Birds die from eruption pollution
Hákonarstaðir, here pictured last year in the snow. SO2 pollution has been particularly heavy in the area which is close to the Holuhraun eruption site. Ljósmynd/Halla Eiríksdóttir
Birds of the common redpoll variety have been found dead in Jökuldalur, east Iceland, believed to be caused by SO2 pollution from the Holuhraun eruption. Pollution has been particularly heavy in the area in the past few days and farmers describe the pollution cloud as so heavy that they couldn't see between the farm buildings.
"It's been the worst pollution we've yet experienced," said Sigvaldi H.Ragnarsson, farmer at Hákonarstaðir. Travellers through Kárahnjúkar in the east highlands described "almost hitting a wall of pollution" on Sunday when the SO2 pollution was measured at 7.800 microgrammes per cubic metre. Under such conditions peopla are advised to remain indoors and shut al windows. The weather has been particularly cold and still in the area which means that the pollution settles. Two farmers have found several dead birds in the vicinity of the farmhouses, of the common redpoll variety. Biologist Skarphéðinn Þórisson at the natural history institute of east Iceland believes that the pollution from the eruption is the most likely explanation.
