Risk from volcanic ash is ‘negligible’

The European Food Safety Authority has said the risk posed by volcanic ash-fall to food and water supplies in the EU is regarded as ‘negligible’.

EFSA was asked by the European Commission to provide urgent advice on the risks to public and animal health following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland.

In a statement EFSA said it had concluded that fluoride was the compound most likely to cause problems.

However, at this stage the risk for human and animal health was considered not to be of concern.

It added: “As further EU monitoring data becomes available for volcanic ash deposition levels and ash composition, risks associated with the components of the volcanic ash-fall should be re-evaluated, if the data indicates that toxicological thresholds have been exceeded.”