Abstract
This study takes a combined qualitative and quantitative approach to examining the chronic hazard posed by persistent degassing at Masaya volcano, Nicaragua. The gas is a highly salient threat in communities surrounding Masaya volcano, with the elevated salience level of his invisible hazard deriving from the highly perceptible impacts of the degassing; these include individual and material impacts such as increased prevalence of self-reported respiratory disease and decreased crop diversification and productivity. Qualitative results concur with findings from a quantitative assessment of ambient SO2 exposure using diffusion tubes: the current level of SO2 degassing far exceeds international guideline values, making it a likely cause of adverse health effects for the general population. Conversely contaminant levels of heavy and toxic metals in foodstuffs were found to be below international standards. A community-based integrated hazard mitigation approach identified by this research is the cultivation of crops, particularly pineapple (Ananas comosus) and pitaya (Hylocereus sp.), that are better able to withstand the local environmental conditions (e.g. increased atmospheric SO2 and acid gas deposition). Despite this, little is known regarding disaster response and risk reduction at the community level and the gas hazard is largely overlooked. This shows large scope for increasing resilience in collaboration with the community, through for example the development of community-level risk management committees, improvement and implementation of (gas) mitigation strategies and disaster preparedness approaches. By reducing the impacts of the chronic hazard posed by persistent volcanic degassing, resilience to acute hazards is also likely to improve.
Highlights
Inter- or cross-disciplinary studies in volcanic areas are becoming more commonplace as ways of improving disaster risk reduction are sought (e.g. Gregg et al 2004; Ricci et al 2013; Donovan 2010; Gaillard 2008; Haynes et al 2008)
The vast majority of these studies focus on explosive and/ or acute volcanic hazards, chronic hazards, such as those posed by continued long-term exposure to the primary volcanic gases, such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), hydrogen chloride (HCl) and hydrogen fluoride (HF), can result in a range of chronic ailments (e.g. Longo et al 2010; Baxter et al 1982; Hansell and Oppenheimer 2004), reduced agricultural productivity, and acidification of rain and groundwater that contaminates
Diffusion tube data from 2012 (Figure 2; Table 3), interpolated using inverse distance weighting (IDW) with a spatial barrier as no data were collected inside the National Park, show that large areas downwind of the Masaya caldera, covering three administrative departments (Managua, Masaya and Carazo) and numerous municipalities (e.g. Ticuantepe, El Crucero, Masaya, La Concepcion, San Marcos) therein, exceed Nicaraguan and World Health Organisation (WHO) exposure guidelines with regards
Summary
Inter- or cross-disciplinary studies in volcanic areas are becoming more commonplace as ways of improving disaster risk reduction are sought (e.g. Gregg et al 2004; Ricci et al 2013; Donovan 2010; Gaillard 2008; Haynes et al 2008). The vast majority of these studies focus on explosive and/ or acute volcanic hazards, chronic hazards, such as those posed by continued long-term exposure to the primary volcanic gases, such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), hydrogen chloride (HCl) and hydrogen fluoride (HF), can result in a range of chronic ailments (e.g. Longo et al 2010; Baxter et al 1982; Hansell and Oppenheimer 2004), reduced agricultural productivity, and acidification of rain and groundwater that contaminates water supplies (e.g. Delmelle et al 2002). Indirect effects are thought to impede development and poverty reduction efforts (DFID 2006), contributing to the (economic) cost of low-level chronic hazards. As persistent volcanic degassing is not considered a primary volcanic hazard, it is frequently overlooked in terms of disaster preparedness (D’Alessandro 2006). Van Manen Journal of Applied Volcanology 2014, 3:9 http://www.appliedvolc.com/content/3/1/9
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
