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Scientists warned of the dangers of volcanic smog or "vog" coming from the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines, noting it can cause a lung disease called pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Prolonged exposure to vog can lead to lung inflammation and damage. Those most at risk are the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with preexisting heart or lung conditions. While there is no cure, people can reduce their risk by limiting outdoor exposure, closing windows and doors, and wearing protective masks when outside.

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Chelsea Ann Silva
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7 views

Mask

Scientists warned of the dangers of volcanic smog or "vog" coming from the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines, noting it can cause a lung disease called pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Prolonged exposure to vog can lead to lung inflammation and damage. Those most at risk are the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with preexisting heart or lung conditions. While there is no cure, people can reduce their risk by limiting outdoor exposure, closing windows and doors, and wearing protective masks when outside.

Uploaded by

Chelsea Ann Silva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Taal Volcano Spews Out Dangerous Vog

MASK!

Scientists tell us once ashfall started to spew out of the Taal Volcano. News articles encouraged
everyone in the media to wear masks and stay safe.

Everett K. Smith coined "Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis" a lung disease


caused by long-term inhalation of silicon dioxide at their convention in 1935, as an extension of
the medical term pneumonoconiosis.

The dust exposure may lead to inflammation and irreversible damage to the lung tissue,
eventually decreasing the function of the lungs and leading to disability or possibly death. There
is no treatment that can reverse the damage, people who may be particularly sensitive to vog
are those with health conditions such as asthma, lung disease and heart disease, the elderly,
pregnant women, and children.

"Phreatic eruptions occur when water beneath the ground or on the surface receive intense heat
from the mixture of volcanic materials of lava, magma, hot rocks and new volcanic deposits. It
will then cause water to boil and produce steam."

USGS (United States Geological Survey) stated, explaining the term "Phreatic
Explosion/Erosion" that produced Taal Volcano's volcanic ash.

Alert levels from Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) helps the
country prepare for possible hazards that the eruption may cause.

A bizzare occurrence called "Lightning from the volcano" is further explained by Filipino
geologist Mahar Lagmay. These charged particles get separated when plume or ash cloud
ascends during an eruption. When the separation becomes too much, lightning forms to connect
the positive and negative charged particles.

Volcanic smog or vog has been observed over Taal Lake by the Taal Volcano Network.
Continuous upwelling at the Taal Main Crater Lake formed steam plumes that rose 3,000-
meters high before drifting to the north-northwest this happening was recorded September 15,
2023.

PHIVOLCS have previously recorded seismic swarms in communities near Taal Volcano,
making it not-so surprising if an explosion occurs once again.

Although there is no treatment to cure "Black Lung" or the effects of


Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, you can infact slow it down or prevent yourself
from catching it by limiting your exposure to outdoor activities, indoors, also shutting the doors
and windows to block out the vog. Protect yourself by covering your nose, ideally with an N95
facemask. Drink plenty of water to reduce any throat irritation or constriction.

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