RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Natural and artificial gamma-emitting radionuclides in volcanic soils of the Western Canary Islands A1 Martín Luis, María Candelaria A1 López Pérez, María A1 Hernández, Francisco A1 Liger, Esperanza A1 Fernández Aldecoa, José Carlos A1 Lorenzo Salazar, José Miguel A1 Hernández Armas, José A1 Salazar Carballo, Pedro A. K1 Environmental radioactivity K1 Outdoor gamma radiation K1 Volcanic soils K1 Canary Islands AB Terrestrial gamma absorbed dose rates as well as spatial distribution of gamma-emitting radionuclides 40K, 226Raand 232Th and 137Cs in soils, are provided in detail for the first time in the Western Canary Islands.The distribution of terrestrial gamma absorbed dose rates and the activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th are discussed with respect to the main lithologies and geological features of each island. The averageterrestrial absorbed dose rate (71.4 nGy⋅h− 1) reported here was slightly higher to previously reported values forthe Eastern islands of this archipelago (43 nGy⋅h− 1) and close to the world's average (59 nGy⋅h− 1).Relatively high 137Cs activity concentrations, up to 100 Bq⋅kg− 1, were measured in some of the collectedsamples. To understand the origin of these activities, we compared the results from two different field surveysperformed in 1991 and in 2013. The activity concentrations were found to be rather similar despite the 22 yearsgap between the measurements. Complementary radiometric data from aerosol samples collected at this siteshow that there are additional contributions of 137Cs to this site produced by the deposition of dust particlesbrought by Saharan dust storms.In terms of radiological risk, the gamma absorbed doses reported (external exposure) pose no risk to the localpopulation. However, the contribution of the soil 137Cs activity concentrations to the gamma absorbed dose wereas high as 50% in some few locations. SN 0375-6742 YR 2021 FD 2021 LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/35724 UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/35724 LA en DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna RD 13-may-2024