Is vog harmful to my health?
People with pre-existing respiratory conditions are more prone to adverse effects of vog which may include: headaches, breathing difficulties, increased susceptibility to respiratory ailments, watery eyes, and sore throat. The long-term health effects of vog are unknown. On the island of Hawai‘i: Near Kilauea volcano, sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas is a major component of vog. SO2 is an irritant gas that is usually removed or filtered out by the nasal passages. During moderate physical activity that triggers mouth breathing (such as a brisk walk), SO2 penetrates deeply into the airway and can produce difficulty breathing in some individuals, particularly those with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
