Pulmonary response to Mount St. Helens' volcanic ash

Vallyathan, Val; Mentnech, M. S.; Tucker, James H. R.; Green, Francis H. Y.

doi:10.1016/0013-9351(83)90221-9

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Analysis of this ash showed a crystalline silica content of between 3% and 7.2%5 6 25 of which 4.2% was cristobalite 56 The ash particulates were found to be around 90%26 and 99% respirable (defined as less than 10 μm in diameter in this study) 6…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

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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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

In vitro toxicology of respirable Montserrat volcanic ash

Wilson

Stone

Cullen³

et al. 2000

Occup Environ Med

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“…Of the six instillation studies, three found the ash to be mildly toxic (Akematsu et al 1982;Beck et al 1982;Kornbrust and Hatch 1984) while two showed fibrosis and granulomas in the lung (Sanders et al 1982(Sanders et al , 1983Vallyathan et al 1983b). One study did not find the ash to be toxic (Raub et al 1985).…”

Section: Toxicological Studiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

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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“…Furthermore, it is evident that the ash from Galunggung (Bandung-1) is markedly cytotoxic to macrophages. Although in vitro cytotoxicity and the relative potential for fibrogenicity are difficult to correlate, our earlier in vivo animal studies have shown the volcanic ash from Mount St. Helens is moderately fibrogenic (Green et al, 1982;Vallyathan et al, 1983b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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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Pulmonary response to Mount St. Helens' volcanic ash

Cited by 14 publications

References 13 publications

In vitro toxicology of respirable Montserrat volcanic ash

In vitro toxicology of respirable Montserrat volcanic ash

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

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