Residents with health problems warned vs. Taal volcanic smog

MANILA – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Monday advised residents surrounding Taal Lake to take necessary precautions should the presence of volcanic smog (vog) over Taal Volcano’s caldera continues.

Vog is a type of air pollution caused by volcanoes.

“It consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas such as SO2 (sulfur dioxide) which is acidic and can cause irritation of the eyes, throat, and respiratory tract in severities depending on the gas concentrations and durations of exposure,” Phivolcs said in an advisory.

The agency added those who have health conditions such as asthma, lung disease, and heart disease, as well as the elderly, pregnant women and children are sensitive to the ill effects of vog.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), vog poses a health hazard by aggravating preexisting respiratory ailments.

The sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas could irritate the skin, eyes, nose, throat. Further, the aerosol particles in vog could penetrate the lungs and could induce the symptoms of asthma.

Difficulty in breathing, headache, watery eyes, sore throat, flu-like symptoms, increased susceptibility to respiratory ailments are among the complaints associated with vog exposure, the USGS added.

Phivolcs advised people to stay indoors, use N95 mask and drink lots of water.

The vog resulted from the continued SO2 emission from Taal’s main crater. This was also caused by the atmospheric conditions and the near-absence of air movement.

The SO2 emissions and the steam-rich plumes for the past two days reached up to three kilometers high.

On June 27, the SO2 flux averaged at 4,771 tons per day.

“Atmospheric temperatures of 30 ºC, relative humidity of 75 percent and wind velocities that slowed to 1 to 0 meters/second at near-surface levels prevailed over Taal Volcano Island,” the advisory read.

Taal Volcano has been under alert level 2 (increased unrest) since March 9.

This means that sudden steam- or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within and around the Taal Volcano Island (TVI).

Entry into TVI, Taal’s permanent danger zone, must be strictly prohibited.

Phivolcs has advised local government officials to continuously assess and strengthen the preparedness of previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake in case of renewed unrest.