Santa Cruz de La Palma. The Tajogaite eruption left its mark on the island for 85 days and changed its daily life: more than 7.000 people were evacuated, 1.345 homes were destroyed, 370 hectares of crops were devastated, and 74 kilometers of roads were affected. Today, with the spotlights off, the debate is focused on how that exposure has impacted in the health of those who were closest to the phenomenon.
A comprehensive scientific study, Isvolcan, already offers preliminary results on exposure to pollutants and persistent symptoms, while the Spanish Troop and Navy Association (ATME) calls for medical monitoring for deployed military personnel. In parallel, another independent study confirms that the consumption of bananas The island's water quality is safe. The picture is completed with new sampling that will seek to refine the causes and protective measures.
The study that measures the real extent of exposure
Isvolcan is an epidemiological investigation of the public health system of the Canary Islands and universities of the archipelago with a planned cohort of ten years and more than 2.600 people, of which 1.002 have already been analyzed In the first phase, the goal is to quantify the population's exposure to compounds associated with volcanic activity.
The participants have undergone blood tests to detect organic and inorganic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, nickel or cobalt. Researchers emphasize that most of those who they removed ash indoors and outdoors they present traces of these compounds.
The data indicate that around 92% of those who collaborated in the cleanup (inside and outside the home) contain higher levels of pollutants than the rest. However, the authors emphasize that phases of the study are missing to clarify the impact of each source of exposure.
Routes of exposure and what risks are known
During the emergency, thousands of neighbors and support staff removed material with brooms, shovels and blowers, tools that project particles fine particles into the air and can increase inhalation. Although more than 85% reported using FFP2 masks, experts remind that basic protection reduces but does not eliminate the risk.
Exposure does not only depend on protective equipment: factors such as wind (which keeps ash in suspension) or time spent outdoors increases the inhaled dose; in fact, those who spent many hours outdoors presented more lead in blood than those less exposed.
In addition to inhalation, there are other plausible routes: rain carries particles into the air. soil and aquifers, with possible entry into the food chain. In addition, the volcano emitted in 86 days near the double CO2 than the entire archipelago in 2020, a context that illustrates the magnitude of the episode. More about volcanic processes in the region.
Specialists point out that there is no single, universal threshold to estimate the toxicity of each metal in blood, and that many elements are eliminated through urineHowever, continued monitoring allows us to anticipate and address problems in vulnerable groups.
Most frequent symptoms and psychological impact
The most reported complaints include: ocular irritation (45,9%) and lower respiratory tract problems (36,4%). Episodes of insomnia (44,9%) and symptoms compatible with anxiety or depression (44,7%), especially in areas close to the crater.
The emotional impact was notable: evacuations, housing and economic uncertainty, and constant seismic activity generated sustained stress in a large part of the population. The exhibition also acts as a added risk factor for these pathologies, which rarely have a single cause.
From the island's health management, this situation is considered an opportunity to understand medium and long-term effects on a population. very exposedThe evidence gathered will be essential to improve the protection in future eruptions and adjust public health recommendations.
In the coming months, the team plans to repeat questionnaires and analytics to check whether the symptom persist or remit, and to what extent the distance to the source, the exposure time and the tasks performed during and after the emergency influence.
Deployed military personnel: ATME requests specific medical monitoring
The Association of Spanish Troops and Sailors (ATME) has requested the Ministry of Defense a health monitoring for personnel deployed between September and December 2021, who participated in evacuations, toxic gas measurements and ash cleaning. .
The entity asks to clarify if there is a medical record of the participants, if periodic monitoring is carried out and if pathologies similar to those described in the civilian population by Isvolcan have been detected, with comparisons with non-deployed colleagues.
ATME also asks whether Defense has launched or plans to launch a internal study in coordination with researchers, and if the protocols have been updated prevention and PPE in light of the lessons learned in La Palma.
The association insists on acting without delay to avoid a long-term problem - with the asbestos as a precedent—and calls for exhaustive control that prioritizes the staff well-being who served in the emergency.
Food Safety: What's Happening with Bananas?
A study published in PLOS One analyzed with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) up to 55 inorganic elements in bananas and peels, comparing areas close to and far from the volcano, as well as periods before and after of the eruption.
The results show that the estimated maximum intake For potentially toxic elements, it was, in most cases, below 1% of the tolerable daily intake, and never exceeded 3%, both for average consumers and for those who eat more. bananas than usual. .
The work includes elements that are little studied in volcanic contexts, such as rare earths, and confirms that, although during the episode they were observed one-off increases of some elements in crops, the risk of consuming the fruit was minimum and compatible with a safe power supply.
The authors recommend maintaining the monitoring over time to understand how rainfall, soil type or irrigation influence the transfer of elements to the food chain, something fundamental on an island with production banana plantation strategic.
The message is clear: the palm plantain It has been and continues to be a safe food, although periodic monitoring is still required for continued surveillance. Lessons have been learned and are now being incorporated into science and management, including long-term monitoring to decipher actual exposure to contaminants and more refined protection protocols for cleaning services.
