Volcanogenic particulates and gases from Etna volcano (Italy)

Volcanic emissions represent one of the most relevant natural sources of trace elements to thetroposphere. Due to their potential toxicity they may have important environmental impacts from thelocal to the global scale and they can severely affect the atmospheric and terrestrial environment alsoat timescales ranging from a few to million years. Etna volcano is known as one of the largest globalcontributors of magmatic gases (CO2, SO2, and halogens) and particulate matter, including some toxictrace elements. The aim of this study was to characterize the chemical composition and themineralogical features of the volcanogenic aerosol passively emitted from Mt. Etna. Nine sampleswere collected by using the filtration technique at different sites on summer 2010 and 2011. Chemicaland mineralogical analyses allowed to discriminate two main constituents: the first is mainly referableto the silicate component in the volcanic plume, like lithic and juvenile fragments, crystals (e.g.,plagioclases, pyroxenes, oxides) and shards of volcanic glass; the second one is linked to the solublecomponents like sulfosalts or halide minerals (sulfates, chlorides and fluorides). These investigationsare especially important in the study area because the summit of Mt. Etna is yearly visited by nearlyone hundred thousand tourists that are exposed to potentially harmful compounds.