Originally Posted by
akofner
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to have to rethink some of this. My wife will be 6 months pregnant and Mauna Kea is not rec'd for pregnant women. Anyone have any experience with this?
Another potential hazard for pregnant women to be aware of is the vog [as mentioned by
OtisPDriftwood, above]. This caution is from the USGS:
What is "vog" and who is at risk breathing it?
"Vog" (volcanic smog) is the visible haze that forms when irritating sulfur dioxide and other volcanic gases combine and interact chemically with oxygen, moisture, dust, and sunlight. Kilauea emits about 2,000 tons of sulfur dioxide each day during eruption, now mainly from the still-open vent at Pu‘u ‘O‘o.
Trade winds commonly disperse the volcano's gases, so that the concentration is not generally hazardous. However, sulfur dioxide fumes can be concentrated near ground cracks along and down-wind from lava tubes.
Concentrated sulfur dioxide fumes put all people at risk, but particularly those persons with breathing problems (such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and heart difficulties, pregnant women, infants, and young children. If sulfur-fume concentrations begin to cause you physical distress, you should leave the area.
Last edited by dhacker; Aug 6, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Reason: noticed OtisPDriftwood's prior post