David A. Harvey , Dr. Jessica F. Larsen · David A. Harvey , Dr. Jessica F. Larsen 1,3 1,2...
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A One Health investigation of volcanic ash from Pavlof Volcano Introduction and Background Acknowledgements Volcanic ash is the most significant hazard posed to people, animals, and the environment by Alaskan volcanoes (USGS AVO). Currently, the specific health hazards posed by volcanoes in Alaska are inadequately studied compared to volcanoes in other regions. Volcanic ash is composed of small bits of rock, glass, and mineral crystals and it can contain potentially hazardous substances. This research seeks to characterize the ash from Pavlof volcano which fell on the Alaska Native village of Nelson Lagoon on March 28, 2016. The sample was first examined in a stereoscopic microscope, and notable particle shapes, textures, minerals, and surface coatings were tallied. Then, specifc caterogies of particles were mounted on stubs for examination in an FEI Quanta 200 environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). Micrographs of particles were taken and energy dissipative x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was used to analyze the chemical composition of individual grains. EDS spectra were then compared to references in Severin 2004 for identification. Here we present some of those micrographs and EDS spectra as preliminary data. The ash contains both hydrothermally altered and unaltered vesicular glass, plagioclase crystals, and a silica phase. The presence of altered and unaltered grains suggest that hydrothermal alteration of the magma or conduit fill material took place prior to and/or during the eruption. Hydrothermal alteration can produce crystalline silica polymorphs, like cristobalite, which may pose potential respiratory health hazards. Prolonged exposure to respirable crystalline silica has been documented to raise risk of silicosis and other chronic lung diseases (Baxter & Horwell 2015). Given the presence of a silica phase, further study is warranted to assess its crystral structure. More research will then be needed to determine if Pavlof ash poses potential health hazards due to the silica phase. Following the methods used by Damby et al. 2016 , this ash will be used in in vitro experiments to measure inflammatory responses and toxcitity. Additionally, volcanism is a known contributor to environmental mercury. Total mercury in this ash should be measured because mercury peaks were observed in some EDS spectra. Baxter, P. J., & Horwell, C. J. (2015). Impacts of Eruptions on Human Health. In The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-385938-9.00060-2 Damby, D. E., Murphy, F. A., Horwell, C. J., Raftis, J., & Donaldson, K. (2016). The in vitro respiratory toxicity of cristobalite-bearing volcanic ash. Environmental Research, 145, 74–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2015.11.020 “Hazards from Alaskan Volcanoes.” . USGS Alaska Voclano Observatory. https://avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/hazards.php Severin, Kenneth P. Energy dispersive spectrometry of common rock forming minerals. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic, 2004. Thanks to the Alaska Volcano Observatory for providing the ash sample. Ken Severin and Nate Graham with the Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory and UAF Dept. of Geosciences provided training on the ESEM and helpful advice for isolating individual ash grains. Finally thanks to Emily Sousa RAMP extraordinare with the BLaST program for her gracious help and advice. BLaST is supported by the NIH Common Fund, through the Office of Strategic Coordination, Office of the NIH Director with the linked awards: TL4GM118992, RL5GM118990, UL1GM118991. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. UAF is an affirmative action / equal employment opportunity employer and educational institution: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination. Citations Future Directions in One Health Methods SEM Micrographs and Preliminary Results David A. Harvey , Dr. Jessica F. Larsen 1,3 1,2 1.University of Alaska Fairbanks Dept. of Geosciences, 2. USGS Alaska Volcano Observatory, 3. BLaST - Biomedical Learning and Student Training Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 1 Unidentified silica phase Ca-rich plagioclase crystal Hydrothermally altered glass Plagioclase crystal w/ glass Photo courtesy of AVO/USGS and Michelle Coombs Photo courtesy of Nahshon Almandoss Spot 2 Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 1 Spot 2
Transcript of David A. Harvey , Dr. Jessica F. Larsen · David A. Harvey , Dr. Jessica F. Larsen 1,3 1,2...
A One Health investigation of volcanic ashfrom Pavlof Volcano
Introduction and Background
Acknowledgements
Volcanic ash is the most significant hazard posed topeople, animals, and the environment by Alaskanvolcanoes (USGS AVO). Currently, the specific healthhazards posed by volcanoes in Alaska areinadequately studied compared to volcanoes inother regions. Volcanic ash is composed of small bitsof rock, glass, and mineral crystals and it can containpotentially hazardous substances. This researchseeks to characterize the ash from Pavlof volcanowhich fell on the Alaska Native village of NelsonLagoon on March 28, 2016.
The sample was first examined in a stereoscopicmicroscope, and notable particle shapes, textures,minerals, and surface coatings were tallied. Then,specifc caterogies of particles were mounted on stubsfor examination in an FEI Quanta 200 environmentalscanning electron microscope (ESEM). Micrographs ofparticles were taken and energy dissipative x-rayspectroscopy (EDS) was used to analyze the chemicalcomposition of individual grains. EDS spectra werethen compared to references in Severin 2004 foridentification. Here we present some of thosemicrographs and EDS spectra as preliminary data.
The ash contains both hydrothermally altered and unaltered vesicularglass, plagioclase crystals, and a silica phase. The presence of altered andunaltered grains suggest that hydrothermal alteration of the magma orconduit fill material took place prior to and/or during the eruption.Hydrothermal alteration can produce crystalline silica polymorphs, likecristobalite, which may pose potential respiratory health hazards.
Prolonged exposure to respirable crystalline silicahas been documented to raise risk of silicosis andother chronic lung diseases (Baxter & Horwell2015). Given the presence of a silica phase, furtherstudy is warranted to assess its crystral structure.More research will then be needed to determine ifPavlof ash poses potential health hazards due tothe silica phase. Following the methods used byDamby et al. 2016 , this ash will be used in in vitroexperiments to measure inflammatory responsesand toxcitity. Additionally, volcanism is a known contributorto environmental mercury. Total mercury in thisash should be measured because mercury peakswere observed in some EDS spectra.
Baxter, P. J., & Horwell, C. J. (2015). Impacts of Eruptions on Human Health. In TheEncyclopedia of Volcanoes. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-385938-9.00060-2 Damby, D. E., Murphy, F. A., Horwell, C. J., Raftis, J., & Donaldson, K. (2016). The in vitrorespiratory toxicity of cristobalite-bearing volcanic ash. Environmental Research, 145,74–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2015.11.020 “Hazards from Alaskan Volcanoes.” . USGS Alaska Voclano Observatory.https://avo.alaska.edu/volcanoes/hazards.php Severin, Kenneth P. Energy dispersive spectrometry of common rock forming minerals.Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic, 2004.
Thanks to the Alaska Volcano Observatory for providing the ash sample. KenSeverin and Nate Graham with the Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory and UAF Dept. of Geosciences provided training on the ESEM and helpful advice forisolating individual ash grains. Finally thanks to Emily Sousa RAMP extraordinarewith the BLaST program for her gracious help and advice. BLaST is supported by the NIH Common Fund, through the Office of Strategic Coordination, Office of the NIHDirector with the linked awards: TL4GM118992, RL5GM118990, UL1GM118991. The content is solely theresponsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes ofHealth. UAF is an affirmative action / equal employment opportunity employer and educationalinstitution: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.
Citations
Future Directions in One Health
Methods
SEM Micrographs and Preliminary Results
David A. Harvey , Dr. Jessica F. Larsen 1,3 1,2
1.University of Alaska Fairbanks Dept. of Geosciences, 2. USGS Alaska Volcano Observatory, 3. BLaST - Biomedical Learning and Student Training
Spot 1 Spot 2
Spot 1
Unidentified silica phase
Ca-rich plagioclase crystal
Hydrothermally altered glass
Plagioclase crystal w/ glass
Photo courtesy of AVO/USGS and Michelle CoombsPhoto courtesy of Nahshon Almandoss
Spot 2
Spot 1 Spot 2
Spot 1 Spot 2
