Sulphur dioxide levels in Edinburgh have reached their highest levels since the 1970s due to a volcanic eruption in Iceland. Experts believe emissions from the non-explosive fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula on May 29 may have caused an “unprecedented” spike in the pollutant. Researchers at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) said there was no danger to the public, but described the incident as “extremely unusual”. It is thought strong winds brought gases released in the volatile geothermal event to the city on May 31.
Readings from St. Leonard’s Street in the city’s Southside two days after the eruption found 1,161 micrograms of sulphur dioxide (SO2) per cubic metre of air. In comparison, the reading for an average day is around 0.5 micrograms, which is about 2,300 times lower. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) also recorded increased SO2 levels on the Isle of Lewis on May 30.
Dr Marsailidh Twigg, atmospheric chemist at UKCEH, said the last time SO2 levels were recorded at this level was during the 1970s when heavy industry dominated the Scottish landscape. She stated, “We have seen a huge reduction in the amount of pollutants coming from factories and mining since then… It has fallen by about 98% so to see it back up at that level is unique”.
The eruption was the fifth to take place on the peninsula, near the town of Grindavik, since December 2023, and was preceded by frequent and intense earthquakes in the region. SO2 is one of the most common gases emitted during geothermal events, but some eruptions release enough of the gas to affect the global climate. However, the current series of volcanic activity has not reached anywhere near those levels, and UKCEH said it did not pose any significant health risk
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