Brian Barton
Iceland is known for its pristine nature and clean air, but it still encounters various types of pollution. Natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions can cause gas pollution, which can be dangerous for spectators and residents in the eruption zone. In addition, particulate matter (PM) pollution from road traffic and volcanic ash can sometimes exceed EU limit values, especially during the winter months. Iceland's heavy industry also contributes significantly to the country's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and the country has been working to reduce these emissions. Other types of pollution in Iceland include hydrogen sulphide pollution from geothermal power plants and the contamination of seafood by persistent organic pollutants, although this has been decreasing over the last decade. Overall, while Iceland's air quality is generally good, the country faces various pollution challenges and is actively working to address them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air quality | Generally good, but PM pollution from road traffic and volcanic ash can exceed EU limit values |
| Water quality | Contamination by persistent organic pollutants has decreased over the last 10-15 years |
| Soil quality | Iceland lost 40% of its soil due to environmental destruction during the settlement |
| Volcanic activity | Gas pollution from eruptions can reach unhealthy levels and is advected downwind |
| Industrial pollution | Aluminium smelting has caused high levels of soil and air contamination, and increased carbon emissions by 26% from 1990 to 2007 |
| Tourism | Growing environmental concern due to the concentration of tourists at sensitive natural sites |
| Renewable energy | Iceland has a positive reputation for its widespread use of renewable energy |
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What You'll Learn
Volcanic gases
Iceland is prone to volcanic gas pollution due to its volcanic landscape. On March 17, 2024, a volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula erupted, spewing a massive plume of toxic sulfur dioxide gas that travelled across Northern Europe. This gas cloud was not expected to cause serious health issues, but scientists warned it could affect the ozone layer above the Arctic. The Icelandic Met Office reported that the volcano was emitting around 110 pounds (50 kilograms) of sulfur dioxide per second.
Volcanic gas pollution can be unpredictable and reach unhealthy levels near the eruption zone. The gas plume follows the wind direction, and certain wind conditions can cause the gas to accumulate in valleys, potentially exceeding danger levels. In such cases, it is recommended to move to higher ground and avoid areas downwind of the eruption. Gas pollution can also be produced by the lava field due to degasification.
The Fagradalsfjall eruption in 2025 is another example of volcanic gas pollution in Iceland. The Icelandic Meteorological Office provided forecasts of expected sulfur pollution (SO2) levels in inhabited areas. Gas pollution from this eruption could impact the capital region and southern Iceland, depending on wind direction.
Iceland's Katla volcano, located near the southernmost tip of the country, is also a significant emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2). Researchers found CO2 levels up to 8% higher than normal near the volcano, with estimated emissions of 12,000 to 24,000 metric tons of CO2 per day. This is several times higher than previous estimates for all of Iceland's volcanoes combined.
Volcanic gas pollution in Iceland can have both local and regional impacts, affecting air quality and potentially the ozone layer. While the immediate health risks may be low, it is important for residents and visitors to stay informed and take necessary precautions when volcanic activity occurs.
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Road traffic and volcanic ash
While Iceland's air quality is generally good, it does experience some pollution from road traffic and volcanic ash. The former is a more consistent issue, with particulate matter (PM) pollution from road traffic sometimes exceeding EU limit values, especially during the winter months. However, monitoring values for PM and nitrogen oxide concentrations show a downward trend, indicating that pollution control measures are having a positive impact.
Volcanic ash pollution, on the other hand, is more unpredictable and dependent on volcanic activity. Iceland's volcanoes have been responsible for several notable eruptions in recent years, including Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 and Grímsvötn in 2011, which triggered international concern about the respiratory health hazards of inhaling volcanic ash. These eruptions disrupted European air traffic, with hundreds of flights grounded due to ash clouds. The Grímsvötn eruption, in particular, injected ash at a higher altitude, reducing its impact on aviation compared to Eyjafjallajökull.
The Fagradalsfjall eruption, as forecasted by the Icelandic Meteorological Office, also produced gas pollution that could be hazardous to nearby residents. The gas plume follows the wind direction, and its impact can extend beyond the eruption site, as calm wind conditions can cause gas to accumulate in valleys, potentially affecting spectators. The lava field also contributes to gas pollution through degasification.
To address these challenges, Iceland has implemented measures such as establishing the London Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) to monitor and advise on volcanic ash hazards. Satellite observations and ground-based radar measurements play a crucial role in tracking ash plumes and assessing their potential impact on aviation. Additionally, new aviation security guidelines have been introduced, including no-fly zones where ash concentrations exceed 4 mg/m3.
Iceland has also taken steps to mitigate road traffic pollution, including introducing a carbon tax on fuel and tax concessions for the import of electric, methane, and hybrid vehicles. These initiatives contribute to the country's overall efforts to improve environmental sustainability and reduce pollution.
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Geothermal power plants
Iceland's territory is some of the most geologically active on Earth. The country straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rift between continental plates, and lies over a volcanic hotspot. This combination of factors has led to significant geothermal activity, which has been harnessed by Icelanders since the Viking Age for washing, bathing, heating homes, greenhouses, and swimming pools, as well as for snow and ice removal from streets and sidewalks.
Today, at least 90% of all homes in Iceland are heated with geothermal energy. The Blue Lagoon, a prominent example of a geothermal bath, is a mix of seawater and freshwater from the nearby Svartsengi Power Station. While geothermal energy has been used in Iceland for centuries, its use for electricity generation is a more recent development. Iceland's power was largely derived from fossil fuels until the 1970s, when the national government sought to address energy price disparities across the country.
The government's push for renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, has had a positive impact on the environment. Iceland's installed geothermal power production capacity is 799 megawatts (MW) as of 2020, contributing significantly to reducing the country's carbon footprint. Geothermal energy has also been used to achieve greater domestic food security through sustainable means, with approximately 65% of tomatoes on the domestic market being Icelandic.
However, geothermal power plants have also been associated with pollution and health concerns. The massive Hellisheiði geothermal power plant, located near Reykjavík, has been linked to increased sulfur pollution and environmental health impacts. Research has indicated a connection between the plant's sulfur pollution and a rise in asthma medication prescriptions in the greater Reykjavík area. Additionally, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emitted from two nearby geothermal power plants, Hellisheiði and Nesjavellir, may have impacted residents' health, with monitoring revealing H2S levels regularly exceeding safety standards.
To address these issues, Iceland has implemented policies and regulations. For example, a 2010 regulation aimed to reduce hydrogen sulfide pollution in the Reykjavík area. Additionally, the country has invested in geothermal energy research projects, such as the Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP), to further explore and optimize the use of this renewable energy source while mitigating any potential negative consequences.
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Oil tankers and freight ships
To mitigate the impact of oil spills, Iceland has implemented a National Contingency Plan, which includes annual training courses in pollution response for relevant stakeholders. Equipment for responding to oil spills, such as booms and skimmers, is stockpiled at five sites around the Icelandic coast, with the largest stockpile located in Reykjavik. The local communities are responsible for shoreline clean-up, which may be delegated to the local fire brigades.
In addition to oil spills, shipping emissions contribute to air pollution in Iceland. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has implemented regulations to reduce ship emissions, but fishing vessels, which make up a significant portion of Iceland's fleet, are often exempt from these regulations. Nonetheless, Iceland is taking steps to reduce emissions from its fishing fleet, such as limiting the use of fossil fuels and improving engine efficiency.
To further reduce pollution from maritime activities, Iceland has implemented a new regulation that restricts exhaust emissions containing high levels of sulphur from being burned by ships in its territorial waters. This regulation, issued by the Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources, lowers the maximum allowable sulphur content in marine fuels and is expected to have a significant impact on improving air quality in Iceland.
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Aluminium smelters
Iceland's electricity grid is entirely run on renewable energy, from hydro and geothermal resources. This has attracted aluminium smelters, which produce aluminium with significantly lower CO2 emissions than if their operations were powered with electrical energy from fossil fuels. However, aluminium smelters in Iceland have been criticised for causing fluoride pollution.
Aluminium smelting is the largest single producer of fluorides worldwide. Fluoride pollution has been detected in hay grown on farms around smelters in East Iceland. Fluorides are phytotoxic (toxic to plants) and accumulate in vegetation, making long-living trees particularly susceptible to fluoride poisoning. When animals or humans consume fluoride-polluted plants, meat, or water, they can develop ‘fluorosis’, which weakens bones and teeth and can lead to bone deformation and birth defects. Fluoride can also build up in soft tissue in the body, causing a range of serious health effects.
One of the farms affected by fluoride pollution in East Iceland is Kollaleira, where local farmer Guðmundur Beck opposed the Alcoa smelter, claiming it would destroy the fjord. In response to the incident of fluoride pollution, Alcoa announced that their pollution control technology had failed during the summer, and they had “acted immediately” to deal with the situation. However, tests on hay that Alcoa submitted showed that two out of seventeen samples were above the acceptable fluorine limit for milking cows for human consumption.
Century Aluminum (Norðurál) has also been criticised for its Grundartangi plant in West Iceland. According to local nature-protection organisation Umhverfisvaktin við Hvalfjörð (Hvalfjörður Environment Watch), the company stops monitoring the wider local area during the winter months and only monitors fluoride levels right at the edge of the smelter, thus distorting the annual figures. In addition, plans to expand the industrial area at Grundartangi to house more polluting industries on top of the already existing ferro-silicon and aluminium plants have been met with opposition from local farmers and others.
Despite the concerns about aluminium smelters and fluoride pollution, Iceland's economy has benefited from the presence of these industries. When Iceland’s economy collapsed in 2008, production at the smelters continued, helping to keep exports alive during the recession. Now, with a budding economic recovery underway, Iceland is on track for a faster return to sustained growth than other debt-ridden European nations.
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Frequently asked questions
The air quality in Iceland is considered very good in general, and the country's ambient pollutant concentrations are usually within defined limits. However, natural disasters like volcanic eruptions can cause increased air pollutant concentrations.
Pollution in Iceland can come from natural sources such as volcanic eruptions, geothermal areas, and resuspension of soil (sandstorms). Anthropogenic sources include the burning of fossil fuels, road traffic, and heavy industry.
Iceland has implemented several measures to reduce pollution, including improving solid waste management, closing waste incinerators that do not meet EU emission standards, and introducing a carbon tax on fuel. The country also has an abundance of renewable energy sources and is working to reduce emissions from heavy industry.
