 2025, where citizens and local stakeholders gathered at the Public Library of Barreiro (Portugal). This workshop created a...
FIC-Fighters in Veles: Field Work Photo Gallery
These images document the FIC-Fighters in Veles: Field Work and Community Engagement project's work in Veles, North Macedonia, one of the key case studies where the project explores innovative approaches to phosphogypsum management. The gallery captures field research...
What is Phosphogypsum?
Phosphogypsum (фосфорен гипс) is a by-product of phosphate fertilizer production, rich in calcium sulfate but also containing naturally occurring radionuclides such as uranium and radium. While it may superficially resemble ordinary gypsum, its origin, chemical...
Voices for Change – Exploring Solutions for the Veles Stack
Intro On 24th September 2025, citizens from Veles gathered at Europe House to participate in the first FIC-Fighters Citizen Workshop under the theme “Voices for Change – Exploring Solutions for the Veles Stack”. The event aimed to reconnect the community with the...
Integrated Summary of Scientific Studies on the Veles Phosphogypsum Stack
Near the village of Zgropolci, along the Veles–Gradsko road (North Macedonia), there is a large phosphogypsum stack created by the former fertilizer factory HIV-Veles, which operated from 1979 to 2003. The plant produced phosphoric acid and fertilizers (it was built...
Young Voices from Veles: Building Awareness for a Cleaner Future
Intro In the heart of North Macedonia, the city of Veles carries a long industrial legacy — once known for its metallurgy and chemical production, today it stands at the crossroads of environmental recovery and civic renewal. This interview brings together members of...