A retrospective study on acute health effects due to volcanic ash exposure during the eruption of Mount Etna (Sicily) in 2002

Abstract

BackgroundMount Etna, located in the eastern part of Sicily (Italy), is the highest and most active volcano in Europe. During the sustained eruption that occurred in October-November 2002 huge amounts of volcanic ash fell on a densely populated area south-east of Mount Etna in Catania province. The volcanic ash fall caused extensive damage to infrastructure utilities and distress in the exposed population. This retrospective study evaluates whether or not there was an association between ash fall and acute health effects in exposed local communities.MethodsWe collected the number and type of visits to the emergency department (ED) for diseases that could be related to volcanic ash exposure in public hospitals of the Province of Catania between October 20 and November 7, 2002. We compared the magnitude of differences in ED visits between the ash exposure period in 2002 and the same period of the previous year 2001.ResultsWe observed a significant increase of ED visits for acute respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and ocular disturbances during the ash exposure time period.ConclusionsThere was a positive association between exposure to volcanic ash from the 2002 eruption of Mount Etna and acute health effects in the Catania residents. This study documents the need for public health preparedness and response initiatives to protect nearby populations from exposure to ash fall from future eruptions of Mount Etna.

The iron-catalysed surface reactivity and health-pertinent physical characteristics of explosive volcanic ash from Mt. Etna, Italy

“…Barsotti et al's (2010) modelling highlighted the importance of remobilization and re-suspension of 10 μm volcanic particles following ash deposition, so lofting of the finest material, such as it is, following ash deposition may yet be important for respiratory hazard. Unfortunately, the medical evidence is currently insufficient to support this; Lombardo et al (2013) did find a significant increase in ED visits for acute respiratory conditions during the 2002-03 eruption but this was in contrast to Fano et al (2005) who did not find an increase in hospital admissions for respiratory ailments and, in fact, found a significant decrease in mortality for respiratory diseases during the eruption period. During future eruptions, particle concentrations should be rapidly determined by ambient monitoring of airborne particles (see pilot study by Andronico and Del Carlo 2016) and particle-size analysis conducted on deposited particles, as a relatively-minor increase in explosivity could result in more fine-grained material being generated than has been observed in recent years.…”

“…There was also an increase in admissions for eye disorders. Lombardo et al (2013) also conducted a retrospective epidemiological study following the 2002-03 eruption to assess acute health effects in exposed communities. The number and nature of visits to the emergency departments (ED) of public hospitals in the Province of Catania were assessed between 20 October and 7 November and were compared with data for the same period in 2001.…”

Volcanic ash in the air we breathe

“…[6] published in this issue of Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine contributes to the understanding of adverse health effects caused by exposure to volcanic ash. Etna is a large stratovolcano in the Catania Province, Italy, with one of the longest documented records of eruption.…”

“…This new work builds on knowledge gleaned from a previous study [8] and provides new insight into the public health burden as well as evidence-based recommendations for future eruptions. The study [6] identifies an increase in patients with acute cardiorespiratory illnesses presenting to emergency departments during ash fall. Most interesting were the significant cardiovascular, upper and lower respiratory and ocular effects relative to geographic exposure.…”

PM<sub>10</sub> measurements in urban settlements after lava fountain episodes at Mt. Etna, Italy: pilot test to assess volcanic ash hazard to human health

“…Such effects on the cardiovascular system have also been documented in non-volcanic areas (WHO, 2006;Delfino et al, 2005). However, a retro- spective study by Lombardo et al (2013) reports, contrary to the results by Fano et al (2005), on an increase in hospital admissions for cardiovascular morbidity along with a decrease in the rate of admission for respiratory diseases, finding a significantly higher frequency of visits to the emergency department for acute respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and ocular disturbances during the ash exposure time period in the three main hospitals of Catania in 2002, as compared to the same period of the previous year. Furthermore, Barsotti et al (2010) simulated the concentration of 10 µm volcanic particles (both in the air and on the ground) in several towns and key infrastructure around the volcano, showing that the remobilization of ash may considerably increase the concentration of the study class of particles in the air.…”