*************************** Subject: Volcanic health hazard session at IUGG From: Claire Horwell chor05@xxxxxxxxxxxxx *************************** Dear Colleagues, A symposium (VS020) will be held at IUGG 2007 on: Volcanic health hazard assessment: focus on multidisciplinary collaboration and integration. The convenors of the symposium are Claire Horwell (University of Cambridge, UK) and Peter Baxter (University of Cambridge, UK). We invite contributions on health hazard assessment of volcanic emissions, with particular interest in presentations which incorporate novel techniques or information drawn from parallel disciplines interested in the assessment of health hazard of airborne particulate, gases and aerosols. More details can be found on the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network website (www.ivhhn.org). A summary of the symposium is given below. Best wishes, Claire Horwell chor05@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Summary: The assessment of the health hazard of volcanic emissions is becoming standard procedure at the onset of eruptions. Since the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980, several volcanoes (e.g. Sakurajima, Japan and the Soufriere Hills, Montserrat) have had detailed studies carried out on the potential health hazard posed by inhaling volcanic ash and gas. Although it is now accepted that volcanic emissions can cause acute health problems such as asthma and bronchitis, we are still unsure as to whether chronic diseases, such as silicosis, can be triggered following long durations of exposure. The development of techniques for the rapid assessment of volcanic emissions for health-related parameters, such as grain size and composition analysis, is also a current priority. Much of what we know about the health hazard of volcanic emissions is drawn from comparison with other disciplines or adaptation of techniques used to assess the health hazard of other airborne pollutants such as anthropogenic aerosols and natural dusts. As well as mineralogical and geochemical analyses, health hazard assessment primarily relies on collaboration with the medical, toxicological and epidemiological communities. We invite contributions on health hazard assessment of volcanic emissions, with particular interest in presentations which incorporate novel techniques or information drawn from parallel disciplines interested in the assessment of health hazard of airborne particulate, gases and aerosols. -- Dr Claire Horwell NERC Postdoctoral Fellow Director of the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (www.ivhhn.org) Department of Earth Sciences University of Cambridge Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3EQ UK Tel: ++ 44 (0)1223 333425 Fax: ++ 44 (0)1223 333450 If your email to me bounces, try: clairehorwell@xxxxxxxxxxx ============================================================== To unsubscribe from the volcano list, send the message: signoff volcano to: listserv@xxxxxxx, or write to: volcano-request@xxxxxxxx To contribute to the volcano list, send your message to: volcano@xxxxxxxx Please do not send attachments. ==============================================================
