Volcanic Smog: What you can do to avoid it?
The Volcanic Smog or vog has been monitored at Taal Volcano, that causing potential health risks. Here’s are the tips to avoid it.
On Friday, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) stated a warning about the Taal Volcano in Batangas releasing volcanic gases that is harmful for the people and environment.
What is Volcanic Smog or Vog?
According to United States Geological Survey (USGS), they describe vog as a mix of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas and aerosols. It is mostly sulfuric acid or another sulfate (SO4) compounds.
Moreover, this is a result of volcanic gases like SO2 interacting with oxygen, moisture, dust, and sunlight in the atmosphere over a given period.
Philvocs detected the presence of the vog since September 21, Thursday. Its composition depends on lhow much period erupted plume from a volcano to react in the atmosphere.
Effects and Prevention
The chemical and compounds of the vog is quite dangerous to human’s health. It can lead to asthma, for the people who have lung and heart problem, for older people, children, babies, and pregnant women. Long-term or short-term exposure can cause narrowing of airways from your lungs.
Prevention is better that cure. We don’t want this to harm us and to our loved ones. That is why these are the tips to avoid the harmful volcanic smog.
- Avoid too much exposure. It means we need to avoid outdoor activities as much as possible. It is so much better to stay indoors. Keep you window and doors closed toprevent the smog from coming in.
- Wear a N95 facemask. We should protect ourselves and surgical masks are not enough.
- Drink lots of water. It is to help reduce any throat irritation.
- Seek medical help if you experience any severe affects due to the volcanic smog.
Remember this prevention and stay healthy folks!
