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Big Island The Island of Hawaii
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Old 07-16-2013, 01:36 PM
 
5 posts, read 10,589 times
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I'm wondering if I should get one or not.
Thanks in advance.
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Old 07-16-2013, 02:11 PM
 
Location: somewhere in the Kona coffee fields
834 posts, read 1,218,536 times
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Based on how many I see in the thrift stores, folks indeed purchase them. But also toss them again quickly.
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Old 07-16-2013, 03:32 PM
 
Location: North Idaho
32,663 posts, read 48,079,532 times
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For the VOG?
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Old 07-16-2013, 04:28 PM
 
Location: Volcano
12,969 posts, read 28,451,115 times
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Default Air purifiers and VOG

Inexpensive conventional home air purifiers are ineffective against VOG (Volcanic Smog), which is why you see them in profusion at thrift stores. Effective medical grade air purifiers are available, but are in the $1,000 - $1,500 range. Per room.*

According to University of Hawai'i at Hilo research, it's more effective to run an air conditioner or a dehumidifier than it is to run a conventional air purifier, because the ammonium sulfate that causes irritation of eyes and respiratory system is dissolved in fine water droplets in the air, so removing water from the air reduces the irritant.

Alternately, one can neutralize the vog by hanging a towel or cheesecloth soaked with a baking powder solution in front of a fan and blowing air through it. The baking powder chemically neutralizes the ammonium sulfate.

The UHH fact sheets on this are very informative, including an explanation of how vog forms and why the vog in Kona is different from what reaches Hilo.

Coping with vog from Pu'u O'o

Coping with Vog from Halema'uma'u

And for any DIYers, rigging up something like this fellow's air-pump / baking soda solution bubbler could be a good Saturday project. These things work pretty well, if you can stand the noise from the bubbler.

Do It Yourself SO2 Eliminator: The Best Vog Air Purifier



* High grade purifiers: Air Purifiers for Volcanic Smog (VOG)

Last edited by OpenD; 07-16-2013 at 05:27 PM..
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Old 07-16-2013, 04:39 PM
 
1,730 posts, read 3,812,612 times
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My initial thought was that the OP was thinking about allergies, not vog.

OP, what are you concerned about that you'd want an air purifier?
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Old 07-16-2013, 11:20 PM
 
5 posts, read 10,589 times
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I concerned about VOG.
I like the idea of hanging a towel and DIY thing.
I am not going to buy a air purifier.
Thank you!
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Old 07-23-2013, 01:24 PM
 
Location: Moku Nui, Hawaii
11,053 posts, read 24,042,466 times
Reputation: 10911
The guy's idea of an aquarium bubbler in a bucket of baking soda water seems interesting. I may set one up at some point and see how it goes. Vog gives me headaches, although breathing through a handkerchief will usually lessen the effects. A filter mask works even better but those aren't all that comfortable for long term use.

A friend of mine uses an air conditioner when it's voggy, but she doesn't want to run it for long because of the costs.
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