Health Implications of the Mount St. Helens' Eruption: Laboratory Investigations

GREEN, F.H.Y.; BOWMAN, L.; CASTRANOVA, V.; DOLLBERG, D.D.; ELLIOT, J.A.; FEDAN, J.S.; HAHON, N.; JUDY, D.J.; MAJOR, P.C.; Mentnech, M. S.; MILES, P.R.; Mull, Judith C.; Olenchock, Stephen A.; ONG, T.; PAILES, W.M.; RESNICK, H.; STETTLER, L.E.; TUCKER, J.G.; VALLYATHAN, V.; WHONG, W.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-026838-5.50073-8

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The differing reports were due to disagreements in the interpretation of XRD diffraction patterns since the major diffraction peak for cristobalite is masked by the adjacent plagioclase feldspar peak. Further analyses showed that quartz, cristobalite and tridymite comprised~7 wt% of the <10 μm fraction, of which 4% was cristobalite (Dollberg et al 1984;Fruchter et al 1980;Gage and Farwell 1981;Green et al 1982). These results were obtained by wetsieving the samples to retrieve the <10 μm fraction and then dissolving all non-crystalline silica minerals with phosphoric acid (the Talvitie method (Talvitie 1951)) so that XRD patterns could be clearly interpreted.…”

Section: Characterisation Of the Ashmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the nine in vitro studies, five found the ash to cause cell toxicity (Fruchter et al 1980;Green et al 1982;Robinson and Schneider 1982;Vallyathan et al 1983a 1984) but it was less toxic than quartz and similar to other low-toxicity minerals. Four studies found the ash to be nontoxic (Adler et al 1984;Bonner et al 1998;Dodson et al 1982;Martin et al 1984a) in not stimulating macrophages or causing an inflammatory response.…”

Section: Toxicological Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Characterisation Of the Ashmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Toxicological Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

2006

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“…In previous studies, Mount St. Helens ash appeared moderately cytotoxic and fibrogenic in both in vitro and in vivo tests (Green et al, 1981(Green et al, , 1982Vallyathan et al, 1983a,b). By comparing the cytotoxicity of volcanic ashes with highly cytotoxic and fibrogenic crystalline silica and "inert" barite, we obtained an estimate of the relative toxicity of ashes from different eruptions and volcanoes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Although, many minerals exhibit a good correlation between hemolysis and fibrogenesis, several others show false negative or false positive results (Green et al, 1982;Harington et al, 1971;Jaurand et al, 1980;Light and Wei, 1977;Nash et al, 1966;Nolan et al, 1981;Summerton et al, 1977;Vallyathan et al, 1983a). Therefore, it is often difficult to relate in vitro studies and extrapolate data to human conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to the immediate health hazards, delayed adverse effects pose a potential risk to populations respiring volcanic ashes intermittently or for prolonged periods (Baxter et al, 1981;Bernstein, 1983;Green et al, 1982;Merchant et al, 1982). The presence and persistence of respirable-size ash particles in ambient air is determined by the direction and force of explosion, wind, weather conditions, human activities, and size and density of the particles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparativein vitrocytotoxicity of volcanic ashes from Mount St. Helens, El Chichon, and Galunggung

Vallyathan¹,

Robinson²,

Reasor³

et al. 1984

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health

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Dry sedimented volcanic ash samples from each of three widely separated volcanoes of the "Circum Pacific" region have been subjected to mineralogic analysis and in vitro tests for cytotoxicity. The ash samples from the three different volcanoes varied in particle size, surface area, and concentration of silica. Total crystalline silica in the respirable fraction of ashes was 1.5% (Mount St. Helens, Moses Lake); 1.36% (Galunggung, Bandung-1); 1.95% (Gallunggung, Bandung-2); and 1.72% (El Chichon, Tuxtla). Hemolysis as an index of cytotoxicity was measured by in vitro tests on sheep blood erythrocytes and indicated wide differences in hemolytic activity among ash samples. Alveolar macrophage cytosolic (lactate dehydrogenase) and lysosomal (beta-glucuronidase and beta-N-acetyl glucosaminidase) enzymes were measured as an index of cellular integrity following dust exposure. Hemolysis and release of enzymes from alveolar macrophages were greater with volcanic ash from Galunggung (Bandung-1) and El Chichon (Tuxtla) than the other ashes. Although crystalline silica induced an effect similar to volcanic ash from Galunggung (Bandung-1) on the release of enzymes from alveolar macrophages, the hemolytic potency of silica was much greater. Light and electron microscopic observations of dust-exposed alveolar macrophages indicated that the ash particles were readily phagocytized. These results indicate that volcanic ash is moderately cytotoxic and that exposure may lead to overt reactions and the exacerbation of preexisting chronic inflammatory processes.

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Changes in humoral immunologic parameters after exposure to volcanic ash

Olenchock

Mull

Mentnech

et al. 1983

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health

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Occupational exposure to volcanic ash from Mount St. Helens continues during the salvaging of trees in the high dust blow-down area of Washington. We studied the effects of volcanic ash exposure on the level of humoral immune factors IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4, and ANA (antinuclear antibody) in a group of volcanic ash-exposed loggers shortly after the major eruption and one year later. Comparisons with similar levels in nonexposed, similarly employed, matched loggers were made. C3 and C4 levels were significantly lower at both time periods in the exposed loggers when compared to the reference group. No differences between groups were observed at either time period for the immunoglobulin levels or ANA. The exposed loggers did show a marked decrease (not seen in the reference group) in serum IgG levels after 1 yr of exposure to the volcanic ash. They likewise showed a significant mean increase in IgA, while the reference group had a mean increase in IgM after 1 yr. These data suggest that exposure to volcanic ash may affect humoral immunologic parameters.

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Health Implications of the Mount St. Helens' Eruption: Laboratory Investigations

Cited by 5 publications

References 18 publications

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

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

Comparativein vitrocytotoxicity of volcanic ashes from Mount St. Helens, El Chichon, and Galunggung

Changes in humoral immunologic parameters after exposure to volcanic ash

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