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Spatial Distribution and Physicochemical Properties of Respirable Volcanic Ash From the 16–17 August 2006 Tungurahua Eruption (Ecuador), and Alveolar Epithelium Response In‐Vitro

2022; Wiley; Volume: 6; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1029/2022gh000680

2471-1403

Julia Eychenne, Lucia Gurioli, David E. Damby, Corinne Belville, Federica Schiavi, Geoffroy Marceau, Claire Szczepaniak, Christelle Blavignac, Mickaël Laumonier, Emmanuel Gardés, Jean‐Luc Le Pennec, Jean‐Marie Nédélec, Loı̈c Blanchon, Vincent Sapin,

Air Quality and Health Impacts

Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador) intermittently emitted ash between 1999 and 2016, enduringly affecting the surrounding rural area and its population, but its health impact remains poorly documented. We aim to assess the respiratory health hazard posed by the 16-17 August 2006 most intense eruptive phase of Tungurahua. We mapped the spatial distribution of the health-relevant ash size fractions produced by the eruption in the area impacted by ash fallout. We quantified the mineralogy, composition, surface texture, and morphology of a respirable ash sample isolated by aerodynamic separation. We then assessed the cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory potential of this respirable ash toward lung tissues in-vitro using A549 alveolar epithelial cells, by electron microscopy and biochemical assays. The eruption produced a high amount of inhalable and respirable ash (12.0-0.04 kg/m