TY - JOUR T1 - Eyjafjallajökull 2010: Respiratory morbidity and symptoms following exposure to a volcanic eruption JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - 4518 AU - Hanne Krage Carlsen AU - Arna Hauksdóttir AU - Unnur Anna Valdimarsdóttir AU - Ragnhildur Gudrun Finnbjornsdottir AU - Guðrún Pétursdóttir AU - Thorarinn Gíslason Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/4518.abstract N2 - Background: The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland 2010 posed an opportunity to study health effects of a volcanic eruption in a society with strong infrastructure. The aim of the study was to evaluate the health of the exposed population compared to control population.Methods: Six months after the eruption, (fall and winter 2010-11), 1148 exposed South Icelanders and 510 unexposed North Icelanders responded to a questionnaire on recent physical symptoms and questions from the European Community Respiratory Health questionnaire. The data was analyzed using logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, education and smoking status.Results: Demographic characteristics and underlying disease rates were similar in the two groups. The exposed group reported more symptoms during the last 12 months; morning phlegm in winter, OR 1.5 (95%CI 1.3-1.8) and runny or stuffed nose, OR 1.4 (95%CI 1.2-1.6). Recent (last month) symptoms were more increased, for example cough, OR 2.6 (95%CI 1.7-3.8) and phlegm, OR 2.1 (95%CI 1.3-3.2), eye irritation, OR 2.9 (95%CI 1.8-4.5) and runny or irritated nose, OR 2.0 (95%CI 1.4-2.9). Respiratory symptoms were more prevalent among those living closest to the volcano. Upper airway symptoms coexisted, so those who reported one symptom were likely to have others also.Discussion: Six months after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption our results indicate that the presence of volcanic ash is associated with two to three times higher recent upper airway symptom rates among the exposed population compared to the unexposed.Conclusion: Exposure to volcanic ash may increase respiratory morbidity symptoms six months post eruption, but long-term consequences are still unknown. ER -