Health effects following the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption: a cohort study

• Published in: BMJ Open
• Main Authors: Carlsen, Hanne Krage, Hauksdottir, Arna, Valdimarsdottir, Unnur Anna, Gíslason, Thorarinn, Einarsdottir, Gunnlaug, Runolfsson, Halldor, Briem, Haraldur, Finnbjornsdottir, Ragnhildur Gudrun, Gudmundsson, Sigurdur, Kolbeinsson, Thorir Björn, Thorsteinsson, Throstur, Pétursdóttir, Gudrun
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMJ 2012
• Subjects: Skagafjörður; Eyjafjallajökull; Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001851; https://syndication.highwire.org/content/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001851

Objectives The study aimed to determine whether exposure to a volcanic eruption was associated with increased prevalence of physical and/or mental symptoms. Design Cohort, with non-exposed control group. Setting Natural disasters like volcanic eruptions constitute a major public-health threat. The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull exposed residents in southern Iceland to continuous ash fall for more than 5 weeks in spring 2010. This study was conducted during November 2010–March 2011, 6–9 months after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. Participants Adult (18–80 years of age) eruption-exposed South Icelanders (N=1148) and a control population of residents of Skagafjörður, North Iceland (N=510). The participation rate was 72%. Main outcome measures Physical symptoms in the previous year (chronic), in the previous month (recent), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) measured psychological morbidity. Results The likelihood of having symptoms during the last month was higher in the exposed population, such as; tightness in the chest (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.1 to 5.8), cough (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.7 to 3.9), phlegm (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3 to 3.2), eye irritation (OR 2.9; 95% CI 2.0 to 4.1) and psychological morbidity symptoms (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.7). Respiratory symptoms during the last 12 months were also more common in the exposed population; cough (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.6 to 2.9), dyspnoea (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.3), although the prevalence of underlying asthma and heart disease was similar. Twice as many in the exposed population had two or more symptoms from nose, eyes or upper-respiratory tract (24% vs 13%, p<0.001); these individuals were also more likely to experience psychological morbidity (OR 4.7; 95% CI 3.4 to 6.5) compared with individuals with no symptoms. Most symptoms exhibited a dose–response pattern within the exposed population, corresponding to low, medium and high exposure to the eruption. Conclusions 6–9 months after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, residents living in the exposed area, particularly those closest ...