| Characterization of Air Contaminants Formed by the Interaction of Lava and Sea Water Gregory John Kullman, William Gale Jones, Ronnie James Cornwell, and John Eugene Parker Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown WV 26505 USA Abstract
We made environmental measurements to characterize contaminants generated when basaltic lava from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano enters sea water. This interaction of lava with sea water produces large clouds of mist (LAZE) . Island winds occasionally directed the LAZE toward the adjacent village of Kalapana and the Hawaii Volcanos National Park, creating health concerns. Environmental samples were taken to measure airborne concentrations of respirable dust, crystalline silica and other mineral compounds, fibers, trace metals, inorganic acids, and organic and inorganic gases. The LAZE contained quantifiable concentrations of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) ; HCl was predominant. HCl and HF concentrations were highest in dense plumes of LAZE near the sea. The HCl concentrations at this sampling location averaged 7.1 ppm ; this exceeds the current occupational exposure ceiling of 5 ppm. HF was detected in nearly half the samples, but all concentrations were <1 ppm. Sulfur dioxide was detected in one of four short-term indicator tube samples at approximately 1.5 ppm. Airborne particulates were composed largely of chloride salts (predominantly sodium chloride) . Crystalline silica concentrations were below detectable limits, less than approximately 0.03 mg/m3 of air. Settled dust samples showed a predominance of glass flakes and glass fibers. Airborne fibers were detected at quantifiable levels in 1 of 11 samples. These fibers were composed largely of hydrated calcium sulfate. These findings suggest that individuals should avoid concentrated plumes of LAZE near its origin to prevent over exposure to inorganic acids, specifically HCl. Key words: airborne fibers, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, lava, sea water, sulfur dioxide. Environ Health Perspect 102:478-482(1994) http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1994/102-5/kullman.html
Address correspondence to G.J. Kullman, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 944 Chestnut Ridge Road, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA. R.J. Cornwell is now at Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 USA. We acknowledge the following individuals for technical consultation and survey support: Jerry Clere and John Holtz, NIOSH ; Harry Kim, Hawaii Civil Defense ; Paul Aki, Hawaii State Health Department ; Christiana Heliker and Barry Stokes, Hawaii Volcano Observatory ; and Terrence Gerlach, U.S. Geological Survey. Received 3 December 1993 ; accepted 25 March 1994.
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