Health protection chief says there is no cause for concern yet as 'nothing has come out of the sky', writes EITHNE DONNELLAN, Health Correspondent
THE ASH being spewed out by a volcano in Iceland and which has disrupted air travel for thousands of people across the EU and beyond should have no ill effects on the health of people in Ireland even if it rains, a senior public health specialist has said.
Dr Kevin Kelleher, assistant national director of health protection with the HSE and a member of the Government’s taskforce on emergency planning, said yesterday that as of now “nothing has come out of the sky” in Ireland and so the ash could not have any impact on the health of people here.
Even if anything were to come out of the sky in due course, it will be so diluted as to give no reason for concern, he said.
“And if it rains and comes down with the rain, the rain negates the impact of it as well,” he added.
He pointed out that we are in a very different position to the people of Iceland, some of whom have had to be evacuated while others have been offered masks. He said the ash in the air there is “caustic”.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised people with lung conditions such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma to stay indoors if volcanic ash starts to settle.
Asked if the HSE had received many calls from people concerned about the possible health effects of volcanic ash, Dr Kelleher said people seemed to be far more concerned about their travel plans.
The stress of trying to make alternative plans to travel vast distances over land and sea rather than by air may not be great for an individual’s health, he agreed.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency is continuing to closely monitor air quality across the country and it has not found any evidence of a deterioration of air quality associated with the volcanic ash plume.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley stressed yesterday that volcanic ash posed no threat to supplies of drinking water.
The European Commission is also checking whether the volcanic ash cloud over Europe could have any impact on people’s health but has no concerns for now, a spokesman said.