Bulusan eruption: Ashfall poses threat

By Marlon Atun

LEGAZPI CITY --- Ashfall from the eruption of Mount Bulusan poses a health risk to residents, according to a healthcare expert on Monday. 

Photographs taken by the Philippine Red Cross Sorsogon Chapter on the same day showed a thick layer of ash covering roads, vegetation, and homes. 

Physician Rosa Maria Rempillo, the assistant regional director of the Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development (DOH Bicol CHD), noted that prior studies have indicated that individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions, infants, and the elderly are particularly at risk from the fine particles found in the volcanic ash. 

Rempillo explained during the Ugnayan sa Bicol radio briefing that the ash produced by the eruption contains sulfur dioxide. 

A significant concern is that this sulfur dioxide could convert to sulfuric acid in the atmosphere, she said. 

Inhaling it can irritate the airways and cause them to constrict, making it even more difficult for individuals with existing lung problems to breathe, she added. 

Residents of Sorsogon are advised to stay indoors, and when it is necessary to go outside, they should wear a facemask or a clean, damp cloth, as well as eye protection. 

Face masks are available at the DOH provincial office in Sorsogon, which has distributed medical face masks to residents affected by the ashfall, she said. 

To prevent ashes from entering their homes, Rempillo recommended that residents hang damp curtains. 

Those involved in cleaning up the ashfall should be provided with adequate personal protective equipment to prevent secondary exposure, according to Rempillo. 

Respiratory issues due to the ashfall are likely to be the primary reason for health center visits and hospital admissions in the aftermath of this disaster, she said. 

Another immediate concern is ensuring access to clean drinking water. 

Residents should avoid drinking contaminated water and should not wash vegetables with water that may be contaminated, she said. (PIA Bicol)