Exact time toxic gas cloud will cover UK and ‘stay indoors’ warning | UK | News
Experts have revealed when a toxic cloud of sulphur dioxide which reached the UK at the weekend will spread south of the country, as experts warn of potential health impacts.
The cloud, which was triggered by volcanic eruptions near Grindavik, is believed to Iceland Thursday, Clouds have passed across Britain after hitting a small part of the Scottish Highlands in the early hours of Monday morning.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a toxic gas commonly produced when coal or crude oil is burned, but huge amounts can also be released during volcanic eruptions.
THE Meteorological office has been monitoring the movement of the cloud and predicts it will move south, hitting the Midlands before arriving in the south around 6am tomorrow morning.
The gas, which is colorless but has a strong odor, should finally dissipate around 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Elderly people and young children are particularly vulnerable to SO2 inhalation and have been advised to reduce their exposure by staying indoors if possible in affected areas.
Inhalation can cause symptoms such as sore throat, cough, burning eyes, runny nose, as well as chest tightness and difficulty breathing.
People with asthma are also particularly susceptible and can have an attack triggered by even very low exposure.
Before the plume hit the UK coast, Professor Simon Carn of Michigan Technological University warned on X, formerly Twitter: “Another batch of volcanic SO2 on its way to the UK and Ireland.
“This is due to the latest eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula. This could have consequences for local air quality in the coming days,” he added.
Meteorologists said there would be “small concentrations”, meaning ground-level air pollution in the UK is likely to remain relatively low.
The latest eruption began after a series of strong earthquakes and within an hour a 3.8 kilometre fissure had ripped through the Sundhnúkur crater.
Lava continued to flow from the volcano in southwest Iceland on Friday (August 23).
A Met Office spokesperson said: The mirror:”A plume of sulphur dioxide from the Icelandic volcano has crossed the UK high in the atmosphere and is expected to dissipate towards the south-east soon.
“The effects of sulfur dioxide are small, because it is present in large quantities in the atmosphere and has little influence on air quality at ground level.
“Low surface concentrations mean that air pollution levels remain low. Air pollution is currently low and is expected to remain so across the UK today.
“We continue to monitor any sulphur dioxide emissions from Iceland, with current forecasts suggesting little influence on UK surface air pollution in the coming days.”
Iceland experiences frequent and intense seismic activity because it sits on two shifting tectonic plates, causing magma to rise and erupt.
