Sulfur dioxide from the volcanic eruption can combine with torrential rain to create a dangerous condition.
There's a new threat facing hard-hit residents of Hawaii who are already reeling from recent volcanic eruptions in the archipelago.
The spectacular fountains of lava that have captivated the world are spewing toxic sulfur dioxide gas high into the air , which can combine with the torrential downpours now hitting the islands to produce acid rain, experts say.
"It’s like bleach on your skin," says one expert.
KCBS meteorologist Danielle Gersh outlined the acid rain effect for Inside Edition.
She said: "You have a cloud filled with water droplets and what happens? Take for example Kilauea, all sorts of [sulfur dioxide] and other chemicals that are in the atmosphere as well, and water droplets fall from the clouds as rain they combine with those chemicals and all that sulfur dioxide and creates acid rain."
Demian Barrios is a photographer on the Big Island. He donned protective gear before heading out to shoot in potentially dangerous rain.
"We have a huge rain cloud that seems to be moving in," he told Inside Edition. "We have a large amount of rain that is starting to fall so we are going to have to take some cover."
Rivers of lava have destroyed at least 26 homes.
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