RESUMO
El tratamiento médico solo juega un minimo papel durante las erupciones volcánicas severas, así que lo mas importante son las medidas preventivas si se desea reducir el número de lesionados y muertos. Los equipos de salud deben incorporarse a la planeación y respuesta de emergencia desde la primera etapa. Para beneficio de los trabajadores sanitarios, se resume el asesorameinto sobre la interpretación de la información geológica del volcán, así como las medidas sanitarias adecuadas que deben adoptarse antes y después de una erupción (AU)
Assuntos
Erupções Vulcânicas , Medidas de Segurança , Medidas de Segurança , Efeitos de Desastres na Saúde , Medição de RiscoRESUMO
This report describes the 4-yr follow-up of 712 loggers exposed over an extended period to varying levels of fresh volcanic ash from the 1980 eruptions of Mt. St. Helens. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the inhaled ash caused mucus hypersecretion and/or airway inflammation that reversed when the exposure levels decreased. The ash levels to which the loggers were exposed were low compared with permissible occupational levels for nuisance dusts, but generally higher than the total suspended particulate levels permissable in ambient air
Assuntos
Doenças Respiratórias , Erupções Vulcânicas , Efeitos de Desastres na Saúde , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Three hundred thirty-two ophthalmologists examined 1,523 patients with immediate ocular complaints following the 1980 eruptions of Mount St Helens. Loggers working up to 18 months in environments with high con centrations of volcanic ash were compared with a control group of loggers without volcanic ash contact. Althought the ash particles acted as ocular foreign bodies, the small particles were apparently well tolerated for the most part, except for acute irritation. Patients with contact lenses or sicca syndrome had the most frequent ocular complaints. To date, no long-term ocular effects have been noted secondary to volcanic ash exposure (AU)