Abstract:ObjectivesThe study aimed to determine whether exposure to a volcanic eruption was associated with increased prevalence of physical and/or mental symptoms.DesignCohort, with non-exposed control group.SettingNatural disasters like volcanic eruptions constitute a major public-health threat. The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull exposed residents in southern Iceland to continuous ash fall for more than 5 weeks in spring 2010. This study was conducted during November 2010 –March 2011, 6–9 months after the Eyjafjal… Show more
“…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). Long-term adverse health effects on adults have previously been observed after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, where the risk of some respiratory symptoms increased with time and three years after the eruption, level of exposure continued to be a risk factor for symptom severity (Hlodversdottir et al, 2016).…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 93%
“…The exposed area was divided into low, medium and high exposure based on satellite images of the eruption plume, information about the emission intensity and observation of ash deposits on the ground (Carlsen et al, 2012). For comparison, a non-exposed group was defined in a rural non-exposed area in northern Iceland.Figure 1.Map of Iceland and study areas (as defined in Carlsen et al, 2012) Inserted map of Iceland in the right corner shows the location of Skagafjörður in Northern Iceland (non-exposed area) and the exposed area in South Iceland. The larger map shows the exposed area with Eyjafjallajökull marked as X, the site of the measuring station with a ▲ and the exposed areas divided to low, medium and high exposed areas.
…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Map of Iceland and study areas (as defined in Carlsen et al, 2012) Inserted map of Iceland in the right corner shows the location of Skagafjörður in Northern Iceland (non-exposed area) and the exposed area in South Iceland. The larger map shows the exposed area with Eyjafjallajökull marked as X, the site of the measuring station with a ▲ and the exposed areas divided to low, medium and high exposed areas.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Previous studies have reported adverse respiratory symptoms following exposure to volcanic ash, both among children (Forbes, Jarvis, Potts, & Baxter, 2003; Naumova et al, 2007) and adults (Buist, Vollmer, Johnson, Bernstein, & Mccamant, 1986; Carlsen et al, 2012, 2012; Fano et al, 2006; Horton & McCaldin, 1964; Horwell & Baxter, 2006; Rojas-Ramos et al, 2001). Respiratory symptoms have also been found to be more common among both children and adults in high exposed areas, compared to non-exposed and low exposed areas (Carlsen et al, 2012; Forbes et al, 2003).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Respiratory symptoms have also been found to be more common among both children and adults in high exposed areas, compared to non-exposed and low exposed areas (Carlsen et al, 2012; Forbes et al, 2003). In addition, long-term respiratory symptoms have also been detected among adults after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, with the risk of certain respiratory symptoms increasing over time.…”
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.
“…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). Long-term adverse health effects on adults have previously been observed after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, where the risk of some respiratory symptoms increased with time and three years after the eruption, level of exposure continued to be a risk factor for symptom severity (Hlodversdottir et al, 2016).…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 93%
“…The exposed area was divided into low, medium and high exposure based on satellite images of the eruption plume, information about the emission intensity and observation of ash deposits on the ground (Carlsen et al, 2012). For comparison, a non-exposed group was defined in a rural non-exposed area in northern Iceland.Figure 1.Map of Iceland and study areas (as defined in Carlsen et al, 2012) Inserted map of Iceland in the right corner shows the location of Skagafjörður in Northern Iceland (non-exposed area) and the exposed area in South Iceland. The larger map shows the exposed area with Eyjafjallajökull marked as X, the site of the measuring station with a ▲ and the exposed areas divided to low, medium and high exposed areas.
…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Map of Iceland and study areas (as defined in Carlsen et al, 2012) Inserted map of Iceland in the right corner shows the location of Skagafjörður in Northern Iceland (non-exposed area) and the exposed area in South Iceland. The larger map shows the exposed area with Eyjafjallajökull marked as X, the site of the measuring station with a ▲ and the exposed areas divided to low, medium and high exposed areas.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Previous studies have reported adverse respiratory symptoms following exposure to volcanic ash, both among children (Forbes, Jarvis, Potts, & Baxter, 2003; Naumova et al, 2007) and adults (Buist, Vollmer, Johnson, Bernstein, & Mccamant, 1986; Carlsen et al, 2012, 2012; Fano et al, 2006; Horton & McCaldin, 1964; Horwell & Baxter, 2006; Rojas-Ramos et al, 2001). Respiratory symptoms have also been found to be more common among both children and adults in high exposed areas, compared to non-exposed and low exposed areas (Carlsen et al, 2012; Forbes et al, 2003).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Respiratory symptoms have also been found to be more common among both children and adults in high exposed areas, compared to non-exposed and low exposed areas (Carlsen et al, 2012; Forbes et al, 2003). In addition, long-term respiratory symptoms have also been detected among adults after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, with the risk of certain respiratory symptoms increasing over time.…”
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.
The emergence of COVID‐19 brought unparalleled changes in people's lifestyle, including sleep. We aimed to assess the bidirectional association between sleep quality and mental health and describe how sleep and mental health were affected in Sweden during the COVID‐19 pandemic (between June 2020 and September 2021). Data were obtained from the Omtanke2020 study. Participants who completed the baseline survey and each of the 8 monthly follow‐up surveys were included (N = 9035). We described the distribution of sleep and mental health in the different Swedish regions using maps and over the study period with longitudinal graphs adjusting for sex, age, recruitment type (self‐recruitment or invitation), and COVID‐19 status. The inner relationships between mental health, sleep and Covid infection were described through relative importance networks. Finally, we modelled how mental health affects sleep and vice versa using generalized estimating equations with different adjustments. Seasonal and north‐south regional variations were found in sleep and mental health outcomes at baseline and attenuated over time. The seasonal variation of sleep and mental health correlated moderately with the incidence rate of COVID‐19 in the sample. Networks indicate that the relationship between COVID‐19 incidence and mental health varies over time. We observed a bidirectional relationship between sleep quality and quantity at baseline and mental health at follow‐up and vice versa. Sleep quality and quantity at baseline was associated with adverse symptom trajectories of mental health at follow‐up, and vice versa, during the COVID‐19 pandemic. There was also a weak relationship between COVID‐19 incidence, sleep, and mental health.
Volcanic ash is generated in explosive volcanic eruptions, dispersed by prevailing winds and may be deposited onto communities hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away. The wide geographic reach of ashfalls makes them the volcanic hazard most likely to affect the greatest numbers of people. However, forecasting how much ash will fall, where, and with what characteristics, is a major challenge. Varying social contexts, ashfall characteristics, and eruption durations create unique challenges in determining impacts, which are wide-ranging and often poorly understood. Consequently, a suite of communication strategies must be applied across a variety of different settings. Broadly speaking, the level of impact depends upon the amount of ash deposited and its characteristics (hazard), as well as the numbers and distribution of people and assets (exposure), and the ability of people and assets to cope with the ashfall (resilience and/or vulnerability). Greater knowledge of the likely impact can support mitigation actions, crisis planning, and emergency management activities. Careful, considered, and well-planned communication prior to, and during, 1 a volcanic ashfall crisis can substantially reduce physical, economic and psychosocial impacts. We describe the factors contributing to the complex communication environment associated with ashfall hazards, describe currently available information products and tools, and reflect on lessons from a range of case-study ashfall events. We discuss currently-available communication tools for the key sectors of public health, agriculture and critical infrastructure, and information demands created by ash clean-up operations. We conclude with reflections on the particular challenges posed by long-term eruptions and implications for recovery after ashfall.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
