Sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas pollution from the volcanic eruption in Holuhraun in the northeastern highlands is expected to affect all parts of the country today, apart from the northernmost part of the West Fjords. The air quality is currently poor in Reykjavík.
This morning the SO2 level reached 1,720 mµ/m3, which means that people with underlying respiratory diseases should be careful and avoid physical activity outside, ruv.is reports.
The air quality on the capital’s outskirts and in neighboring towns, including Hveragerði, is also currently poor.
Until noon the gas cloud is expected to be thickest over Southwest Iceland, but in the afternoon the wind might shift so that the pollution levels will be highest in the northeast, mbl.is reports.
At levels above 2,000 mµ/m3 warnings are issued and everyone is advised to stay inside, close the windows and turn up the heating.
Tomorrow, SO2 will likely be carried to the north and east, affecting an area from Siglufjörður in the north to Djúpivogur in the east.
Pollution levels can be monitored on airquality.is. Forecasts are available on vedur.is.
