The term VOG is commonly used as an abbreviation for volcanic smog. This is a newly coined word which is generally used to describe the air pollution caused due to the volcanic emissions from the Kilauea volcano. The Kilaueu volcano is an active volcano that has been erupting continuously since 1983, on the big island of Hawaii.
VOG is formed when sulphur dioxide released from the vent of the volcano, reacts to the moisture, oxygen, dust particles and sunlight present in the atmosphere to further elevate the toxic effect of the sulphur dioxide. Within a short period of time, it gets converted into fine particles which scatter sunlight causing haze. The density and concentration of VOG depend on the number of volcanic emissions from the Kilauea volcano and is also affected by the weather conditions, such as the direction of the wind.
The people living in areas far downwind of the Kilauea volcano as well as those living in areas with close proximity to the vent of the volcano are likely to be affected by VOG. The effect of this harmful gas is mainly observed in children and adults who are already suffering from respiratory diseases. The immediate effect could be headaches, sore throat, difficulty in breathing and irritation in the eyes, and nose. The long-term effects are however still unknown. Since much is not known about the effect of VOG, there has been an ongoing research regarding whether or not VOG triggers an asthma attack. It is also observed that VOG is not only a challenge to the human population in that region but also to agriculture, infrastructure and tourism.