Evaluation of health effects due to volcanic hazards, Mt.Unzen, Japan

1990年11月3日，当长崎县岛原市温岑火山喷发并向大气中释放出数以吨计的火山灰时，作者开始担心暴露在火山灰中可能对健康造成的危害。1992年6月和1993年9月，作者在岛原市对4000名小学生和初中生进行了问卷调查。有关云山喷发对身体健康影响的主要问题和问题如下：-火山灰暴露对眼睛的急性和慢性影响？-火山灰暴露对呼吸道的急性和慢性影响？-火山灰暴露对鼻、耳、喉的急性和慢性影响？眼睛症状是最常见的，超过一半的学童和学生去看眼科医生。鼻-耳-喉疾病的流行率约为30%。呼吸道疾病的发生率较低。家庭感到不安的是，眼睛、鼻子和呼吸道的过敏性疾病可能会在未来出现在他们的孩子身上。必须继续仔细观察。

On November 3, 1990, when the Mount Unzen volcano is Shimabara city, Nagasaki Prefecture, erupted and released into the atmosphere tons of volcanic ash, authors became concerned about potential health hazards from exposure to volcanic ash. In June, 1992 and in September, 1993, authors asked a total of four thousands of school children and junior high school students in Shimabara city to fill out a questionnaire.Major questions and issues relating to the physical health effects of the eruptions of Mt.Unzen were as follows.-what are the acute and chronic effect of exposure to volcanic ash on the eyes?-what are the acute and chronic effect of exposure to volcanic ash on the respiratory tracts?-what are the acute and chronic effect of exposure to volcanic ash on the nose-ear-throat?Eye symptoms are the most frequent, and more than half of school children and students consulted eye doctors. The prevalence of nose-ear-throat complaints was around 30 %. Respiratory tracts complaints were less frequent. Families felt uneasy about the possibility that allergic diseases in eyes, noses and respiratory tracts would appear in their in their children in future. Careful observation must be continued.