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Increased respiratory morbidity associated with exposure to a mature volcanic plume from a large Icelandic fissure eruption

Author

Listed:
  • Hanne Krage Carlsen

    (University of Iceland
    Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg)

  • Evgenia Ilyinskaya

    (University of Leeds)

  • Peter J. Baxter

    (University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine)

  • Anja Schmidt

    (University of Cambridge
    University of Cambridge)

  • Throstur Thorsteinsson

    (University of Iceland)

  • Melissa Anne Pfeffer

    (Icelandic Meteorological Office)

  • Sara Barsotti

    (Icelandic Meteorological Office)

  • Francesca Dominici

    (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Ragnhildur Gudrun Finnbjornsdottir

    (The Environment Agency of Iceland)

  • Thorsteinn Jóhannsson

    (The Environment Agency of Iceland)

  • Thor Aspelund

    (University of Iceland)

  • Thorarinn Gislason

    (University of Iceland
    Landspitali – the National University Hospital)

  • Unnur Valdimarsdóttir

    (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
    University of Iceland
    Karolinska Institutet)

  • Haraldur Briem

    (Chief Epidemiologist, Directorate of Health, Centre for Health Threats and Communicable Diseases)

  • Thorolfur Gudnason

    (Chief Epidemiologist, Directorate of Health, Centre for Health Threats and Communicable Diseases)

Abstract

The 2014–15 Holuhraun eruption in Iceland was the largest fissure eruption in over 200 years, emitting prodigious amounts of gas and particulate matter into the troposphere. Reykjavík, the capital area of Iceland (250 km from eruption site) was exposed to air pollution events from advection of (i) a relatively young and chemically primitive volcanic plume with a high sulphur dioxide gas (SO2) to sulphate PM (SO42−) ratio, and (ii) an older and chemically mature volcanic plume with a low SO2/SO42− ratio. Whereas the advection and air pollution caused by the primitive plume were successfully forecast and forewarned in public advisories, the mature plume was not. Here, we show that exposure to the mature plume is associated with an increase in register-measured 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%). Absence of public advisories is associated with increases in visits to primary care medical doctors and to the hospital emergency department. We recommend that operational response to volcanic air pollution considers both primitive and mature types of plumes.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanne Krage Carlsen & Evgenia Ilyinskaya & Peter J. Baxter & Anja Schmidt & Throstur Thorsteinsson & Melissa Anne Pfeffer & Sara Barsotti & Francesca Dominici & Ragnhildur Gudrun Finnbjornsdottir & Th, 2021. "Increased respiratory morbidity associated with exposure to a mature volcanic plume from a large Icelandic fissure eruption," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-22432-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22432-5
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    Cited by:

    1. S. Barsotti & M. M. Parks & M. A. Pfeffer & B. A. Óladóttir & T. Barnie & M. M. Titos & K. Jónsdóttir & G. B. M. Pedersen & Á. R. Hjartardóttir & G. Stefansdóttir & T. Johannsson & Þ. Arason & M. T. G, 2023. "The eruption in Fagradalsfjall (2021, Iceland): how the operational monitoring and the volcanic hazard assessment contributed to its safe access," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(3), pages 3063-3092, April.

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