Volcanic pollution return linked to jump in respiratory disease cases

摘要

A New study has found that respiratory disease increased markedly following one of Iceland's largest volcanic eruptions. These findings could have significant implications for actions taken to protect the health of the 800 million people globally living near active volcanoes. This was highlighted when Lava recently burst through a crack in Iceland's Mount Fagradalsfjall in the first eruption of its type in more than 800 years. The new research, led by the University of Leeds and the University of Iceland, examined the health impacts of pollution caused by the Holuhraun lava eruption in 2014-2015. It shows that following exposure to emissions that changed chemically from gas to fine particles, incidents of respiratory disease in Iceland rose by almost a quarter, and the incidence of asthma medication dispensing by a fifth.