[Ads-l] laze

Chris Waigl chris at LASCRIBE.NET
Mon May 21 18:13:36 UTC 2018


As far as the scientific literature is concerned, there is a little
flurry of mentions of laze in 1991, which may or may not be the origin
of the term. It's linked explicitly with the Hawai'i volcanic hotspot
and even Kilauea. It may be going back to "Case Studies: Exposures to
Volcanic Emissions from the Hawaiian Volcanoes: A NIOSH Health Hazard
Evaluation" from 1991
(https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1047322X.1991.10387905?journalCode=uaoh20),
that is, the report provided by the US National Institution for
Occupational Safety and Health in 1991 following the request it received
in 1990 by the National Park Service  to "evaluate park employees'
exposures to volcanic emissions (both gases and particulates)" at the
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The introduction mentions "acid mists
when lava enters the ocean", and according to the Google Scholar search
snippet, the text later uses the word "laze".

But sometimes the word is still spelled as if it was an acronym in the
1990s. For example in "Characterization of air contaminants formed by
the interaction of lava and sea water "
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1567144/) we have this
abstract:

===

We made environmental measurements to characterize contaminants
generated when basaltic lava from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano enters sea
water. This interaction of lava with sea water produces large clouds of
mist (LAZE). Island winds occasionally directed the LAZE toward the
adjacent village of Kalapana and the Hawaii Volcanos National Park,
creating health concerns. Environmental samples were taken to measure
airborne concentrations of respirable dust, crystalline silica and other
mineral compounds, fibers, trace metals, inorganic acids, and organic
and inorganic gases. The LAZE contained quantifiable concentrations of
hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hydrofluoric acid (HF); HCl was predominant.
HCl and HF concentrations were highest in dense plumes of LAZE near the
sea. The HCl concentration at this sampling location averaged 7.1 ppm;
this exceeds the current occupational exposure ceiling of 5 ppm. HF was
detected in nearly half the samples, but all concentrations were <1 ppm
Sulfur dioxide was detected in one of four short-term indicator tube
samples at approximately 1.5 ppm. Airborne particulates were composed
largely of chloride salts (predominantly sodium chloride). Crystalline
silica concentrations were below detectable limits, less than
approximately 0.03 mg/m3 of air. Settled dust samples showed a
predominance of glass flakes and glass fibers. Airborne fibers were
detected at quantifiable levels in 1 of 11 samples. These fibers were
composed largely of hydrated calcium sulfate. These findings suggest
that individuals should avoid concentrated plumes of LAZE near its
origin to prevent over exposure to inorganic acids, specifically HCl.

===

There are about a dozen of subsequent articles and agency reports
referring to laze with definitions such as": This condition produces a
localized
atmospheric hazard known as lava haze or laze which can contain as much
as 10 to 15 parts per million of hydrochloric acid."

On a side note, a mix of HCl and HF mist sounds pretty terrible.

Chris


On 5/21/18 4:41 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> CNN chyron:
>
> "Lava Pours Into Pacific Ocean Causing 'Laze'"
>
> CNN human:
>
> "Laze: lava plus haze."
>
> JL
>

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