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Cited by 37Air Quality and Health ImpactsAtmospheric chemistry and aerosolsIndoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure

A physico-chemical assessment of the health hazard of Mt. Vesuvius volcanic ash

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Horwell, C.J., Stannett, G.W., Andronico, D., Bertagnini, A., Fenoglio, I., Fubini, B., Le Blond, J.S., Williamson, B.J.·2010·Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
DOI 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.01.014
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Abstract

Abstract Mt. Vesuvius, Italy, is regarded as one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes because of the potential for vast numbers of people to be affected by the renewal of volcanic activity; more than 600 000 people live within 10 km of the summit alone. Vesuvius has been quiescent since 1944 and with continued dormancy, the more likely it is that the next eruption will be explosive. At that point, wide-spread concern is likely over the potential health hazard of the ash, away from the zone of primary volcanic hazards. Analyses of the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of ash provide us with critical information on the potential toxicity of the particles, for example, whether particles are sufficiently small to enter the lungs and whether the particles have reactive properties which could trigger disease. Rapid assessment of these characteristics allows real-time decision making on hazard mitigation issues (e.g. distribution of dust masks) and allows considered judgement on whether to embark on major medical/toxicological studies. The study presented here is the first time that the potential respiratory health hazard of ash from Vesuvius volcano has been considered and allows planning for future eruption scenarios. Twenty-one ash samples, representing the range of eruption styles at Vesuvius, were collected and analysed. The results demonstrate that the physical processes of fragmentation play an important role in determining the grain size and, therefore, hazard, of the ash. Here, the finest samples derive from the interaction of magma and water during the final, phreatomagmatic phases of plinian and subplinian eruptions (∼ 16 vol.%

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.01.014

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  • In terrestrial ashes, iron is always only partially oxidised to trivalent iron.

    “In terrestrial ashes, iron is always only partially oxidised to trivalent iron.”

    From Toxicity of lunar dust (2012) · cites this paper as Horwell et al., 2010

  • This partial oxidation appears to be one of the causes of sustained free radical generation, hence potential toxicity in terrestrial ashes.

    “This appears to be one of the causes of sustained free radical generation, hence potential toxicity (Horwell et al., 2007; Horwell et al., 2010).”

    From Toxicity of lunar dust (2012) · cites this paper as Horwell et al., 2010

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Authors
Horwell, C. J., Stannett, G. W., Andronico, D., Bertagnini, A., Fenoglio, I., Fubini, B., Le Blond, J. S., & Williamson, B. J.
Affiliations
  • Durham University (GB)
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (IT)
  • INGV Sezione di Pisa (IT)
  • University of Turin (IT)
  • University of Exeter (GB)
Corresponding author
Horwell, C.J.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-04
Volume
191
Issue
3-4
Pages
222-232
ISSN
0377-0273 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.01.014
OpenAlex
W2063025242
Semantic Scholar
429a1b8fc739f48984a3b1b4bca02b05ed8a9a8c
Cited by
37
References
43
Citations by year
2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (publishedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Institutional Research Information System University of Turin (University of Turin) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Air Quality and Health Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
Keywords
Mount Vesuvius, volcanic ash, respiratory health hazards, fragmentation, phreatomagmatic eruptions, Plinian eruption, sub-Plinian eruption, crystalline silica, surface iron, dust masks

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