Material Contained In Volcanic Ash And Health Hazards

in #science8 years ago

Natural disasters such as volcano eruption is indeed one of the natural disasters that often occur in Indonesia.

After a silent nearly a year more sinabung eruption back eruption but this time the eruption material that flushed their village not only volcanic ash, but there are also pebbles.

The content of the substance in volcanic ash

When it erupts, volcanoes spew water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrofluoric acid (HF), and volcanic ash into the atmosphere.

Volcanic ash also contains major elements of aluminum, silica, potassium and iron, minor elements of iodine, magnesium, manganese, sodium, pospor, sulfur and titanium, and trace levels include aurum, asbestos, barium, cobalt, chrome, copper, nickel, plumbum, sulfur, stibium, stannum, strontium, vanadium, zirconium, and zinc.

Volcanic materials, that are small can pose a potential hazard to health.
Fine volcanic ash and are very small, less than 10 microns, could impact disrupts breathing.
In fact, it can penetrate the respiratory tract the lower part or organ of the lungs.

The spread of volcanic ash can also endanger the ecosystem around, like a failed harvest, the death of animals, etc.

Another impact of the volcanic ash is disrupting the operating system infrastructure such as defective functioning of the machine supplier, supplier of energy water, sewage treatment, and communication facilities.

Effect of ash volcanic eruption (Volcanic) for health

Inhaling volcanic ash is very dangerous to the respiratory health. dust entering through the respiratory tract may cause irritation to respiratory tract infections.

volcanic ash can also cause acute effects on sufferers of respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and enfisema (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/COPD).

Some of the symptoms that can arise in breathing after inhaling volcanic ash :

irritation of the respiratory tract secretions.
increased irritation and inflammation of the threat.
chest pain and
difficulty breathing, as well as asthma symptoms.

  • Eyes

The texture of volcanic ash dust different from usual.
Volcanic ash has an angle of tapered crystals or sharp, so it can be scratched and cause irritation, volcanic ash can also damage the lining of the cornea in the eye.

symptoms that can occur in the eye :

  • eye irritation (eyes flushed) eyes itch
  • tear out continues

Use Eyeglasses to protect your eyes when it should be on the terp of volcanic dust.
If the dust got into the eyes, do not rub the eyes because it thus can cause scratches on corneal layer of the eye.

  • Skin

Volcanic materials, which contain harmful substances such as gas CO, H2S, SO2, can also cause disturbance on the skin.

Adverse effects inflicted any generally mild,
the form of irritation and redness on the skin that are exposed to, but simply make the sufferer uncomfortable

The spread of volcanic ash can also endanger the ecosystem around, like a failed harvest, the death of the animal.

Preventing Health Hazards by Volcanic Ash

To prevent the occurrence of the harm to health caused by volcanic ash material, use a mask or cloth to cover the mouth and nose,
This step is to minimize volcanic ash entered on the respiratory tract.

  • for people who have a history of respiratory disorders such as asthma or lung pain, the use of masks is highly preferred.

  • Imediately to secure your self to a save place to avoid exposure of volcanic materials.

  • Children and the elderly should also be preferred to use a safety mask.

  • use eyeglass to protect the eyes to avoid irritation and impaired vision.


  • Reference :

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Thanks for reading Regard @cucoe