Impact of volcanic fluoride and SO2 emissions from moderated activity volcanoes on the surrounding vegetation

Studies in the regions of the volcanoes Etna (Italy) and Masaya (Nicaragua) show that the continuous emissions of gaseous pollutants (HF and SO₂) from moderated activity volcanoes causes a chronic pollution in the surrounding vegetation with certain economical and ecological consequences.Reciprocally the measure of the pollutants in the plants growing in volcanic regions may be a simple and fast method to investigate some characteristics of the volcanic plume: for example, intensity of the emissions of gas, direction and extent of the plume.