Respiratory disease increased markedly following one of Iceland’s largest volcanic eruptions, a new study has found.
Respiratory disease increased markedly following one of Iceland’s largest volcanic eruptions, a new study has found.
The findings could have significant implications for actions taken to protect the health of the 800 million people living near active volcanoes. Only last month, lava burst through a crack in Iceland’s Mount Fagradalsfjall in the first eruption of its type for more than 800 years.
The new research, led by the Universities of Leeds and Iceland, examined the health impacts of pollution caused by the Holuhraun lava eruption in 2014-2015.
It showed that, following exposure to emissions that changed chemically from gas to fine particles, incidents of respiratory disease in Iceland rose by almost a quarter, and the incidence of asthma medication dispensing by a fifth.
Read more at University of Leeds
Image: The Holuhraun lava eruption in 2014-2015 (Credit: Dr Evgenia Ilyinskaya)
