Uncovering the Hidden Dangers: Why Puna, Hawaii, Needs Urgent Health Studies on H₂S and Geothermal Chemicals

wearepuna
Jul 24
5 min read

Blog: Investigating the Health Impacts of H₂S and Geothermal Chemicals in Puna, Hawaii

In Puna, Hawaii, the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) powers 13% of the Big Island’s electricity, a cornerstone of the state’s renewable energy goals. Yet, rising cancer rates, deaths, and severe health issues reported by residents near the plant have ignited urgent calls for updated health studies. Outdated research from the early 1990s fails to capture the impacts of current operations, including emissions of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), pentane, and mercury, especially after the 2018 Kilauea eruption. The book *Brain Robber: What You Don’t Know About Rotten Egg Gas and How It Could Kill You* by Dr. Kaye H. Kilburn, a Yale-trained physician, highlights the dangers of H₂S in Puna, documenting severe health impacts and deaths linked to geothermal emissions. This blog explores why comprehensive studies on H₂S and other geothermal chemicals are critical to protect Puna’s community.

The Concern: Rising Health Issues and Geothermal Proximity in Puna

Puna residents near PGV have long reported ailments—respiratory distress, headaches, neurological issues, and property corrosion—potentially tied to geothermal emissions. While specific 2025 cancer data for Puna is unavailable, the global cancer burden is rising, with 2.04 million new U.S. cases estimated in 2025, per the American Cancer Society. A 1987 epidemiological survey noted a disproportionate number of Puna residents with respiratory problems, suggesting heightened vulnerability to H₂S and other pollutants. The 2018 Kilauea eruption, which threatened PGV’s wells and led to the removal of 60,000 gallons of flammable pentane, amplified fears of toxic gas releases. Community groups like the Pele Defense Fund and Aloha Aina cite ongoing health and cultural concerns, arguing that PGV’s location on an active volcano exacerbates risks.

Dr. Kaye H. Kilburn’s *Brain Robber* (2014) specifically addresses H₂S’s impact in Puna, documenting severe health effects and deaths. Kilburn, a Yale-trained physician and expert in environmental toxicology, conducted studies in Puna and other H₂S-exposed communities. His work highlights cases of neurological damage, respiratory failure, and fatalities linked to H₂S from geothermal operations. For instance, a 1991 blowout at PGV released 180 pounds per hour of H₂S and other toxins (lead, chromium, arsenic, mercury), with a Goddard report noting 123 people reporting health issues, including severe headaches, dizziness, and respiratory distress. Kilburn’s findings suggest H₂S’s neurotoxic effects—impaired balance, memory loss, and depression—may contribute to long-term health decline, potentially linked to rising cancer rates in Puna.

Outdated Studies and Missing 2025 Data

Early 1990s studies, such as the Goddard report following the 1991 PGV blowout, are outdated and limited. They estimated peak H₂S exposures of 131 parts per billion (ppb) up to 10 miles from PGV, exceeding safe levels, but lacked long-term health impact data. These studies predate PGV’s expansion to 46 MW by 2024 and the 2018 eruption, which altered emission profiles. No 2025 data exists to assess current cancer incidence or mortality in Puna, leaving a critical gap. Kilburn’s *Brain Robber* emphasizes that chronic H₂S exposure, even at low levels (0.1–0.5 ppm in volcanic plumes), can cause cumulative damage, yet no recent studies have quantified this in Puna. Modern tools like SEER registries and biomarker analysis could address these gaps, but they remain unused.

Geothermal Chemicals: H₂S, Pentane, and Mercury

PGV emissions include a mix of hazardous chemicals, which include but not at all are limited too:

- **Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S)**: Known for its “rotten egg” smell (detectable at 10 ppb), H₂S causes eye and lung irritation at 0.5–10 ppm, neurological symptoms (headaches, dizziness) at 10–50 ppm, and unconsciousness or death above 100 ppm. Kilburn’s research links chronic low-level exposure (0.1–0.5 ppm) to neurological damage, including memory loss and depression, and suggests it may promote cancers like lung and colorectal through inflammation and oxidative stress. A 2001 study by Legator et al., cited in *Brain Robber*, found a 12.7 odds ratio (95% CI 7.59–22.00) for central nervous system symptoms in Puna compared to unexposed areas, though co-exposures and political controversy limited interpretation.

- **Pentane**: PGV’s binary system uses pentane, a flammable hydrocarbon. During the 2018 eruption, 60,000 gallons were removed to prevent toxic releases. Pentane’s long-term health effects are understudied, but volatile organic compounds may contribute to respiratory and carcinogenic risks.

- **Mercury**: Geothermal emissions contain trace mercury, a neurotoxin and potential carcinogen. The 1991 blowout released mercury alongside H₂S, raising concerns about synergistic toxicity.

- **Synergistic Effects**: The combination of H₂S, pentane, mercury, and volcanic gases (e.g., sulfur dioxide) may amplify health risks through chronic inflammation or DNA damage, as per the Vermeulen framework for colorectal cancer.

Incidents like the 2014 Tropical Storm Iselle, when PGV released 39 pounds of H₂S due to a pressure valve failure, highlight ongoing risks. The EPA fined PGV $76,500 in 2016 for Clean Air Act violations, noting inadequate measures to prevent H₂S releases. Kilburn’s *Brain Robber* warns that H₂S’s neurotoxic effects, combined with other geothermal chemicals, could explain severe health issues and deaths in Puna, yet no comprehensive follow-up studies exist ( why in the world is this even possible? How ?)

Why Urgent Health Studies Are Critical

1. **Severe Health Impacts and Deaths**: Kilburn’s work documents H₂S-related fatalities and severe neurological and respiratory issues in Puna, corroborated by the 1991 blowout’s 123 reported cases. Chronic exposure may contribute to rising cancer rates, but 2025 data is absent.

2. **Environmental Justice**: Puna’s Native Hawaiian population faces disproportionate exposure, as noted by activists like Kalikolehua Kanaele. *Brain Robber* emphasizes the need for studies to protect vulnerable communities.

3. **Policy and Safety**: Hawaii’s 2045 renewable energy goal relies on geothermal expansion, but PGV’s history of leaks (e.g., 2013, 2014) and fines underscores the need for health data to ensure safe operations.

4. **Scientific Gaps**: Advances in cancer research and exposure monitoring can clarify links between geothermal chemicals and health outcomes, building on Kilburn’s findings of H₂S’s neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic effects.

Recommended Actions

- **Exposure Monitoring**: Measure H₂S, pentane, and mercury levels around PGV using air quality sensors, comparing with ATSDR (0.07 ppm for H₂S) and OSHA (20 ppm ceiling) standards.

- **Epidemiological Studies**: Conduct cohort studies comparing cancer rates (lung, colorectal) and neurological disorders in Puna’s geothermal radius to non-exposed areas, building on Kilburn’s findings.

- **Biomarker Analysis**: Assess H₂S exposure (urinary thiosulfate) and oxidative stress markers (8-OHdG) to link geothermal chemicals to health effects.

- **Community Engagement**: Involve Native Hawaiian groups to ensure culturally sensitive research, addressing concerns raised in *Brain Robber*.

- **Toxicological Studies**: Investigate synergistic effects of H₂S, pentane, and mercury in lab models to clarify carcinogenic potential.

Conclusion

The health crisis in Puna, Hawaii, demands urgent studies to investigate H₂S, pentane, and mercury from PGV, as highlighted by Dr. Kaye H. Kilburn’s *Brain Robber*. The book’s documentation of deaths and severe health issues, including neurological damage and potential cancer links, underscores the risks of geothermal emissions. Outdated 1990s studies and missing 2025 data leave residents vulnerable, especially Native Hawaiians facing environmental justice concerns. Comprehensive research is essential to protect Puna’s community, inform Hawaii’s geothermal future, and honor the warnings in Kilburn’s work. The time for action is now.

Write your Hawaii representatives, write the county council, the department of health, the mayors office , everyone and anyone you feel relevant to demand health and water studies in Puna Hawaii.

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