HONOLULU, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- People in Hawaii should take precautions to protect themselves from air pollution plaguing the popular tropical tourist destination, health officials advise.
The Honolulu Advertiser reported Saturday wildfires have polluted the air in the last month and, when combined with heavy so-called vog, air quality standards fell below acceptable standards twice in the first days of 2010.
Vog is a term used for air pollution caused by gases from a volcano reacting to oxygen, moisture and sunlight.
The increased air pollution in Hawaii caused some residents with respiratory ailments to experience breathing problems and prompted complaints from others.
"The smoke is really bad now," Hawaii resident Karla Sachi offered. "The middle of the night and early morning, it's so strong I think there's a fireplace lit in the middle of my house."
Lisa Young, an environmental specialist with the state Department of Health's Clean Air Branch, told the Advertiser people should remain indoors when possible and make sure all air purifier filters are in acceptable condition.
"The fine particulates -- the stuff you can see when the haze comes to O'ahu -- gets deep into the lungs and that's what they say causes the health effects," Young said.
