tailieunhanh - THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF VOLCANIC ASH - A guide for the public

With more women living longer lives the quality of the additional years becomes a central question. Healthy life years (HLYs), also referred to as disability-free life expectancy, is the number of remaining years of life that a person of a specific age is expected to live without any moderate or severe health problems or acquired disabilities (EUROSTAT 2008a). The indicator is meant to complement life expectancy data and provides information on the quality of years lived rather than the quantity. HLYs also provide information on the structural and financial burdens the health care system faces as women age. Overall, across Europe,. | To order copies of this pamphlet visit the IVHHN website THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF VOLCANIC ASH A guide for the public THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF VOLCANIC ASH A guide for the public This document has been prepared by the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network IVH H N Cities and Volcanoes Commission G NS Science and the United States Geological Survey USGS to promote the safety of those who experience volcanic ashfall. This guide explains the potential health effects of volcanic ash and gives details on how to protect yourself and your family in the event of a volcanic ashfall. CONTENTS 1. What is volcanic ash .Page 2 2. What are the effects of ash on health . 4 Respiratory effects. 4 Why are people with chronic lung. 5 problems at special risk What factors affect respiratory symptoms .6 Eye symptoms .7 Skin irritation .8 Indirect health effects of ashfall. 8 3. What to do to protect yourself against 1 4. Precautions for children .14 5. Sources and further information .15 1. What is volcanic ash Volcanic ash is composed of fine particles of fragmented volcanic rock less than 2 mm diameter . Volcanic ash is often hot very close to the volcano but is cool when it falls at greater distances. It is formed during volcanic explosions from avalanches of hot rock that flow down the side of volcanoes or from red-hot liquid lava spray. Ash varies in appearance depending upon the type of volcano and the form of the eruption. Thus it can range in colour from light grey to black and can vary in size from being like grit to being as fine as talcum powder. Airborne ash blocks out sunlight reducing visibility and sometimes causes complete darkness during day light. Eruptions can also generate thunder and lightning from friction between the fine airborne particles which can be localised above the volcano or accompany large ash plumes as they move downwind. Large ash deposits can incorporate into existing soils and become the future topsoil of a .