Volcanic ash seen posing little health danger

The ash is unlikely to cause health issues unless it falls to the ground,which it has in some parts of Britain. The national Health Protection Agency recommended that people with respiratory problems take their inhalers with them or stay indoors if they experience symptoms like itchy eyes or throats.

They should do the same if they see a dusty haze in the air or detect a sulfurous or strongly acidic smell,the agency said.

Maria Neira,director of the public health and environment department at the WHO,said: “If people are outside and notice irritation in their throat and lungs,a runny nose or itchy eyes,they should return indoors and limit their outdoor activities.” She added that people should refer to the announcements of local health organisations because the ash concentration may vary among countries.

A spokesman for the National Health Service of Britain said that even when ash reached the ground the concentration of particles is likely to be so “low that it should not cause serious harm”. People who wear contact lenses could experience some discomfort,it said on its website.

The WHO said it was continuing to analyze the ash for the density and size of particles. The smaller the particles,the easier it is to inhale them,potentially causing some respiratory problems,it said.

Questions also arose among farmers as to whether the ash would hurt their crops or poison their animals. Farmers in Iceland already moved many of their animals into stables to avoid having them graze on grass covered in volcanic ash.