Chronic Pulmonary Effects of Volcanic Ash: An Epidemiologic Study

Yano, Eiji; Yokoyama, Yuki; Nishii, Shunji

doi:10.1080/00039896.1986.9937416

Cited by 30 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…This is consistent with previous studies on adults (Yano et al, 1990; Yano, Yokoyama, & Nishii, 1986) and children (Naumova et al, 2007). These results are also in accordance with our previous study on adults which found high exposed adults to be at increased risk of respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath, cough and phlegm, compared to a low exposed group 6–9 months after the eruption in Eyjafjallajökull (Carlsen et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Long-term health of children following the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption: a prospective cohort study

Hlodversdóttir

Thorsteinsdottir

Þórðardóttir

et al. 2018

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: More than 500 million people worldwide live within exposure range of an active volcano and children are a vulnerable subgroup of such exposed populations. However, studies on the effects of volcanic eruptions on children’s health beyond the first year are sparse. Objective: To examine the effect of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption on physical and mental health symptoms among exposed children in 2010 and 2013 and to identify potential predictive factors for symptoms. Method: In a population-based prospective cohort study, data was collected on the adult population (N = 1615) exposed to the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption and a non-exposed group (N = 697). The exposed group was further divided according to exposure level. All participants answered questionnaires assessing their children´s and their own perceived health status in 2010 and 2013. Results: In 2010, exposed children were more likely than non-exposed children to experience respiratory symptoms (medium exposed OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.07–2.03; high exposed OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.03–2.24) and anxiety/worries (medium exposed OR 2.39; 95% CI 1.67–3.45; high exposed OR 2.77; 95% CI 1.81–4.27). Both genders had an increased risk of symptoms of anxiety/worries but only exposed boys were at increased risk of experiencing headaches and sleep disturbances compared to non-exposed boys. Within the exposed group, children whose homes were damaged were at increased risk of experiencing anxiety/worries (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.13–2.32) and depressed mood (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.07–2.24) than children whose homes were not damaged. Among exposed children, no significant decrease of symptoms was detected between 2010 and 2013. Conclusions: Adverse physical and mental health problems experienced by the children exposed to the eruption seem to persist for up to a three-year period post-disaster. These results underline the importance of appropriate follow-up for children after a natural disaster.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Long-term health of children following the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption: a prospective cohort study

Hlodversdóttir

Thorsteinsdottir

Þórðardóttir

et al. 2018

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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“…For example, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms of exposed people inhabiting five towns around the crater of Mount Sakurajima in Japan were found to be minimal 23. Analysis of this ash showed a crystalline silica content which was almost negligible and that the major component of the ash particulate was non-respirable 24…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vitro toxicology of respirable Montserrat volcanic ash

Wilson

Stone

Cullen³

et al. 2000

Occup Environ Med

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Objectives-In July 1995 the Soufriere Hills volcano on the island of Montserrat began to erupt. Preliminary reports showed that the ash contained a substantial respirable component and a large percentage of the toxic silica polymorph, cristobalite. In this study the cytotoxicity of three respirable Montserrat volcanic ash (MVA) samples was investigated: M1 from a single explosive event, M2 accumulated ash predominantly derived from pyroclastic flows, and M3 from a single pyroclastic flow. These were compared with the relatively inert dust TiO 2 and the known toxic quartz dust, DQ12. Methods-Surface area of the particles was measured with the Brunauer, Emmet, and Teller (BET) adsorption method and cristobalite content of MVA was determined by x ray diVraction (XRD). After exposure to particles, the metabolic competence of the epithelial cell line A549 was assessed to determine cytotoxic eVects. The ability of the particles to induce sheep blood erythrocyte haemolysis was used to assess surface reactivity. Results-Treatment with either MVA, quartz, or titanium dioxide decreased A549 epithelial cell metabolic competence as measured by ability to reduce 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). On addition of mannitol, the cytotoxic eVect was significantly less with M1, quartz, and TiO 2 . All MVA samples induced a dose dependent increase in haemolysis, which, although less than the haemolysis induced by quartz, was significantly greater than that induced by TiO 2 . Addition of mannitol and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly reduced the haemolytic activity only of M1, but not M2 or M3, the samples derived from predominantly pyroclastic flow events. Conclusions-Neither the cristobalite content nor the surface area of the MVA samples correlated with observed in vitro reactivity. A role for reactive oxygen species could only be shown in the cytotoxicity of M1, which was the only sample derived from a purely explosive event. These results suggest that in general the bioreactivity of MVA samples in vitro is low compared with pure quartz, but that the bioreactivity and mechanisms of biological interaction may vary according to the ash source.

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“…It was concluded that the TSP concentrations were not high enough to cause major changes in lung function. Yano et al (1986) carried out a cross-sectional epidemiological study on 2006 women, aged 30-59, from three areas subjected to different concentrations of airborne ash. The results showed that non-specific respiratory diseases and related symptoms were very low in all areas, but when the three areas were compared, there was an increase in symptoms with increasing TSP levels.…”

Section: Epidemiological and Clinical Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The respiratory health hazards of volcanic ash: a review for volcanic risk mitigation

2006

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Studies of the respiratory health effects of different types of volcanic ash have been undertaken only in the last 40 years, and mostly since the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980. This review of all published clinical, epidemiological and toxicological studies, and other work known to the authors up to and including 2005, highlights the sparseness of studies on acute health effects after eruptions and the complexity of evaluating the long-term health risk (silicosis, non-specific pneumoconiosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in populations from prolonged exposure to ash due to persistent eruptive activity. The acute and chronic health effects of volcanic ash depend upon particle size (particularly the proportion of respirable-sized material), mineralogical composition (including the crystalline silica content) and the physicochemical properties of the surfaces of the ash particles, all of which vary between volcanoes and even eruptions of the same volcano, but adequate information on these key characteristics is not reported for most eruptions. The incidence of acute respiratory symptoms (e.g. asthma, bronchitis) varies greatly after ashfalls, from very few, if any, reported cases to population outbreaks of asthma. The studies are inadequate for excluding increases in acute respiratory mortality after eruptions. Individuals with preexisting lung disease, including asthma, can be at increased risk of their symptoms being exacerbated after falls of fine ash. A comprehensive risk assessment, including toxicological studies, to determine the long-term risk of silicosis from chronic exposure to volcanic ash, has been undertaken only in the eruptions of Mt. St. Helens (1980), USA, and Soufrière Hills, Montserrat (1995 onwards). In the Soufrière Hills eruption, a long-term silicosis hazard has been identified and sufficient exposure and toxicological information obtained to make a probabilistic risk assessment for the development of silicosis in outdoor workers and the general population. A more systematic approach to multi-disciplinary studies in future eruptions is recommended, including establishing an archive of ash samples and a website containing health advice for the public, together with scientific and medical study guidelines for volcanologists and health-care workers.

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Chronic Pulmonary Effects of Volcanic Ash: An Epidemiologic Study

Cited by 30 publications

References 11 publications

Long-term health of children following the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption: a prospective cohort study

Long-term health of children following the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption: a prospective cohort study

In vitro toxicology of respirable Montserrat volcanic ash

The respiratory health hazards of volcanic ash: a review for volcanic risk mitigation

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