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Guatemala volcanoes |
Volcanoes release plumes of ash, dust, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other harmful gases into the air. These chemicals (the most harmful of which is sulfur dioxide) react with oxygen, moisture, and sunlight in the atmosphere to form a type of air pollution called volcanic smog (vog).
Volcanic smog contains a mixture of gases and highly acidic aerosols (tiny particles and droplets), mainly sulfuric acid and other sulfur-related compounds. These aerosols are small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs.
When people breathe in vog, it irritates the lungs and mucus membranes, and it can affect lung function. Volcanic smog is also thought to interfere with the normal functioning of the immune system.
The acidic particles in vog can worsen the following lung conditions:
�Asthma
�Bronchitis
�Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
�Emphysema
Children and people with circulation problems are also more likely to feel the effects of volcanic smog.
-NIH
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