Vog is a hazy mixture of SO₂ gas and aerosols (tiny particles or droplets) which are primarily sulfuric acid and other sulfate (SO₄) compounds. Aerosols are created when SO₂ and other volcanic gases combine in the atmosphere and interact chemically with oxygen, moisture, dust, and sunlight over minutes to days.

The exact composition of vog depends on how much time the volcanic plume has had to react in the atmosphere. In areas such as the Kona coast, far from Kīlauea Volcano's active vents, aerosols are the main component of vog. Closer to the volcano, vog contains both aerosols and unreacted SO₂ gas.

Additional Information

• What is vog? Hawai‘i Interagency Vog Information Dashboard.
• Volcanic Gas Hazards in Hawaii
• Volcanic air pollution hazards in Hawaii
• Vog: A Volcanic Hazard USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory "Volcano Watch" article originally written in May 1996, and still relevant today.

Vog concentrations are primarily dependent on the amount of SO₂ emitted from Kīlauea, the distance downwind, and the wind direction and speed on a given day. The main wind direction in the Hawaiian Islands is from the northeast (trade winds). From May through September, the trade winds blow 80–95 percent of the time. Consequently, the areas southwest of Kīlauea are most frequently affected by vog. Under trade wind conditions, vog travels around the southern part of the island, and along the Kona coast, where it becomes trapped by daytime onshore and nighttime offshore sea breezes. Most vog stays below 6,000–8,000 feet above sea level, the usual height of the trade wind inversion. This layer of the atmosphere increases in temperature with altitude, inhibiting the rise of cooler, vog-laden air. When trade winds are absent, most often during winter months, East Hawai‘i Island, the entire Island of Hawai‘i, or the even the entire State of Hawaii can be affected by vog.

Communities in the path of summit SO₂ emissions, particularly those nearest the source vent, can be subjected to a very acrid haze that contains both SO₂ gas and acidic particles. The near-vent volcanic plume has had little time to disperse and dilute before reaching downwind communities within about 40 miles downwind of the summit vent.

Additional Information

• Online tool to forecast vog from The Vog Measurement and Prediction Project.
• Volcanic air pollution hazards in Hawaii
• Current Air Quality Conditions Hawai‘i Interagency Vog Dashboard
• Vog Fact Sheets Hawai‘i Interagency Vog Dashboard.

Volcanic activity at Kīlauea Volcano creates the potential for airborne health hazards to residents and visitors. At current emission levels, individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions are the primary group at risk of experiencing health effects from vog exposures, but healthy people may also experience symptoms.

It is very important to take measures to protect yourself if you feel your health is being affected by vog. "Sensitive groups" most likely to experience health impacts include:

• people with asthma or other respiratory conditions
• people with cardiovascular disease
• older adults
• infants and children
• new or expectant mothers

SO₂: Physically active asthmatics are most likely to experience serious health effects when exposed to SO₂. Even short-term exposures can cause narrowing of the airways (bronchoconstriction), causing asthma symptoms. Potential health effects increase as SO₂ levels and/or breathing rates increase. At SO₂ levels considered 'unhealthy' for the general population, even non-asthmatics may experience breathing difficulties. Short-term SO₂ exposure is connected to increased visits to emergency departments and hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses, particularly in "sensitive groups". No one knows the long-term health effects of exposure to volcanic SO₂.

Short-term health symptoms include:

• eye, nose, throat, and/or skin irritation
• coughing and/or phlegm
• chest tightness and/or shortness of breath
• headache
• increased susceptibility to respiratory ailments
• fatigue and/or dizziness

PM2.5: Both long- and short-term particle exposures have been linked to various health problems. High levels of particle pollution are linked to increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits, and even to death from existing heart or lung disease. Low levels of PM2.5 are not considered as problematic for asthmatics as low levels of SO₂ gas.

Particle pollution can cause temporary health symptoms such as:

• eyes, nose and/or throat irritation
• coughing and/or phlegm
• chest tightness and/or shortness of breath

An indirect health effect of vog is associated with the leaching of metals from building and plumbing materials. Sulfuric acid in vog creates acid rain, which can leach lead and copper from roofing and plumbing materials, such as nails, paint, solder, and metal flashings. Leached lead and copper can pose a health hazard when they contaminate drinking water in rooftop rainwater-catchment systems.

Additional Information

• IVHHN information about the health effects of vog
• Scientific research or technical data about the effects of vog on human health
• Information on maintaining home rainwater catchment systems for domestic use
• Volcanic air pollution hazards in Hawaii

Find a detailed list of scientific articles from the Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard.

Sulfuric acid droplets in vog have the corrosive properties of dilute battery acid. When vog mixes directly with moisture on the leaves of plants, it can cause chemical burns, which can damage or kill the plants. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) gas can also diffuse through leaves and dissolve to form acidic conditions within plant tissue. Farmers on Hawai‘i Island, particularly in the Ka‘ū District, have reported losses to agricultural crops and flowers as a result of the recent high SO₂ emissions from the gas vent at Kīlauea's summit.

Additional Information

• Vog damage to plants, agriculture, and livestock from the Hawai‘i Interagency Vog Information Dashboard.
• Scientific research or technical data about the effects of vog on plants and animals
• Native ‘Ohi‘a Lehua Tree Closes its Pores to Volcanic Pollution
• Long-Lived Eruptions May Contribute to Drought Effects of vog on rainfall.

The agency primarily in charge of monitoring Hawai‘i's air quality, including vog and its effects on people, is the Hawai‘i State Department of Health (HDOH). Air Quality is monitored by measuring the concentration of SO₂ gas and inhalable particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5). Stationary air quality monitors that measure particulate levels are located in Hilo, Mountain View, Pahala, Ocean View, and Kona on Hawai‘i Island, and on Maui, O`ahu, and Kauai. DOH also has air monitoring stations for SO₂ on the islands of Hawai‘i, O‘ahu, and Kauai.

The National Park Service (NPS) monitors air quality within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. You can find air quality monitoring data and links to additional resources from the Hawai‘i Interagency Vog Information Dashboard.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park monitors SO₂ within park boundaries to inform the public of hazardous conditions and to mandate closures if necessary. Roads and trails downwind of and leading to Halema‘uma‘u Crater were closed by park officials in February 2008, when SO₂ emissions and ambient air concentrations reached levels that were potentially hazardous to human health. These areas remain closed because SO₂ emissions and downwind concentrations remain elevated, and the threat of sudden eruption from the Overlook vent can produce hazardous conditions downwind of the vent. You can find updated information about closed areas on the National Park's website.

Vog is a hazy mixture of sulfur dioxide gas (SO₂) and particles (PM_2.5) originating from Kīlauea Volcano. Sensitivity to vog varies among people, so all people need to take responsibility to protect themselves and dependent family members, as necessary. Individuals in 'sensitive groups,' such as people with pre-existing respiratory or other medical conditions, are expected to be at highest risk for potential health effects, depending on the amount of emissions, distance away from the vent, and wind direction from day to day.

  Below are suggested actions for limiting impacts of vog:

Prepare for vog exposure:

• Understand the hazard: Get familiar with key air monitoring websites and the SO₂ and PM_2.5 advisory codes/levels.
• Learn about wind conditions: Be aware of winds that could carry vog to your area. This will help you to better keep track of, and predict, when you might be affected by vog.
• Keep medications handy: If you have asthma or other respiratory conditions, keep your medication available and use as prescribed. If you don't have medications, but feel you might need them, call your doctor.

Protective actions when vog is a problem:

• Seek medical assistance as necessary:  Assume that asthma could get worse during periods of high vog. If you are having asthma symptoms, such as trouble breathing, wheezing, increased coughing, or chest tightness, contact your doctor or seek other medical assistance.
• Take care of yourself:
  • Do not smoke: Also, avoid secondhand smoke.
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of liquids to help loosen congestion. Warm or hot liquids in particular may help some people.
  • Manage congestion or irritation: Over-the-counter nasal sprays or eye drops can help reduce upper respiratory symptoms for some people.
• Reduce your exposure to vog:
  • Limit strenuous activities: Outdoor exercise or exertion increases your chances of being affected by SO₂ gas and/or PM2.5. When vog levels are elevated, reduce strenuous activity, if possible.
  • Stay indoors: When vog levels rise, go indoors and close all doors and windows to the outside. Eliminate sources of indoor pollutants (e.g., smoking, candles/incense, and improperly vented fuel-burning stoves) and beware of becoming overheated as a result of closing up your house. If your house is not well-sealed, it may still offer some protection. Alternatively, consider visiting indoor areas that are better-sealed and/or have air conditioning (e.g., commercial buildings or businesses).
  • Reduce indoor vog with an air cleaner: If doors and windows in your house, or in one room of it, can be closed, the use of an appropriate air-cleaning device can help reduce the levels of both SO₂ and PM2.5 (if you live near the source vents), or just PM2.5 (if you live farther from the vents).  
  • Leave the area if appropriate: If indoor areas also have poor air quality, consider temporarily relocating to a less impacted part of the island.
  • Restrict vog from entering your vehicle: If driving through the dense volcanic plume near Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, to minimize air infiltration, temporarily close your windows and vents, and turn your fan and air conditioner off.
• If you are visiting Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HVNP): Follow the advice of Park rangers and posted signs. The National Park Service (NPS) HVNP advisory website provides information on air quality in the park. See links below.
• Respirator or face mask use: The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) does not recommend the use of respirators or face masks for the general public at current vog levels. 'Sensitive groups' such as children or people with pre-existing respiratory conditions should be especially cautious because respirators/masks typically do not fit children and the breathing resistance caused by respirators/masks can worsen respiratory disorders. Respirators/masks may not protect people with beards or mustaches. Many commonly available paper dust masks, bandanas, or surgical masks may not provide any significant protection from either SO₂ or PM_2.5. Safe occupational use of respirators requires correct mask and/or filter cartridge selection, fit testing, physician screening, and training on correct use, maintenance and storage.

Adidtional information

• Interagency Vog FAQ booklet expands on the protective actions presented here.
• Vog dashboard includes comprehensive information about vog.
• University of Hawai‘i Mānoa VMAP Vog Forecast Model provides SO₂ and sulfate particle forecasts based on wind model.
• State of Hawaii Department of Health short-term SO₂ monitoring and advisory includes SO₂ gas data from island-wide monitoring stations.

Advice for visitors to Hawai‘i Island is a resource created for visitors to find information and data about air quality, specifically in the National Park.

Predicting vog concentrations for a short stay in Hawai‘i is as difficult as predicting the weather. Once volcanic gas is in the atmosphere, they cloud is distributed by prevailing winds. Trade, or northeasterly, winds are dominant 80-95% of the time from May through September and can produce poor air quality on the southern and western sides of the island. The east or windward side is more likely to experience poor air quality during trade wind interruptions, which occur more frequently during the winter months. Where and how bad the vog is ultimately depends on wind direction, wind speed, air temperature, humidity, and rainfall as well as the location of the source and amount of SO₂ being emitted from Kīlauea Volcano.

At the levels of volcanic emissions occurring from Kīlauea over recent years, individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions are the primary group at risk of experiencing health effects from vog exposures, but healthy people may also experience symptoms. If you have existing heart and/or respiratory ailments or other conditions that compromise your physical health, or if you are pregnant, check with your personal physician for advice about traveling to any location with poor air quality. While vog does contain acidic particles (as well as elevated levels of SO₂ gas at near-vent locations) it lacks other contaminants typically present in urban or industrial smog, such as ozone, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and heavy metals.

Because of the proximity of the erupting vents, SO₂ and other acid gas concentrations can reach unhealthy levels quickly in some areas within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Elevated vog levels, and poor air quality at the coast, are most common when trade winds are absent. Current air quality and wind conditions can be checked online prior to visiting the park, and people with preexisting respiratory conditions should have their medications available. All visitors should pay attention to park warnings and follow park advisories.

In general, to protect your health, take heed of all advisories released by Civil Defense and other relevant emergency management agencies.

Whether or not you should cancel your trip to Hawai‘i Island is a personal decision that only you can make. To help you make an informed decision, information about vog and air quality in Hawai‘i is provided in the Frequently Asked Questions above, as well as on the IVHHN vog dashboard at ivhhn.org/vog. You can also monitor the volcanic gas plumes and real-time air quality conditions for yourself on local Webcams and air quality advisory websites.

In any given year, there are 50-70 volcanic eruptions around the world, during which water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and other gases are released. Many volcanoes also emit gases between eruptions. The impact of these gases depends on the vigor and duration of the eruption, the proximity of the volcano to populated areas, and wind speed and direction.

Examples of volcanoes that have adversely affected people due to persistent SO₂ emissions include Nyiragongo (DR Congo); Masaya (Nicaragua); Poas (Costa Rica); and Miyakejima, Aso, and Sakurajima (Japan).

• International Volcanic Health Hazard Network Guidelines Volcanic Gases and Aerosols
• Atmospheric Dispersion, Environmental Effects and Potential Health Hazard Associated with the Low-Altitude Gas Plume of Masaya Volcano, Nicaragua
• International Volcanic Health Hazard Measures Taken by Local Officials Against Sulfur Dioxide Emissions from Miyakejima Volcano . Enlarged pdf of Figure 5 and Figure 6.
• Booklet: Living With Miyakejima
• Information, including SO₂ warnings, for tourists visiting the summit of Aso Volcano, Japan [Click Warning tab]
• Fatalities by Inhalation of Volcanic Gas at Mt. Aso Crater in Kumamoto, Japan