Pioneering study shows respiratory sequelae of La Palma volcano, five years later: “We sneezed black”
A study that followed 1,000 people over a five-year period shows that exposure to the volcano was associated with up to three times more coughing and double the obstructive disorders.
In the aftermath of La Palma's volcanic eruption, nurse and researcher David Díaz carried a small vial of grey ash in his pocket to a meeting of SEPAR's board of directors. When it was his turn to speak, he took it out of his pocket and placed it on the table. "This is what the people of La Palma are currently breathing," he declared.
That same evening, the scientific society decided the matter needed further investigation. The study was approved in February 2022, and five years later, coinciding with the anniversary of the eruption, SEPAR presented the findings of their pioneering international study, called ASHES, at the University Hospital of La Palma. The research conclusively demonstrated the lingering impact on the respiratory health of those most exposed.
Written by urgent.news from El Pais's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
