Air Quality Concerns in Hawaii

As the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii continues to erupt, air quality concerns in the region grow. Officially the most violent eruption in the US since 1980, the Kilauea Volcano continues to release gas and ash into the surrounding areas. Thankfully, at the time of writing, there have been no fatalities but the health of local residents is of increasing concern.

According to the experts toxic gas emissions in the area have doubled over the last 2 weeks. The principal gas, sulphur dioxide, can cause skin irritation and inflammation of the eyes, nose and throat. It is particularly harmful to those people with ongoing respiratory problems, such as COPD and asthma as it can exacerbate symptoms and cause difficulty breathing.