Air Pollution by Hydrothermal Volcanism and Human Pulmonary Function

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Pulmonology
• Volcanology

Background:

• Volcanic activity, particularly hydrothermal soil diffuse degassing, releases potentially harmful gases into the atmosphere.
• The Azores archipelago presents a unique natural laboratory for studying the health impacts of such emissions due to its active volcanism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between chronic exposure to volcanogenic air pollution from hydrothermal soil diffuse degassing and respiratory defects in humans.
• To quantify the risk of respiratory issues in populations living in proximity to active volcanic hydrothermal areas.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study comparing 146 individuals from a hydrothermal area with 359 individuals from a non-hydrothermal area in the Azores.
• Statistical analysis using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for age, gender, fatigue, asthma, and smoking.

Main Results:

• Individuals in the hydrothermal area showed a significantly increased odds ratio for restrictive lung defects (OR=4.4) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation (OR=3.2).
• A higher prevalence of restrictive lung patterns and all COPD severity ranks (mild, moderate, severe) was observed in the population exposed to hydrothermal volcanic emissions.

Conclusions:

• Chronic exposure to volcanogenic air pollution via hydrothermal soil diffuse degassing is associated with significant respiratory defects, including restrictive lung disease and COPD.
• Health officials should consider these findings for public health advisories and interventions aimed at mitigating respiratory disease risks in volcanically active regions.