Volcanic Gases Effects on Human Health; Case of Mazuku on The Population of the Goma City

BahatiRusimbuka Marcela, MuhambikwaKasiwa Françoise, Fatuma Esther, BirisawaNtamuhanga Anicet, MapendoKasiwa Hortense, Safari Habari Faustin, Ngangu Bonheur Rugain, Tumaini Sadiki Arsène


Abstract

Each year in the city of Goma, cases of death are reported in the western part. These spontaneous and sudden deaths are either reported early or late to the local administrative authorities. Since the conditions of death and causes are unknown, the local administration looks to the institution that has a good and accurate idea of the effects of the gases in the region. In order to elucidate and prepare a warning system for the places (depressions) related to mazuku, we conducted investigations to document the damage of this "monstrous" gas in the city of Goma. Our investigation covered the past five years from 2015 to 2020. It appears from our investigations that during these last five years, more or less thirty eight (38) people have lost their lives in the mazuku areas. These deaths were reported to the Goma Volcano Observatory via its scientific direction. It is noted that on average 6 people die in mazuku each year. The victims of this gas are from diverse origin. The neighborhoods (quarters) of Kyeshero, Lac Vert and Mugunga are the most famous in this sense. On the spot (in the three neighborhoods), the carelessness of passers-by as well as the lack of mazuku warning signs would be at the root of these deaths.


Keywords


Full Text:

Download Paper PDF


References


  1. Mueller, W., Cowie, H., Horwell, C. J., Hurley, F., & Baxter, P. J. (2020). Health impact assessment of volcanic ash inhalation: A comparison with outdoor air pollution methods. GeoHealth, 4, e2020GH000256. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GH000256
  2. World Health Organization (WHO) (1999). Health impact assessment: Main concepts and suggested approach. Gothenberg consensus paper. Geneva: WHO.
  3. Cohen, A. J., Brauer, M., Burnett, R., Anderson, H. R., Frostad, J., Estep, K., et al. (2017). Estimates and 25-year trends of the global burden of disease attributable to ambient air pollution: An analysis of data from the global burden of diseases study 2015. The Lancet, 389(10082), 1907–1918. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30505-6
  4. Gudmundsson, G. (2011). Respiratory health effects of volcanic ash with special reference to Iceland. A review. The Clinical Respiratory Journal, 5(1), 2–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-699X.2010.00231.x
  5. Hansell, A., & Oppenheimer, C. (2004). Health hazards from volcanic gases: A systematic literature review. Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 59(12), 628–639. https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890409602947
  6. Horwell, C. J., & Baxter, P. J. (2006). The respiratory health hazards of volcanic ash: A review for volcanic risk mitigation. Bulletin of Volcanology, 69(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-006-0052-y
  7. Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., &Khreis, H. (2016). Car free cities: Pathway to healthy urban living. Environment International, 94, 251–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2016.05.032
  8. Moore, K. R., Duffell, H., Nicholl, A., &Searl, A. (2002). Monitoring of airborne particulate matter during the eruption of Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat. In: T.H. Druitt and B.P. Kokelaar (Editors), The eruption of Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, from 1995 to 1999. Geological Society, London, Memoir, 21(1), 557–566. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.MEM.2002.021.01.25
  9. Searl, A., Nicholl, A., & Baxter, P. J. (2002). Assessment of the exposure of islanders to ash from the Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat, West Indies. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(8), 523–531. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.59.8.523
  10. World Health Organization (WHO) (2013b). Review of evidence on health aspects of air pollution–REVIHAAP project. Copenhagen, Denmark: World Health Organization.
  11. Baxter, P. J., Searl, A. S., Cowie, H. A., Jarvis, D., &Horwell, C. J. (2014). Evaluating the respiratory health risks of volcanic ash at the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, 1995 to 2010. Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 39(1), 407–425. https://doi.org/10.1144/m39.22
  12. Bernstein, R. S., Baxter, P. J., Falk, H., Ing, R., Foster, L., & Frost, F. (1986). Immediate public health concerns and actions in volcanic eruptions: Lessons from the Mount St. Helens eruptions, May 18–October 18, 1980. American Journal of Public Health, 76(Suppl), 25–37. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.76.Suppl.25
  13. Shimizu, Y., Dobashi, K., Hisada, T., Ono, A., Todokoro, M., Iijima, H., et al. (2007). Acute impact of volcanic ash on asthma symptoms and treatment. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 20(2_suppl), 9–14.
  14. Anna Hansell& Clive Oppenheimer (2004) Health Hazards from Volcanic Gases: A Systematic Literature Review, Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 59:12, 628-639, DOI: 10.1080/00039890409602947
  15. Bernstein RS, BaxterPJ,Buist AS.Introduction to the epidemiological aspects of explosivevolcanism Am J Public Health 1986; 76(suppl):3-9. 
  16. Blong RJ.Effectson Humans: Deathsand Injuries.ln:Blong RJ(Ed.) VolcanicHazards. A. Sourcebookon the Effectsof EruptionsSydney:AcademicPressAustralia, 1984; p 70-132.
  17. BaubronJC,Allard P,ToutainJP.Diffusevolcanicemissionsof carbondioxidefromVulcanoIsland Italy. Nature1990;344:51-3.
  18. BaxterPJ,BaubronJC,Coutinho R. Healthhazardsanddisasterpotential of groundgaseemissions at Furnasvolcano,Sao Miguel, Azores. J VolcanolGeotherm Res1999;92:95-106.
  19. BeaubienSE,Ciotoli G, LuccheseR.Carbondioxideandradongashazardi n the Alban Hills area (central Italy).J VolcanolGeothermRes2003;123:63-80.
  20. Le Guern, F. Les débits de CO2 et de SO2 volcaniques dans l’atmosphère. Bull Volcanol45, 197–202 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02597730
  21. Balagizi Charles, Yalire Mathieu, Ciraba Honoré, Kajeje Vicky,Minani Abel,Kinja Annie, Kasereka Marcellin. (2016). Soil temperature and CO2 degassing, SO2 fluxes and field observations before and after the February 29, 2016 new vent inside Nyiragongo crater. Bulletin of Volcanology. 78. 10.1007/s00445-016-1055-y.
  22. Global Volcanism Program (2016) Worldwide volcano and eruption information. Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=223050
  23. Tazieff H (1977) An exceptional eruption: Mt Nyiragongo, Jan 10th 1977. Bull Volcanol 40(3):189–200
  24. Pottier Y (1978) Première éruption historique du Nyiragongo et manifestations adventives simultanées du Volcan Nyamulagira (Chaine des Virunga - Kivu - Zaïre: Dec. 76 - Juin 77) Mus Roy AfrCentr, Tervuren (Belg), Dept. Geol. Mineral, 157–175 
  25. Ueki S (1983) Recent volcanism of Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo. In: Hamaguchi H (ed) Volcanoes Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira: geophysical aspects, The Faculty of Science. Tôhoku University, Sendai, pp. 7–18
  26. Durieux J (2004a) Volcano Nyiragongo (DR Congo): evolution of the crater and lava lakes from the discovery to the present. Acta Vulcanol 14:137–144 
  27. Durieux J (2004b) Nyiragongo: the January 10th 1977 eruption. ActaVulcanol 14 (1–2), 2002, 15 (1–2), 2003, 145–148
  28. Komorowski J-C et al. (2004) The January 2002 17 flank eruption of Nyiragongo volcano (Democratic Republic of Congo): chronology, evidence for a tectonic rift trigger, and impact of lava flows on the city of Goma. ActaVulcanol 15(1–2):27–62
  29. Tedesco D, Vaselli O, Papale P, Carn SA, Voltaggio M, Sawyer GM, Durieux J, Kasereka M, Tassi F (2007) January 2002 volcanotectonic eruption of Nyiragongo volcano, Democratic Republic of Congo. J Geophys Res 112(B9):1–12 
  30. https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/volcanic-gases#:~:text=Breathing%20air%20with%20more%20than,is%20a%20hazard%20in%20Hawaii.
  31. Auker MR, Sparks RSJ, Siebert L, Crosweller HS, Ewert J (2013) A statistical analysis of the global historical volcanic fatalities record. J ApplVolcanol 2(1):1–24
  32. BenoîtSmets, Dario Tedesco, François Kervyn, Antoine Kies, Orlando Vaselli, Mathieu MapendanoYalire, Dry gas vents (“mazuku”) in Goma region (North-Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo): Formation and risk assessment, Journal of African Earth Sciences, Volume 58, Issue 5, 2010, Pages 787-798, ISSN 1464-343X,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2010.04.008. 
  33. Michel Detay; Le Nyiragongo : volcan de tous les dangers et maîtrise des risques, LAVE, revue de l’association de volcanologie européenne, 153, 16-29 (2011)
  34. https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mammoth-mountain/carbon-dioxide-mammoth-mountain

Share your valuable work from Social Media Buttons