Welsh scientists probe impact on livestock of Iceland’s volcanic ash

SCIENTISTS are gathering grass and air samples on Snowdon to see how April’s volcano eruption in Iceland has left its mark on the Welsh environment.

The Countryside Council for Wales is involved in a UK-wide Defra project to assess the eruption’s long-term impact on livestock.

High mortality rates among Iceland’s livestock are thought to have been caused by high levels of fluoride in volcanic ash, with animals suffering from fluorosis.

By collecting grass samples and analysing rainfall from Snowdon every week, researchers hope to learn more about the volcano’s chemical “fingerprint”.