Volcanic ash is deadly
PEOPLE were warned to stay indoors last night as the deadly cloud of volcanic ash that has paralysed air travel began falling on the UK.
Doctors advised those with breathing problems to keep their medication with them at all times as the volcanic ash storm showed no sign of abating.
The World Health Organisation said the microscopic ash was potentially dangerous when inhaled and suggested everyone should stay in or consider wearing a mask.
“We’re very concerned about it,” said spokesman Daniel Epstein. “These particles can reach the peripheral regions of the lungs and cause problems, especially for people with asthma.
“Any matter that is deposited and breathed into the lungs is dangerous to people. It depends on how the particles are suspended in the cloud and their density. We don’t know that yet.”
The Met Office said it had detected ash deposits from Lerwick in Scotland to Exeter in South-west England. “The greatest concentrations are in the North Sea and the east
coast of Scotland,” said spokesman Barry Grommett. “If the volcano keeps erupting, we will come more and more into the firing line for deposits of ash next week.”
Forecasters predicted rain and sleet in Scotland by the end of the weekend, bringing a discoloured “grey snow” while rainfall in the South-east next week could bring “dirty rain”.
Mr Epstein said for the most part, the cloud particles remained high in the atmosphere. “But when they do settle, we would recommend that people stay indoors as much as possible,” he told reporters in Geneva.
Health officials in Britain were more relaxed, however, saying they expect a “small fraction” of the ash cloud to reach ground level by this morning. Low levels of sulphur dioxide are expected.
“It is important to stress that the concentration of particles which may reach ground level is likely to be low and should not cause serious harm,” the Health Protection Agency said, adding that any health effects were likely to be short-term. It said people may notice symptoms over the weekend such as itchy or irritated eyes, a runny nose, sore throat or dry cough.
A spokesman added that if people experience symptoms, notice a dusty haze in the air or smell the rotten egg odour of sulphur outside, “they may wish to limit their activities outdoors or return indoors”.
People with conditions such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma should have their inhalers or medication with them, the agency added.
Vulcanologists in Iceland were anxiously monitoring the Eyjafjallajokull volcano last night amid fears that a second eruption would have a catastrophic effect across northern Europe.
Travellers face a third day of chaos today caused by the lockdown in air travel across a wide swathe of the continent, costing passengers and airlines hundreds of millions of pounds.
Airlines are losing £130million a day, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Passengers accused insurance companies of using an “Act of God” defence to avoid paying compensation for personal losses that could top £20million.
The decision to ground all aircraft in UK airspace attracted criticism from some aviation firms, who said it was “a massive over- reaction by super-cautious bur eaucrats”.
