Evaluation of physical health effects due to volcanic hazards: human studies
Despite certain gaps in the knowledge that has been gained from the studies done in the aftermath of Mount St. Helens and following previous major volcanic eruptions, we can be confident that the health effects of both short- and long-term exposures to the relatively low levels of airborne volcanic ash that are typical following such a volcanic eruption are minor. These effects seem to relate more to the irritating effect of the ash on mucous membranes and airway epithelia than to the potential of the ash (due to its free crystalline silica content) to initiate a fibrotic response. Nevertheless, common sense dictates that exposures should be minimized whenever possible by use of appropriate preventive measures, such as wetting the sedimented ash before disturbing it, and using commercially available disposable paper masks meeting NIOSH code TC-23 for dusts for light exposures and industrial half- and full-faced respirator and goggles for more extensive and heavy exposure.
- Research Organization:
- Oregon Health Sciences Univ., Portland
- OSTI ID:
- 6827847
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 76:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
VOLCANOES
HEALTH HAZARDS
ACUTE EXPOSURE
AIR POLLUTION
ASHES
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
CRYSTALS
DUSTS
EPITHELIUM
ERUPTION
EVALUATION
FIBROSIS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
MT ST HELENS
MUCOUS MEMBRANES
PARTICULATES
RESPIRATORS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SAFETY
SILICA
TOXICITY
ANIMAL TISSUES
BODY
CASCADE MOUNTAINS
CHALCOGENIDES
FEDERAL REGION X
HAZARDS
MEMBRANES
MINERALS
MOUNTAINS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RESIDUES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
TISSUES
USA
WASHINGTON
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
552000 - Public Health
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)