Volcanic pollution link to respiratory disease increase

Respiratory disease increased markedly following one of Iceland’s largest volcanic eruptions, a new study has found.

The findings could have significant implications for actions taken to protect the health of the 800 million people living near active volcanoes. Only last month, lava burst through a crack in Iceland’s Mount Fagradalsfjall in the first eruption of its type for more than 800 years.

The new research, led by the Universities of Leeds and Iceland, examined the health impacts of pollution caused by the Holuhraun lava eruption in 2014-2015.

It showed 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.

The findings, published today in Nature Communications, highlight the need for decision-making authorities to prepare for health issues associated with returning emissions – known as mature plumes - in the days immediately following volcanic eruptions.

Young and mature plumes can circulate at the same time, increasing harmful health effects on those in volcanic regions.

The report’s co-lead author, Dr Evgenia Ilyinskaya, from the School of Earth and Environment, said: “Volcanoes are a significant source of air pollution, but of course it’s a source that cannot be controlled.

“Large volcanic eruptions can cause harmful air pollution both immediately, and also when the plume returns to the same area, which may happen without it triggering air pollution alerts.

“Our research shows that during prolonged eruptions such as Holuhraun, both young and mature plumes can be circulating at the same time, increasing the harmful health effects on those living in volcanic regions.

“This pollution return is not currently factored into responses to the threat to public health caused by volcanoes.”

The Holuhraun eruption was one of the biggest of its kind in the last 200 years, releasing 11 million tonnes of sulphur dioxide that spread across Iceland and the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe.

During the six month eruption, residents of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, were repeatedly exposed to the young and mature plumes, despite living 250km from the eruption site.

The Holuhraun lava eruption in 2014-2015.Picture: Dr Evgenia Ilyinskaya

In their previous research, published in 2017, the scientists traced the evolution of the volcanic plume chemistry. They found that the plume had been swept by air currents towards the UK and mainland Europe before circling back to Icelandic cities and towns. 

During this process, the plume composition matured as it lingered in the atmosphere – meaning that the volcanic sulphur dioxide had converted to particles. 

These fine particles found in mature plumes are so small they can penetrate deep into the lungs, potentially causing serious health problems such as exacerbating asthma attacks. 

In the returning plume, because the sulphur dioxide levels were reduced as the gas converted to particles, concentrations were therefore within European Commission air standards.

As a result, no health advisory message were in place in Iceland for the returning plume.

It is estimated that short and long-term exposure to these kinds of fine particles, from both human-made and natural sources, cause more than three million premature deaths globally per year and remains the single largest environmental health risk in Europe.

The new findings highlight the health risks of pollutants lingering in the atmosphere, and the implications for monitoring emissions from volcanic activity. 

They point to the global need for health risk assessments and population safety management following volcanic eruptions.

Co-lead author Dr Hanne Krage Carlsen, from the University of Iceland and University of Gothenburg, said: “Iceland has some of the most complete health care records in the world. This was the first time a population of a considerable size and density could be assessed following major volcanic activity.

“This study provides the most robust evidence to date that exposure to a chemically-mature volcanic plume leads to increased use of a country’s health care system.

“It also emphasizes that emissions from volcanoes are a region-wide issue, in this case potentially affecting the whole North Atlantic region.

“As the Holuhraun plume returned to Iceland, there was increased use of GPs and hospital emergency care units with regards to respiratory diseases. At the same time, there was a lack of public health advice.

“We recommend that future Government responses to volcanic air pollution globally consider both the implications to health caused by the initial eruptions, but also those of the returning plumes with additional threats to health.”

Further information

"Increased respiratory morbidity associated with exposure to a mature volcanic plume from a large Icelandic fissure eruption" is published 10:00 GMT 12 April 2021 in Nature Communications; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22432-5.

Exposure to the mature plume was associated with an increase in health care utilisation for respiratory disease by 23% (95%CI 19.7-27.4%) and for asthma medication dispensing by 19.3% (95%CI 9.6-29.1%) during the Holuhraun eruption in 2014. 

Research paper affiliations include: University of Leeds; University of Iceland; Icelandic Meteorological Office; Environment Agency of Iceland; Icelandic Directorate of Health; University of Gothenburg; University of Cambridge; Harvard University; National University Hospital, Iceland; Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.