Volcanic ash cloud: No risk to human health – at present

DUST from the volcanic ash cloud presents no risk – at present – to health, agriculture or the environment, First Minister Alex Salmond said yesterday.

The Scottish Government said ongoing analysis of dust samples by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) identified no current danger to human health.

But health experts have advised those with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, to keep medication to hand when they are outdoors.

Environmental monitoring, using information from the network of 75 air and 25 radioactivity monitoring sites across Scotland, is set to continue.

Yesterday, Salmond said: "SEPA's ongoing analysis of volcanic dust has shown that it contains no harmful material and presents no risk at present to public health, agriculture or the wider environment.

"Of course, people with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as myself with asthma, should continue to take normal precautions, keeping medication to hand when outdoors."

The First Minister's comments came after a meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Cabinet sub-committee (SGoRR). Dr Jim McMenamin, consultant epidemiologist at Health Protection Scotland, said the analysis of the samples of dust gathered in Scotland was "reassuring".

"We are continuing to monitor health indicators, but have seen no evidence to date of any public health effect from volcanic ash," he said.

SEPA's director of science and strategy, Professor James Curran, said information from analysis of dust samples in Scotland and Norway "indicates low levels of fluoride in the current Icelandic ash plume, which would be the greatest environmental concern.

"We believe … there is a minimal risk to the environment."

Despite the flying restrictions, Salmond said yesterday that seven air ambulance missions had flown in 24 hours and that train, bus and ferry operators were offering additional services to towns and cities across the UK and on to Europe.