Volcanic eruption successful Bali, Indonesia. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Flights to Bali person resumed aft being grounded owed to eruptions from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki successful Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province. According to Reuters, the volcanic enactment from November 4 to 13, 2024, led to the cancellation of much than 160 flights, with 91 cancellations occurring successful a azygous day—the highest successful the period. Bali’s Ngurah Rai airdrome wide manager, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, confirmed that formation operations are gradually normalising arsenic conditions improve.
Located astir 800 kilometers (497 miles) from Bali’s tourer hubs, Mount Lewotobi’s eruptions resulted successful ash and fume blanketing the region, producing “vog,” abbreviated for volcanic smog. But what precisely is vog, and however tin it impact health, particularly for tourists readying a travel to Bali?
Indianexpress.com spoke with experts to recognize its wellness implications and information measures you tin follow during your visit.
Dr Srivatsa Lokeshwaran, pb advisor and caput of section of interventional pulmonology and lung transplant, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, said that volcanic smog is a signifier of aerial contamination caused by volcanic emissions, chiefly sulphur dioxide. When this reacts with oxygen, moisture, and different atmospheric elements, it creates good aerosols containing sulphuric acerb and sulphate particles.
“Vog is commonly observed adjacent progressive volcanoes but tin question important distances depending connected upwind patterns,” said Dr Lokeshwaran. Even successful mean amounts, vog tin irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs, particularly successful individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
Dr Ravi Dosi, consultant, pulmonary medicine, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore, concurred, saying that successful the agelong term, vulnerability to volcanic smog tin origin chronic respiratory diseases specified arsenic Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). “For patients experiencing acute symptoms, the effects are typically contiguous and see coughing, trouble breathing, thorax discomfort, burning sensations successful the eyes, and a sore throat,” said Dr Dosi.
Volcanic smog poses a perchance harmful and damaging menace to the lungs, which tin person broader implications for the wide wellness of the body.
If the vulnerability persists for an extended period, ranging from a fewer days to respective weeks oregon months, helium said that it tin pb to much terrible wellness issues. Prolonged vulnerability often results successful dyspnea (shortness of breath) during carnal exertion and persistent coughing.
Prolonged vulnerability often results successful dyspnea (shortness of breath) during carnal exertion and persistent coughing. (Source: Freepik)
What are immoderate precautions radical should instrumentality to lessen the damage?
Both experts suggested the pursuing precautions to assistance antagonistic the harmful effects of vog:
Restrict outdoor activities: Outdoor activities, particularly connected precocious vog days, should beryllium avoided.
Use aerial purifiers: Using aerial purifiers erstwhile wrong the location tin amended the aerial quality, particularly successful precocious vog areas.
Use look masks: When stepping outside, N95 oregon akin masks should beryllium worn to support oneself from the harmful elements contiguous successful volcanic smog.
Keep doors and windows shut: Keep each windows and doors closed to debar the introduction of vog into the houses oregon different enclosed spaces.
*DISCLAIMER: This nonfiction is based connected accusation from the nationalist domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your wellness practitioner earlier starting immoderate routine.*
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