Fatalities by inhalation of volcanic gas at Mt. Aso crater in Kumamoto, Japan.
Volcanic gas is one of the hazards which tourists rarely meet in mountains. We present six fatalities due to volcanic gas inhalation on Mt. Aso, an active volcano in Kumamoto, Japan, over a period of nine years (1989-1997). One accident occurred at the lip of the crater and the other five within a distance of 250 m from the lip of the crater. Four of the six fatalities had a history of bronchial asthma. A forensic autopsy was performed for a fatality with a history of hypertensive heart disease; pulmonary emphysema was disclosed for this victim. These findings supported the idea that individuals with chronic lung diseases were at higher risk of death by volcanic gas inhalation. Safety precautions are effected through regular surveillance of the area and monitoring of volcanic gas levels. The criterion for sulfur dioxide levels has been changed to a more rigorous one (from >5.0 ppm to >0.2 ppm) according to our advice based on the autopsy. Further forensic analyses will help to design additional preventive measures so as to reduce mortality resulting from inhalation of toxic volcanic gas.
Ng'walali
P M
PM
Department of Forensic Medicine, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, 2-2-1 Honjyo, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan.
Koreeda
A
A
Kibayashi
K
K
Tsunenari
S
S