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A cloud of toxic gas emitted by a volcanic eruption in Iceland is expected to pass over Britain after already sweeping through northern Scotland.
The Met Office said it was monitoring the sulphur dioxide cloud, which is believed to have begun moving across the country early on Sunday morning.
The gas was released high into the atmosphere by a volcano in the Icelandic region of Grindavik and is expected to have “only a minor impact on air quality near the ground”, according to the Met Office.
Sulfur dioxide is a colorless, strong-smelling gas that is commonly released during coal combustion and other refining or manufacturing processes.
If inhaled in high concentrations, the gas can cause throat irritation, nausea, stomach pain and vomiting.
The Met Office said “low levels” of the compound mean air pollution in the UK should remain low.
A Met Office spokesman said: “A cloud of sulphur dioxide emanating from the volcano in Iceland is crossing the UK high in the atmosphere and will soon dissipate to the southeast.”
“The impact of this sulphur dioxide was small because it is high in the atmosphere and has little impact on air quality near the ground.
“Low concentrations near the ground mean that air pollution remains low.
“Air pollution levels are currently low and are expected to remain so across the UK today.
“We continue to monitor all sulphur dioxide emissions from Iceland. Current forecasts suggest that there will be little impact on air pollution in the UK over the coming days.”
A volcano in southwest Iceland erupted for the sixth time since December on Thursday, spewing red lava and causing violent earthquakes.
On Sunday, August 26, an ice cave collapsed during a tourist visit. One person died and two others are still missing. Authorities said an ice canyon in the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier gave way as a group of 25 tourists were exploring the cave.
The search is still ongoing and police confirmed that the two missing people are probably still trapped in the cave.
