Lead in Catchment - Lava Eruption

​The impacts of these acids on the catchment systems include corrosive reactions with the roof surfaces and metal components of the domestic water system (pumps, copper piping, fixtures). In addition to damage to the plumbing system, a secondary impact of the acidic water is the potential to leach heavy metals, principally lead, that may be present in the system.

​In addition to the threat of heavy metal exposure resulting from low pH water, there has been increasing concern that consumption of acidic water may contribute to weakening of tooth enamel and an increasing incidence of dental carries in both children and adults.

Hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids are present in the volcanic plume, albeit at lower concentrations, and both can form aerosols that will deposit along with the sulfate aerosols. Whereas the chloride and sulfate compounds are typically only a threat to human health at very high concentrations (>250 parts per million (ppm) in drinking water), fluoride salts are a recognized threat to health when their concentrations exceed a few (4 – 5) parts per million in drinking water.

This is directly related to an acute public health threat, measurements were also made of the pH of the catchment water samples. As noted above, three strong acids are present in the downwind plume from Halema’uma’u: sulfuric acid (H2SO4), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and hydrofluoric acid (HF).
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The impacts of these acids on the catchment systems include corrosive reactions with the roof surfaces and metal components of the domestic water system (pumps, copper piping, fixtures). In addition to damage to the plumbing system, a secondary impact of the acidic water is the potential to leach heavy metals, principally lead, that may be present in the system. Dissolved lead is of greatest concern if lead containing roofing nails, paint, solder, or other plumbing components come in contact with the acidic water. In addition to the threat of heavy metal exposure resulting from low pH water, there has been increasing concern that consumption of acidic water may contribute to weakening of tooth enamel and an increasing incidence of dental carries in both children and adults. As a result of these factors, we selected pH and the sulfate, chloride, and fluoride ions as our chemical tracers for plume impacts and as an indicator of the potential threat that the plume posed to public health. We should emphasize here that the presence of the dissolved ions at levels well below recognized standards – 250 ppm for chloride and sulfate, and 4-5 ppm for fluoride – should not be inferred to pose some lesser degree of adverse health impact. The standards cited above take into account any cumulative risks that these ions may pose if consumed in drinking water.

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​Please note:  February 16, 2010 is the latest available information from these entities: ​