New Study Reveals the Hidden Health Hazards of Living Near Active Volcanoes
- February 27th, 2025
- Scientific production
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New Study Reveals the Hidden Health Hazards of Living Near Active Volcanoes
In an important study published in the Environments journal, researchers from the University of Alicante and the University of the Azores have unveiled alarming insights into the long-term health effects associated with living in close proximity to active volcanoes.
The research, led by Alicia Navarro-Sempere, highlights the significant and often overlooked threats posed by volcanic pollutants, including toxic gases and heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium. These contaminants are shown to contribute to a range of severe health outcomes, notably affecting the nervous system.
"Over 14% of the world's population residing near active volcanoes are unknowingly inhaling air that could be detrimental to their brain health"
The study details how pollutants cause the accumulation of heavy metals in the brain, leading to increased oxidative stress and significant neurotoxicity, which can advance the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The team's findings are based on extensive reviews of volcanic environments across the globe and the impacts on local populations. "Our research not only documents these effects but also calls for urgent public health strategies and better monitoring to protect these vulnerable communities"
The authors urge local and international health bodies to adopt their recommendations and increase awareness of the risks. By doing so, they hope to mitigate the adverse health effects on millions of people living under the shadow of volcanoes.
About the Research
The authors of the review paper titled “Living Under the Volcano: Effects on the Nervous System and Human Health" are from the cE3c-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, within the Azorean Biodiversity Group and the CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute at the University of the Azores, the Institute of Volcanology and Risks Assessment at the University of the Azores and the Faculty of Sciences, University of Alicante.
The research is published in Environments and is available as an open-access article under the CC BY license.
For more details, access the study here: https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12020049