Lava flow, Air quality, livability

[cinnaminnacat]

To wit: Will the lava flow make all of puna unbreathable?

Imho, most of Puna could continue to be made livable (at a price$$) as long as its air quality stays good.

Suppose that the june27 lava flow does take one of the predicted paths to the ocean (near hpp/hs ?) for the long run.

How much, what parts of Puna will retain breathable air under that scenario.

[Rob Tucker]

Kinda depends on where you might live and which way the wind blows.

[Punatic007]

I've been doing research on air purification methods and technologies for our current needs. Interestingly enough a dehumidifier is one of the best ways to keep the sulphur dioxide and other gases from vog out of your house. This site gets into it a little as well as some other good info:

http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/~nat_haz/volcanoes/vog.php

Air purifiers with activated carbon and/or creating ions/ozone along with the dehumidifier is the best i've come up with so far. At least at night when you are sleeping your body can do it's daily repair with good air quality. Dehumidifiers are a very high draw appliance, I'm still looking for an effective one with a lower draw.

Anyone else have ideas?

[Punatic007]

Oh yeah, one more thing...

The very expensive vog specific air purifiers also use Zeolites with the activated carbon.

and another thing.....

Mike at home depot says a few inventive types are using a HEPA filter with a box fan.

[MattKarma]

Here in mountain view, VOG has only only occasionally been an irritation; a serious problem one day in particular that I can recall in the two years I have been here, and I am very sensitive to that sort of thing. There is a lot of volcanic dust, however, symptomatic of potential problems.

[PaulW]

Isn't it the case that lava that has flowed that far does not contain SO2 or H2S or both?

[missydog1]

Re the power consumption of a dehumidifier, I can attest that it does horrible things to the HELCO bill. I have needed to use mine sporadically, and it always translates into an OUCH when I get the bill.

Kathy

[lavarat]

You won't have to worry about increased concentrations of SO2. You will still get this gas from the main vents at Puu Oo and the summit just like you are getting them now when the trades shift. The SO2 and most gases in the lava will have escaped into the atmosphere before it reaches populated areas. You can see HVO and CD personnel walking on the lava now without wearing respirators. What you will get from lava is the products of combustion of the materials that the lava burns. If it is not burning anything, you will not get additional gases. However, when the lava reaches the ocean, a different batch of chemicals will be produced when the hot lava breaks down the salts and organic matter in the water. Most of the plume at the ocean entry will be water vapor laced with hydrochloric acid and pulverized lava particles. The closer you are to the ocean entry and in the path of the plume, the more uncomfortable it will be. In my opinion, the gases will not be noticeable a couple of miles from the ocean entry, depending of course on the volume of lava entering the ocean and atmospheric conditions that may force the plume to ground level.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

In Volcano Village, Mauna Loa Estates, and Royal Hawaiian Estates people live within a few miles of Halema#699;uma#699;u Crater, Pu'u 'O'o Crater, and hundreds, if not thousands of cracks in the earth constantly releasing volcanic steam.

When the wind is blowing most if it is sent towards Ka'u, but on quiet nights the smell can be strong. The high concentrations of SO2 corrode metal, look at some of the metal railings on trails in the park. Still, many people live and enjoy the area.

[DoryGray]

I like negative ion generators. Low power consumption & you don't have to shut the windows like w/ dehumidifiers.