Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Tuesday 29 May 2018
Besides lava and ash, Hawaii volcano is pumping out 'vog'

By JENNIFER SINCO most affected.
KELLEHER Kilauea is erupting on
Associated Press Hawaii's largest island, so
HONOLULU (AP) — Kilauea there are plenty of areas
volcano on Hawaii's Big that aren't suffering from
Island has had it all over the the effects of vog.
past three weeks: molten "My phone's been ringing
rock shooting toward the off the hook," said Steven
sky, lava oozing from the Businger, chairman of
ground and ash clouds the University of Hawaii's
rising miles into the air. atmospheric sciences
You can also add "vog" to department. "A little old
the mix. lady out of Minnesota
Scientists say higher sulfur wants to know if she should
dioxide emissions recorded cancel her vacation — that
at the volcano's vents in kind of thing."
recent days are creating He told her not to cancel
the potential for heavier because the vog was
than usual vog, or volcanic blowing away from her
smog. So far, trade winds planned destination, the
have been mostly blowing Big Island resort town of
the gray haze offshore. Waikoloa.
WHAT IS VOG? Businger also runs the
Volcanic smog, or air Vog Measurement and
pollution, is created by In this May 23, 2018, photo provided by Chris Stewart the sun sets through “vog,” or volcanic Prediction Project. The
vapor, carbon dioxide and smog, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. website provides current
sulfur dioxide gas released Associated Press vog conditions for various
from Kilauea. It reacts in the up of Hawaii, U.S. and to the May 3 eruption. Green's mom, Natasha sites around the Big Island.
atmosphere with oxygen, international agencies. People living miles from Green, who lives on the IS THE VOG WORSE NOW?
sunlight, moisture and other The U.S. Geological Survey the eruption are paying Kona side of the island, said With an increase in
gases and particles. In a said sulfur dioxide emissions attention to the amount of the vog was particularly emissions, there's more
matter of hours or days, it from the volcano have noxious fumes pouring out bad on Tuesday. "It makes vog, said Lisa Young,
converts to fine particles more than doubled since of the volcano because it it very hard to breathe," environmental health
that scatter sunlight, the current eruption began. creates potential for more she said, adding that her specialist for the state
creating a haze that Kilauea was belching vog. other symptoms include health department's Clean
can be seen downwind 15,000 tons (13,607 metric WHAT ARE THE HEALTH coughing and watery and Air Branch.
of Kilauea, according tons) of the gas each day, IMPACTS? stinging eyes. Bruce Corker, a Kona
to The Interagency Vog up from 6,000 tons (5,443 "Everyone is having She's had to use an inhaler, coffee farmer, has noticed.
Dashboard, which is made When he looks down from
metric tons) daily prior symptoms now on some which she doesn't need his farm at Kailua Bay, it's
Scientists find opioids level," said Dr. Josh Green, when there isn't vog. hard to make out the water
a
state
and She's a former smoker, "so
senator
because it's the same gray
in Puget Sound mussels emergency room physician that's probably part of the color as the sky.
who has been volunteering problem," she said.
in communities where lava WHO IS AFFECTED? "For me, it's just visual,"
SEATTLE (AP) — Scientists who track pollution have fissures have opened in Vog can affect areas far he said. "I don't feel any
discovered traces of the pain reliever oxycodone in neighborhoods. from the volcano, including effects on my lungs. I don't
some Puget Sound mussels. Washington Department Symptoms for generally the western side of the smell anything."
of Fish and Wildlife obtained clean mussels from Penn healthy people can include Big Island and even other Corker, who grew up
Cove on Whidbey Island and put them in different burning eyes, headaches islands. in Southern California,
areas to test for water contamination, KIRO-TV and sore throats. But those But lately, trade winds have compares vog to "Los
reported this week. Scientists worked with the Puget with asthma or other been blowing most of the Angeles-like smog."
Sound Institute to analyze the data and discovered respiratory problems can vog offshore. The National WHAT ELSE?
three out of 18 locations came back positive for trace end up hospitalized. Weather Service said it Retired photojournalist
amounts of oxycodone. Two were near Bremerton's Those who are healthy, expected trade winds to Chris Stewart says there's
shipyard and one was in Elliot Bay near Harbor physically active and don't slow this weekend, creating one good thing about vog:
Island in Seattle. Puget Sound Institute scientist Andy smoke can usually tolerate hazardous air quality. It intensifies the colors of a
James, who assisted with the study, said the areas basic symptoms, Green With trade winds, sunset.
where the oxycodone-tainted mussels were sampled said, adding hospitals are communities where lava But it depends on how thick
are considered highly urbanized and are not near seeing more patients with fissures have opened and the haze is. "Some days it's
commercial shellfish beds.q difficulty breathing. those downwind are the thin enough you can see
the sun passing through,"
he said. "But other days we
just go inside because we
can't see it at all."
Stewart said he's grateful to
be living on the Big island's
west side — away from the
volcano.
"I almost feel guilty enjoying
our sunsets," he said.q