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. 2012 Mar 8;2(2):e000343.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000343. Print 2012.

A survey of early health effects of the Eyjafjallajokull 2010 eruption in Iceland: a population-based study

Hanne Krage Carlsen  1 , Thorarinn Gislason, Bryndis Benediktsdottir, Thorir Bjorn Kolbeinsson, Arna Hauksdottir, Throstur Thorsteinsson, Haraldur Briem
Affiliations

A survey of early health effects of the Eyjafjallajokull 2010 eruption in Iceland: a population-based study

Hanne Krage Carlsen et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objective: To estimate physical and mental health effects of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption on nearby residents.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted on 14 April 2010. The eruption lasted for about 6 weeks and was explosive, ejecting some 8 million tons of fine particles into the atmosphere. Due to prevailing winds, the ash spread mostly to the south and south-east, first over the rural region to the south, later over the Atlantic Ocean and Europe, closing European air space for several days.

Participants: Residents (n=207) of the most ash-exposed rural area south and east of the volcano.

Methods: The study period was from 31 May to 11 June 2010. Participants were examined by a physician. To ascertain respiratory health, standardised spirometry was performed before and after the use of a bronchodilator. All adult participants answered questionnaires about mental and physical health, their children's health and the use of protective equipment.

Results: Every other adult participant reported irritation in eyes and upper airway when exposed to volcanic ash. Adults (n=26) and children (n=5) with pre-existing asthma frequently reported worsening of their symptoms. No serious health problems requiring hospitalisation could be attributed to the eruption. The majority of the participants reported no abnormal physical or mental symptoms to the examining physician. Compared to an age- and gender-matched reference group, the ash-exposed participants reported lower smoking rates and were less likely to have ventilation impairment. Less than 10% of the participants reported symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression.

Conclusions: Short-term ash exposure was associated with upper airway irritation symptoms and exacerbation of pre-existing asthma but did not contribute to serious health problems. The exposure did not impair respiratory function compared to controls. Outdoor use of protective glasses and face masks was considered protective against irritation in eyes and upper airway.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of the study area, which reached from just west of Eyjafjallajökull to Vík in the east. The shading illustrates duration and intensity of the ash plume. The darkest areas represent an estimated ash deposition of >500 g/m2, and around Vík, the deposition is estimated around 200 g/m2.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age distribution of the study participants (n=207) from the Eyjafjallajökull area investigated from 31 May to 11 June 2010.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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