Scientists in Italy have found that the surfaces of lava stones from from Mount Etna, in Sicily, may be leaching manganese into the environment. Almost 1.5 million people are supplied with water from Etna’s wells and these findings could help identify any health risks associated with using this water.
The origins of elevated occurrences of some health problems in the population around Europe’s tallest and most active volcano have been debated for many years. Reports have shown that levels of Parkinson’s disease in the area are well above average and doctors have been unable to rationalise these numbers.
Mount Etna
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A photoelectron spectroscopy study of lava stones
Domenico Andrea Cristaldi, Cosimo G. Fortuna and Antonino Gulino
Anal. Methods, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3AY40136G
