Vog: Volcanic Smog
Dec 24th, 2008 by Capsun
Having gone home to Hawaii Island four times in the last several weeks, I got to experience vog and its effects in full force – far more than I would have wanted. Don’t know what vog is? Lucky you – it must mean you aren’t affected by it! As the title to this post says, it is volcanic smog. But I don’t think that does it justice; vog is far more irritating than smog. I know, I go to Los Angeles a lot and I can breathe just fine in the smog. Vog is worse; here’s what I have to put up with:
- Constant itching in the eyes and/or throat.
- A general sense of respiratory irritation.
- It feels like someone is sitting on my chest.
- A persistent hacking cough that doesn’t go away.
I’m not the only one affected by it, either. And for most of the time, I’ve been experiencing some symptoms while on Oahu, so it’s even worse when one is on the Big Island where the epicenter of the vog is right there. The Environmental Protection Agency investigated it and so did a House Special Committee on Vog Effects (LRB Library’s blog has more info).
But in these tough economic times, I doubt we will implement these measures. Just yesterday, we learned that Governor Lingle is proposing complete elimination of the Healthy Start program. So what are we to do?
Here’s how I’ve been coping, especially when I go home to Kona:
- Take Airborne, or Emergen-C, or Zip Fizz. I’m not sure it helps, but it can’t hurt, right?
- Use Puffs Plus with the Scent of Vicks facial tissues. It has a soothing effect and the soft tissue is nice when I’m using it so frequently.
So what about you? Are you even affected? If you aren’t, count your blessings. If you are, how have you been coping? I could use some tips…
Mahalo!
I don’t go outside
Well that’s a simple solution! You live in a new building with better filtration system. I have no AC and many buildings in Kona don’t do much to filter out the vog. But you are right, going outside is far worse.
I have no AC, either, and actually prefer it that way. I love fresh air. I don’t love the vog and it isn’t so fond of me, either!
I have found that when it gets particularly bad on Oahu a pseudoephedrine based anti-histamine is good.
Do not use “gets the red out” types of eye drops. A vaso-constrictor is what “gets the red out” and it actually constricts your blood vessels and slows blood (thus oxygen) getting to your eyes. Such eye drops are fine every once in a while, but not as an allergy remedy. A plain saline type wash is good, though.
1. H2O, and lots of it. More than you usually drink (and that’s saying a lot, iirc from those exp reimb forms). Don’t overdo it, yiou could kill yourself by water toxiicity though!
2. Limit exposure. Stay indoors, minimally exercise.
3. Apples, applejuice, applesauce. Something about it is healing. I use those little cups of applesauce like coughdrops, a little at a time, over an hour or two.
On the positive side, there is some interesting info out about particulate matter being worse than the SO2 gas. On the negative side, the particulate matter is worse in Kona than in Hilo, at the eruption site.
Mele Kalikimaka
I’ll try 1 and 2. I really don’t like apples.
Mahalo and Mele Kalikimaka!
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