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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, June 3, 2002

HAWAI'I'S ENVIRONMENT
Nature contributes to bad air in Hawai'i

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Columnist

We don't have much smog in the Islands, but that doesn't mean Hawai'i is easy on the lungs.

Honolulu doesn't even turn up in the American Lung Association's list of cities with serious air pollution.

The state gets an A grade on the group's state-by-state review of ozone pollution, which is associated with the burning of fossil fuels.

A lot of the air pollution we do have is naturally caused. For those who are at risk for problems with the air they breathe, that can still be dangerous.

The lung association estimates the at-risk groups in Hawai'i include 203,000 kids age 14 and under, 139,000 elderly, 69,000 with asthma, 34,000 with chronic bronchitis and 12,000 with emphysema.

The acrid volcanic haze known as vog causes serious problems for some folks.

Nobody's figured out how to convince Kilauea volcano to stop producing the stuff.

In the wet winter time, molds can be a problem for many people. In the dry summer, dust becomes an issue. Spores and pollen can be threats for those with specific allergies.

Going indoors might not be a solution, either. There have been several reports in the Islands of in-building air problems. Sometimes, it's called "sick building syndrome."

In the home, allergens like pet dander, dust and mold are threats. And in homes that have been sealed and air-conditioned, many residents are worried about trapped toxic agents that may be released by their freshly painted walls, treated wood products, carpets, furniture and bedding.

The clean environment publication, "The Green Guide," suggests residents pay close attention to what they're putting into their environments when they are remodeling, repainting or building new.

"Nothing looks fresher than a newly painted wall. Paradoxically, few household products match conventional paint's toxic sheen of chemicals," the publication says in its May/June 2002 issue.

The guide doesn't say to not paint, but rather to pick your paints carefully and to ventilate painted areas well for a couple of days before moving back in.

One of the recommendations in the issue is the use of indoor plants to help clear the air.

Some plants can reduce carbon dioxide as well as reduce volatile organic compounds in indoor air, the report says. It suggests checking the New York Botanical Garden Web site for more information.

It lists a number of hardy indoor plants, including ferns, figs, palms and other plants, that will do the job.

Jan TenBruggencate is The Advertiser's Kaua'i bureau chief and its science and environment writer. You can call him at (808) 245-3074 or e-mail jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.