Uk Health Alert: People Asked To Stay Inside As Corrosive Gas Fills Skies

A health alert was issued on Saturday, August 24, as corrosive and acidic gas clouds covered the UK early in the morning, advising people to stay indoors.

Why Is the UK On Health Alert?

A health warning was issued on Sunday, August 25, as clouds of acidic and corrosive gasses covered the UK early in the morning, advising people to stay inside. A massive cloud of sulfur dioxide (SO2), created by recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland, filled the skies above the nation at 4 a.m. local time, according to the country’s meteorological maps.

After being unleashed after a volcanic eruption in Iceland on Thursday (Aug 22), the deadly gas blanketed the nation’s skies on Saturday (Aug 24). Later, some of the poisonous cloud drifted over Europe, and early on Monday morning (Aug 26), reports indicated that some of it was hovering over the Scottish Highlands. UK Experts now expect that on Tuesday, August 27, and Wednesday, August 28, another layer of this poisonous gas will reenter the United Kingdom and cover the skies over the Midlands and the south.

A massive cloud of sulfur dioxide (SO2), created during recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland, was visible in the skies at 4 am local time, according to the nation’s meteorological maps. In addition to being created by burning coal or crude oil, SO2 is also released during volcanic eruptions in large amounts.

Effect Of This On Normal People 

Inhaling this gas can cause symptoms such as burning eyes, coughing, sore throats, runny noses, constricted lungs, and trouble breathing. Direct exposure to SO2 can cause asthma attacks and chronic bronchitis in certain individuals.

This gas, released by burning coal, was the cause of the well-known London smog of 1952, which resulted in thousands of deaths from respiratory diseases. Acid rain is created when SO2 combines with water vapor found in the earth’s atmosphere. It was recommended that small children and the elderly stay indoors and avoid exposure to SO2 as they are more susceptible to inhaling the gas.

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