That results in higher temperatures, an element of the greenhouse effect. Gas exhalations from volcanic fields are widespread and historical accounts suggest that already since antiquity the effects were noted by people. Volcanic gases are probably the least showy part of a volcanic eruption, but they can be one of an eruption's most deadly effects. Sometimes volcanic gases cause lingering detrimental side effects, such as acid rain. Sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen are released in smaller amounts. Water vapor, the most common gas released by volcanoes, causes few problems. Volcanic gases have claimed directly the lives of >2000 people over the past 600 years (Auker et al. No studies on health effects of volcanic releases of halogen gases or metal vapors were located. 2013).Millions more people have been impacted by volcanic gas, with effects ranging from respiratory irritation to neurological impacts, to crop failure and famine. effects depend on the distance of a volcano, the viscosity of the magma and the concentrations of gas. Chronic exposure to H2S in geothermal areas was associated with increases in nervous system and respiratory diseases. Although gases usually blow away rapidly, it is possible that people who are close to the volcano or who are in the low-lying areas downwind may be exposed to levels that may affect health. Potential effects of volcanic gases. Amounts of these gases vary widely from one volcanic eruption to the next. Other common volcanic gases include carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, along with various hydrogen compounds. About: Causes and Effects of volcanic eruption Introduction It is already known that volcanic eruption can cause cooling effects on earth by throwing sulfuric acid droplets and ash particles into the atmosphere that eventually block sunlight. The effects of volcanoes on the environment depend on climate patterns, the overall scale of the eruption and how much the gases spread. The volcanic gases that pose the greatest potential hazard to people, animals, agriculture, and property are sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen fluoride.Locally, sulfur dioxide gas can lead to acid rain and air pollution downwind from a volcano. The most common gas released by volcanoes is simple water vapor, or steam. It is formed during volcanic explosions, from avalanches of hot rock that flow down the side of volcanoes, or from red-hot liquid lava spray. Some impacts were on a large scale, affecting several countries (e.g., Laki fissure eruption in Iceland in 1783-4). Gases derived from volcanoes have severe detrimental impacts on vegetation; direct exposure to volcanic gases over a long term period is lethal to most plant life (McGee, 1997). If the acid droplets are large enough, they prevent heat from escaping Earth's atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are responsible for extreme weather and temperature increases around the world. Volcanic ash is composed of fine particles of fragmented volcanic rock (less than 2 mm diameter). Another problem the environment is the ash that is released when a volcano erupts. The carbon dioxide released by volcanic activity is a greenhouse gas. Hazards closer to the volcano include pyroclastic flows, mudslides, gas and steam flows, earthquakes, air explosions and tsunamis. At low levels, gases can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Volcanic ash is often hot very close to the volcano but is cool when it falls at greater distances. Volcanic eruption ejects sulfur dioxide gas into the atmosphere. 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