Keeping safe from volcanic emissions
Volcanoes produce many hazards that can impact health. These include ash, gas, flying rocks, lava and mud flows (lahars). Volcanic emissions — usually gases and ash — can result in air pollution that may be harmful to people.
Health risks from volcanic emissions
Those most at risk from volcanic activity are:
- babies and children
- older adults
- people with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, or chronic bronchitis, and heart conditions.
Where possible, everyone should try and reduce their exposure to volcanic emissions by staying indoors.
Symptoms
Common short-term symptoms include:
- runny nose
- sore throat, sometimes with dry coughing
- airway irritation
- uncomfortable breathing, shortness of breath and wheezing
- itchy, painful or bloodshot eyes
- irritation and reddening of the skin.
People with pre-existing chest complaints may experience a worsening of symptoms.
Contact your doctor, healthcare provider, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 if you have concerns about your own or someone else's health.
If you have been prescribed medication to prevent asthma or other breathing conditions, continue to take it as prescribed. Always keep your medication with you.
A volcanic plume consists of a mixture of volcanic ash, gases and small particles. Plumes can travel considerable distances downwind.
Vog (a combination of the words 'volcanic' and 'smog') is formed when sulphur dioxide reacts in the atmosphere to form tiny particles. These are visible as a haze and can spread downwind. There is often a sulphur smell like rotten eggs.
Vog may cause headaches, sting eyes and irritate breathing. These are likely to continue while vog is present.
People likely to be more sensitive to vog include:
- those with breathing problems such as asthma or COPD
- people with heart disease
- older people
- babies and young children
- pregnant people and new mothers.
If you notice vog and are concerned about your health, you can limit exposure by:
- staying indoors
- keeping doors and windows closed
- avoiding the use of heat pumps or air-conditioning units that draw in air from outside.
While indoors, it is a good idea to protect the air quality inside by not smoking or burning candles or incense. Only use gas heaters that have a flue or air outlet to the outside.
While N95 and P2 face masks provide protection against breathing ash and tiny particles, they do not protect against breathing in gases.
If you are concerned about your health or the health of a whānau member during a vog episode, call your doctor, healthcare provider or call Healthline on 0800 611 116
Volcanic ash is made up of small pieces of rock and glass. Ash is carried downwind and can fall out over large areas. Ashfall is the most likely volcanic hazard for most people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Volcanic ash is harmful when breathed in (inhaled) and when eaten. It can also irritate skin and eyes. Reduce your exposure to ashfall and wear protective clothing if outside.
Gases emitted from volcanoes and geothermal areas include water vapour (steam, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen chloride. Gases are released through the soil in geothermal areas all of the time and may be released during eruptions and during periods of volcano unrest.
In geothermal areas of Te Ika-a-Māui/the North Island, gases are released from geothermal features such as hot springs, and also through the soil. These gases are heavier than air and can accumulate in low-lying or confined spaces such as enclosed hot pools and basements.
How to keep yourself safe when visiting geothermal areas:
- understand the hazard: pay attention to information signs
- avoid bathing alone in geothermal hot pools
- avoid low-lying or poorly ventilated areas, particularly when you are alone.
When visiting an outdoor geothermal area, keep upwind and away from the smell of the gases if you are uncomfortable or experience symptoms such as:
- dizziness
- nausea
- headache
- shortness of breath.
If these symptoms persist, see a medical professional.
Before ash arrives
If there is an eruption and you are at risk from volcanic ashfall:
- make sure you have emergency supplies including a P2 or N95 dust mask and googles
- go home if possible and avoid driving or walking
- wear glasses, not contact lenses so ash does not scratch your eyes
- listen to your local radio station for civil defence advice or follow them online
- follow official advice
- check on friends and neighbours who may need help.
The Get Ready website has a list of supplies, and tells you how to protect your whānau, home, water supply and equipment before ash falls.
Get ready before volcanic activity — Get Ready
This includes:
- disconnecting water tanks and saving water in a bath or containers in case your water supply is contaminated
- keeping as much ash as possible out of the house — close and seal doors, windows and air intakes (use plastic wrap, duct tape or cover cracks under doors with damp towels)
- shutting off and covering heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
- setting up a single point of entry for your house — place damp towels at the door to prevent ash being tracked indoors
- leaving outdoor clothing and footwear outside.
During ashfall
- Stay indoors as much as possible, especially if you have breathing problems like asthma or bronchitis.
- Keep pets indoors.
- Avoid driving in ashfall.
If you have to go outside
- Wear protective clothing and a properly fitted P2 or N95 mask if you have one. Otherwise wear a blue surgical or cloth mask (these will not be as effective as a P2 or N95 mask).
- Wear safety goggles (preferably goggles with no side vents), strong footwear, gloves and clothing that covers your skin.
- Do not wear contacts lenses, wear glasses instead.
- Keep children indoors. Masks do not fit smaller children well so offer little protection to ash.
After ashfall
It is important to clean up ash quickly from homes and neighbourhoods. Ash is a health hazard and can cause damage to buildings and machinery.
- Wear a properly fitted P2 or N95 mask if possible or a surgical mask, and wear protective clothing during clean up.
- Wash of any ash that gets onto skin.
- Use water sparingly.
- Wash all homegrown fruit and vegetables carefully. Ash should not be eaten or swallowed.
- Only reconnect your roof tank to the downpipe once rain has washed all the ash from the roof, or it has been cleaned. Ash will usually make drinking water taste sour, metallic or bitter before it is a health risk. If this happens, roof tank water should be replaced.
The Get Ready website has advice on cleaning up ash inside and outside, and making sure water and food is safe.
After a volcanic eruption — Get Ready
Information on how to fit a dust mask correctly and protecting yourself from breathing ash is on the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN) website.
Protection from breathing ash — IVHHN
Taumata Arowai has advice if your water has been contaminated or is in short supply.
Look after yourself and others
If you feel unwell, contact your doctor or healthcare provider, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 anytime.