Iceland volcano update on locals’ health

The volcanic ash from Eyjafjallajokull in South Iceland appears not to have any lasting effect on the health of nearby residents. This is the first conclusion of a health study into the ash.

40 percent of local residents questioned reported ill effects from the volcano on their physical health or their ability to breathe easily during the eruption.

The research involved 207 local residents from Markarfljot in the east to Vik i Myrdal in the west. Iceland’s Chief Epidemiologist and lung specialists from Reykjavik’s Landspitali hospital tested the residents’ lung function, took blood tests and requested answers to a detailed questionnaire about their respiratory and physical health.

The first results from the research have now been released, RUV reports. They show that 60 percent of people remained in good health and show no signs of changed health due to the eruption.

40 percent of those researched found that their ability to breathe was impaired; but Chief Epidemiologist Haraldur Briem says the results seem to show that resolving these problems has gone well.

The results also show that the special extra medication provided to asthma sufferers during the eruption worked well, and that wearing dust masks was also a very good idea.

Photos: Peter Anders Amsnæs

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Source: IceNews, Daily news from Iceland