Research from the University of Iceland points to a link between the concentration of SO2 levels from the power plants at Hellisheiði and Nesjavellir near the capital city and the number of deaths, reports RÚV.
“What stood out was the correlation [between the concentration of SO2 levels and deaths] in the summer months and death rates among people aged 80 and up,” said Ragnhildur Finnbjörnsdóttir who has been investigating the effects of SO2 air pollution on health since the year 2009 as a part of her doctoral research paper.
“There aren’t many other examples of this type of research in Iceland and not much research on this topic in general, so it is difficult to say whether there is a direct correlation here,” said Ragnhildur. “But there was another study investigating the relationship between SO2 and the prevalence of asthma which indicated a correlation. Therefore I think that this is an issue that needs to be studied further.”
The Directorate of Health have yet to comment on the research.
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