UPDATE: Toxic chemical found in Tongariro eruption ash

"Early testing of the ash from Mount Tongariro has shown moderate levels of the potentially toxic chemical fluorine.

The volcano's crater spewed rocks and ash when it came to life for the first time in more than 100 years at 11.50pm on Monday night.

GNS Science sent samples of the ash to Massey University for analysis, and the preliminary results have been released.

Professor Shane Cronin said the tests showed moderate levels of soluble fluorine, similar to ash from Mt Ruapehu in 1995 and 1996.

More than 2000 animals died of starvation and exposure to fluorine during the Ruapehu eruption as grass was contaminated by ash."


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