THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF VOLCANIC ASH A …

1 THE HEALTH HAZARDSOF VOLCANIC ASHA guide for the publicCities and VolcanoesCommissionUSSscience forachangingworldThis document has been prepared by theInternational VOLCANIC HEALTH Hazard Network(IVHHN), Cities and Volcanoes Commission, GNSS cience and the United States Geological Survey(USGS) to promote the safety of those whoexperience VOLCANIC guide explains the potential HEALTH effects ofvolcanic ash and gives details on how to protectyourself and your family in the event of a HEALTH HAZARDSOF VOLCANIC ASHA guide for the public11. What is VOLCANIC ash?..Page2. What are the effects of ash on HEALTH ? ..3. What to do to protect yourself against Precautions for children ..5. Sources and further information.

2 Respiratory effectsWhy are people with chronic lungproblems at special risk?What factors affect respiratory symptoms? Eye Skin Indirect HEALTH effects of ashfallCONTENTS244567881114152 VOLCANIC ash is composed of fine particles of fragmented volcanicrock (less than 2 mm diameter). VOLCANIC ash is often hot veryclose to the volcano but is cool when it falls at greater is formed during VOLCANIC explosions, from avalanches of hotrock that flow down the side of volcanoes, or from red-hot liquidlava spray. Ash varies in appearance depending upon the type ofvolcano and the form of the eruption. Thus, it can range in colourfrom light grey to black and can vary in size from being like gritto being as fine as talcum powder.

3 Airborne ash blocks outsunlight, reducing visibility and sometimes causes completedarkness during day ash deposits canincorporate into existing soilsand become the future topsoil of a VOLCANIC region. The fertility ofthe soils around many volcanoes is due to old ash deposits. Thisbeneficial effect of volcanism outweighs, over time, the can also generatethunder and lightning fromfriction between the fine,airborne particles which can belocalised above the volcano oraccompany large ash plumes asthey move infrequent eruptions, so fertile VOLCANIC areas are oftendensely populated1. What is VOLCANIC ash?3 Freshly fallen ash particles can have acid coatings which maycause irritation to the lungs and eyes.

4 This acid coating is rapidlyremoved by rain, which may then pollute local water ash can also damage vegetation, leading to crop most eruptions, VOLCANIC ash causes relatively few healthproblems, but generates much anxiety. People can be morefearful of the HEALTH HAZARDS of VOLCANIC ash and gases than ofthe risk of dying from more major HAZARDS , such as pyroclasticflows. However, ashfalls can affect very wide areas aroundvolcanoes and may cause major disruption to normal services can expect an increase in the number ofpatients with respiratory and eye symptoms during and after anashfall event (see IVHHN guidelines on advice to the medicalcommunity). Respiratory effectsIn some eruptions, ash particles can be so fine that they arebreathed deep into the lungs.

5 With high exposure, even healthyindividuals will experience chest discomfort with increasedcoughing and irritation. Common acute (short-term)symptoms include:4 Nasal irritation and discharge (runny nose).Throat irritation and sore throat, sometimesaccompanied by dry with pre-existing chest complaints may developsevere bronchitic symptoms which last some days beyondexposure to ash (for example, hacking cough, productionof sputum, wheezing, or shortness of breath).Airway irritation for people with asthma or bronchitis;common complaints of people with asthma includeshortness of breath, wheezing and becomes rare circumstances, long-term exposure to fine VOLCANIC ashmay lead to serious lung diseases. For these diseases to occur, theash must be very fine, contain crystalline silica (for the diseasesilicosis to occur) and the people must be exposed to the ash inhigh concentrations over many years.

6 Exposure to crystalline2. What are the effects of ash on HEALTH ?Effects of ash on HEALTH may be divided into several categories:respiratory effects, eye symptoms, skin irritation and are people with chronic lungproblems at special risk?The fine ash particles irritate theairways and cause them tocontract, making breathing moredifficult in people who already havelung problems. The fine dust alsocauses the lining of the airways toproduce more secretions which cancause people to cough and breathemore heavily. Asthma sufferers,especially children who may beheavily exposed to the ash whenthey play, may suffer bouts of coughing, tightness of the chestand wheezing. Some people who have never knowingly hadasthma before, may experience asthma symptoms following anashfall, especially if they go outdoors in the ash and in VOLCANIC ash is typically of short duration (days to weeks),and studies suggest that the recommended exposure limits(similar in most countries) can be exceeded for short periods oftime for the general suffering from asthma or other lung problems such asbronchitis and emphysema, and severe heart problems are mostat factors affect respiratory symptoms?

7 The development of respiratory symptoms from the inhalation ofvolcanic ash depends on a number of factors. These include theconcentration of particles in the air, the proportion of fineparticles in the ash, the frequency and duration of exposure, thepresence of crystalline silica and VOLCANIC gases or aerosolsmixed with the ash, and meteorological conditions. Existinghealth conditions and the use of respiratory protectiveequipment will also influence the symptoms symptoms include:ECorneal abrasions or conjunctivitis or the inflammation of theconjunctival sac that surrounds the eyeball due to thepresence of ash, which leads to redness, burning ofthe eyes, and feeling as though there are foreign particles becoming painful, itchy or discharge or Eye symptomsEye irritation is a common HEALTH effect as pieces of grit cancause painful scratches in the front of the eye (cornealabrasions) and conjunctivitis.

8 Contact lens wearers need to beespecially aware of this problem and leave out their lenses toprevent corneal abrasion from Indirect HEALTH effects of Skin IrritationWhile not common, VOLCANIC ash can cause skin irritation forsome people, especially if the ash is include:Irritation and reddening of the infections due to well as the short and long term HEALTH risks, indirectimpacts of large ashfallsmust also be mainly arise from the secondary consequences of ashfall,for example:on health4 The reduction in visibility from airborne ash alone maycause accidents. This danger is compounded by ashcovering roads. Not only are road markings covered up,but thin layers of either wet or dry ash are veryslippery, reducing traction.

9 Thick deposits of ash maymake roads impassable, cutting off communities frombasic on roads944 Ashfall can lead to powercuts. These may haveimplications for HEALTH dueto lack of heatingor other infrastructuralrequirements that dependon electricity. Wet ash isconductive, so it is essentialthat safe operatingprocedures are stringently followed when cleaningpower supply on powerAshfall can cause contamination of water or cloggingand damage of water supply equipment. Small, openwater supplies such as domestic water tanks with roofdrainage are especially vulnerable to VOLCANIC ashfall,and even small quantities of ash may cause problemsfor potability. While the risk of toxicity is low, the pHmay be reduced or chlorination inhibited. During andafter ashfalls, there is also likely to be extra waterdemand for clean-up, resulting in water on water supplies104 Effects on sanitation(waste water disposal etc).

10 The temporary disablement of municipal sanitationsystems may lead to increased disease in affected ) Roofs can collapsefrom the weight of ash,resulting in injury ordeath for ) There is a danger ofroof collapse whilstclearing ash from roofsdue to the increasedload of a person on an already overloaded ) In several eruptions people have died after fallingfrom their roofs while cleaning up the ash is coatedin hydrofluoric acid,the ash can be verytoxic to grazinganimals if theyingest ash-coveredgrass and of roof collapseAnimal health113. What to do to protect yourselfagainst ash44 Immediately after an ashfall, even a light one, drivingconditions, visibility and air quality can be dramaticallyaffected, especially by the resuspension of ash bytraffic.