Volcanic air pollution and human health: recent advances and future directions

Abstract

Volcanic air pollution from both explosive and effusive activity can affect large populations as far as thousands of kilometers away from the source, for days to decades or even centuries. Here, we summarize key advances and prospects in the assessment of health hazards, effects, risk, and management. Recent advances include standardized ash assessment methods to characterize the multiple physicochemical characteristics that might influence toxicity; the rise of community-based air quality monitoring networks using low-cost gas and particulate sensors; the development of forecasting methods for ground-level concentrations and associated public advisories; the development of risk and impact assessment methods to explore health consequences of future eruptions; and the development of evidence-based, locally specific measures for health protection. However, it remains problematic that the health effects of many major and sometimes long-duration eruptions near large populations have gone completely unmonitored. Similarly, effects of prolonged degassing on exposed populations have received very little attention relative to explosive eruptions. Furthermore, very few studies have longitudinally followed populations chronically exposed to volcanic emissions; thus, knowledge gaps remain about whether chronic exposures can trigger development of potentially fatal diseases. Instigating such studies will be facilitated by continued co-development of standardized protocols, supporting local study teams and procuring equipment, funding, and ethical permissions. Relationship building between visiting researchers and host country academic, observatory, and agency partners is vital and can, in turn, support the effective communication of health impacts of volcanic air pollution to populations, health practitioners, and emergency managers.

Assessing the magnitude of volcanic risk to global shipping

“…However, as the tephra fall gets heavier it may be impossible to keep these filters clean both through the rate at which they clog up and the hazards to the crew on deck (decreased visibility, slip hazards, and respiratory issues associated within inhaling fine ash; Stewart et al, 2022). At some stage, these filters may have to be removed completely allowing tephra to be blown direct into the engine room.…”

Guía de actuación ante niveles altos de contaminación volcánica. Observatorio Atmosférico de Izaña

“…La clasificación de las erupciones se realiza en base a su evolución, que tiene en cuenta la magnitud de la erupción VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index -Índice de Explosividad de Volcán, índice que va de 0 a 8), la altitud de la emisión y la duración del evento (Stewart, et al, 2022).…”

“…En general, los estudios epidemiológicos publicados sobre peligros volcánicos y riesgos para la salud, centrados principalmente en material particulado y dióxido de azufre, están realizados sobre casos de estudio de "grandes" erupciones volcánicas. Para más información sobre estudios epidemiológicos, dirigimos al lector al trabajo de Stewart et al, 2022, donde se hace una revisión extensa de estudios sobre contaminación del aire por actividad volcánica e impacto en la salud, haciendo referencia a decenas de estos.…”

Spatial distribution and physicochemical properties of respirable volcanic ash from the 16-17 August 2006 Tungurahua eruption (Ecuador), and alveolar epithelium responsein-vitro

“…Acute health effects have been documented in exposed populations during several volcanic eruptions (e.g., 1980 Mount St Helens, USA; 1995-2013 Montserrat Soufrière Hills, Caribbean; 1995-today Sakurajima, Japan), including the exacerbation of pre-existing chronic lung diseases. 13,14 A variable pathogenicity of volcanic ash for the respiratory system has been evidenced by in-vivo and in-vitro studies. In-vivo studies using volcanic ash from the Mount St Helens and Soufrière Hills eruptions indicate inflammation, fibrosis in the lungs 15 , and granuloma in the lymph.…”

“…This is due to the high variability of volcanic ash from one volcanic eruption to another, which limits the extent to which the lessons learnt in one volcanic environment can be transferred to another. 14 The present work aims to characterize health-relevant properties of the volcanic ash from the 1999-2016 Tungurahua eruption, in Ecuador, and to assess the bioreactivity in-vitro using alveolar epithelial cells. This long-lasting eruption of Tungurahua has strongly and enduringly affected the surrounding rural area and its population 26 , due to the volcanic emissions, and in particular the large amount of volcanic ash, recurrently dispersed in the environment by explosive episodes.…”