Sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels in Reyðarfjörður, East Iceland, were ten times lower, or 240 μg/m3, this morning than when they peaked at 2,550μg/m3 at 2 pm yesterday, ruv.is reports.
According to ruv.is, the concentration of SO2 must exceed 350 μg for an entire hour to exceed the health protection limit or remain at 125 μg for 24 hours. This morning, the levels dropped quickly after peaking at 240 μg.
The work protection limit for an eight-hour workday is set at 1,300 μg/m3, while the maximum level for every 15 minutes is 2,600. Work is not permitted if levels exceed 2,600μg/m3.
Residents complained yesterday about having a bad taste in their mouth, a sore throat, stinging eyes and headaches.
People in the region are advised to be conscious of the situation and of any related symptoms, Guðfinnur Sigurvinsson at the Environment Agency of Iceland told visir.is this afternoon. Authorities are looking into different ways in which to distribute information in the region.
The Icelandic Met Office has issued a forecaster’s warning for the northern parts of the East Fjords up to Vopnafjörður due to the pollution as forecasts indicate high levels of SO2 being emitted by the eruption.
The Environment Agency of Iceland will open a special website with information on the pollution later today. Questions can be emailed to [email protected]. The responses will be posted on the agency’s Facebook page.
