| It’s not front-page national news. And the | | | | relatively… quiet news. Except, of course, to |
| story is probably not the hot topic around the | | | | those living on the Big Island, Oahu, Pahala and |
| water cooler. But for the people living in Hawaii, | | | | other affected areas. |
| vog has become an absolute nightmare. Vog, or | | | | As Hawaiians search for a solution, many are |
| volcanic smog, is a mix of noxious sulfur dioxide | | | | turning to air purifiers to purify their indoor air. But |
| (S02) gas and other pollutants that are being | | | | in the haste to eliminate the S02 that is created |
| emitted by the ton from Kilauea Volcano on the | | | | when volcanic gases mix with oxygen and |
| Island of Hawaii. | | | | moisture in the presence of sunlight, many are |
| Air pollution caused by SO2 and other gases | | | | simply grasping for the wrong ones. |
| emitted from Kilauea became a frequent problem | | | | Indoor Air Quality Expert and biochemical |
| on the Island of Hawaii in 1986. Before that time, | | | | engineer, Karen Hand says that while taking |
| the volcano’s ongoing eruption, which | | | | proactive measures to ensure one’s own |
| began in 1983, consisted of short periods of lava | | | | health is critical, choosing the right tool for the job |
| spurting about once every 3 weeks. Since then, | | | | is also essential. |
| the flow of magma to the surface has been | | | | “When you’re dealing with vog, the |
| more pronounced, creating a quiet but constant | | | | composition is primarily of sulfuric acid and other |
| outflow of poisonous gases. | | | | sulfate compounds, but you’re also dealing |
| But in March of 2008, Hawaii’s vog | | | | with small amounts of toxic metals, including |
| situation worsened. Three distinct explosions | | | | selenium, mercury, arsenic and iridium,” said |
| marked the first explosive eruption in the Halema | | | | Hand. “The fact that people are having |
| crater since 1924, when a 20–30 metre | | | | serious health reactions to this is not |
| (65–100 foot) diameter hole was blown in | | | | surprising—it’s a deadly |
| its side. Sulfur dioxide gas emissions increased | | | | combination.” |
| rapidly. On March 13, the Hawaii Volcano | | | | Hand says only air purifiers combing a HEPA filter |
| Observatory (HVO) recorded a rate of 2,000 | | | | and large amounts (at least 18 pounds) of |
| tons of sulfur dioxide emitted per day— | | | | activated, granular carbon will be effective in |
| the highest rate since measurements began in | | | | adsorbing the the noxious sulfur dioxide and other |
| 1979. | | | | pollutants emitted from Kilauea Volcano. |
| The effects have been paralyzing. Residents have | | | | “The worst part about these natural |
| been reporting physical complaints such as | | | | disasters is when you see people taking the |
| headaches, breathing difficulties, respiratory | | | | appropriate steps to protect themselves and their |
| difficulties, watery eyes, sore throat and other | | | | families, but a lack of information and resources |
| flu-like symptoms. Children, the elderly and those | | | | leads them to make the wrong decision,” |
| with pre-existing respiratory ailments have been | | | | Hand said. “Not only are people wasting |
| those hardest hit. | | | | money on purchasing the wrong type of air |
| Residents experiencing respiratory difficulties, who | | | | cleaners, but the cleaners are also ineffective in |
| have lived on the island for generations, are being | | | | providing a healthy and safe environment. |
| told by doctors to leave. The financial loss for | | | | It’s a lose-lose situation.” |
| farmers is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. | | | | Hand works with a team of Indoor Quality |
| Hospitals are scrambling to provide patients with | | | | Experts at AllerAir Industries, an air purifying |
| safe hospital air, with one in Pahala estimating it | | | | company that has been designing air cleaners for |
| would cost the hospital $4.7 million for proper air | | | | close to 20 years. “Crisis management is |
| filtration. | | | | our forte,” she said. “We’ve |
| The pressure is on, and while a special vog | | | | delivered solutions to mold victims in New Orleans, |
| committee has been created to debate the | | | | wildfire victims in California—even air quality |
| situation, no immediate solution has been found. | | | | solutions to athletes participating in the 2008 |
| And unlike the tsunamis that effected South East | | | | Summer Olympics in Beijing. Chemical and gas |
| Asia, the floods in New Orleans and the wildfires in | | | | remediation is what we do. |
| California, Hawaii’s natural disaster is | | | | |