ok, i spent the extra five minutes to find an article about what is happening in iceland with all that ash all over the place.

it’s not good.

but it’s a very interesting story.  here it is, from a website called helium:

Risks of fluoride poisoning from Iceland’s volcanic eruptions

by Marilla Mulwane

The dangers of the Iceland volcano Eyjafjallajoekull continue even after all this time. Areas of the country are completely covered in volcanic ash. Some places are blanketed with over four inches of the stuff. This has shut down airports since the volcano’s eruption. Now, it is the volcanic ash that is causing the new problems for Iceland, and most important, causing problems for the farmers and their animals.

Volcanic ash is tiny pieces of rock and glass that come from the volcano during an eruption. It falls from the sky and can be swept for miles by the wind, where it will eventually fall to the ground creating a blanket. The volcanic ash is difficult to get rid of because it does not dissolve in water, and when wet it can conduct electricity. This makes rainy days a nightmare. Also, volcanic ash is corrosive, and that is what worries the farmers of Iceland.

The volcanic ash contains fluoride, which is a corrosive substance. Yes, it is found in our toothpastes and mouthwashes, but haven’t you been told many times not to swallow too much of it? Fluoride is often considered as toxic and poisonous as lead or arsenic. While fluoride can keep our mouths squeaky clean when used in moderation, too much of it can harm us. Or in Iceland’s case, harm the animals

If the animals swallow or breathe in too much of the toxic volcanic ash, that contains lots of fluoride, it can cause a few health problems. The fluoride will corrode the stomach and intestines, causing hemorrhages. Also, when the fluoride combines with calcium it will kill bone-producing cells. If the animals ingest large amounts of the volcanic ash in a short period of time this will weaken their bones, and possibly even make them lose their teeth. Fluoride doesn’t sound like such a healthy substance now, does it?

Farmers rely on these animals, and there isn’t much they can do to help them. Farmers traveled through the country, searching for shaggy ponies that had run off from the ash falling. Normally these ponies run around the wild, but are forced to live inside barns until the ash can be cleared away. All of these animals are kept locked in the barns and with the windows boarded up. These farmers have to bring them clean water and food, provided they have enough, to the animals each day.

Farmers have been receiving some help from the Iceland civil defense department. They have been traveling through the areas, offering help and advice to troubled farmers.

That doesn’t save the many wild animals in the country, though. Lakes and ponds are filled with ash, so that birds that fly to them are both covered in falling ash and swallowing ash from the water. If the toxic volcanic ash doesn’t disappear soon, many animals could die.

Sources:

Toxic Fluoride Contaminates Iceland Volcanic Ash and is Killing Animals, onlinehealthnews.org

Toxic ash threatens Iceland animals, BBC.co.uk

Properties of volcanic ash, volcanoes.usgs.gov