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 25-nov-2024