Seoul Enveloped by Fog, Too Often
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Just like a doomsday scene in a science fiction film, fog has been blanketing every corner of Seoul and its surrounding environment these days. Not only were airplanes grounded, but people also found it difficult to breathe as the fog contains various pollutants and fine particulates.
`We have had an unusual amount of fog this winter,'' said Chung Yong-seung, a researcher at the Korea Center for Atmospheric Environmental Research. ``But the problem is the fog contains contaminants, which have hit a worrisome level.''
Recent observations by the center showed that western parts of the nation recorded the highest dust pollution level this winter with the index of particulate matter smaller than 10 μm in diameter (PM10) soaring to 150 μg/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter of ambient air). Even traditionally clean areas in the middle parts of the city also saw the figure rising to as high as 140 μg/m³.
The fine particles in the air can are easily breathed in and absorbed by the lungs resulting in heart and respiratory disease.
Chung said the air quality has worsened sharply due to the fog. The air quality depends on other elements such as dilution with fresh air, temperature inversions or the amount of wind, he said. ``Even if it's a temporary phenomenon, people need to take an extra care against the polluted air,'' Chung said.
The expansion of a high atmospheric pressure coming from the Asian continent, which usually brings chilly weather to the peninsula, is expected to clear the fog this weekend.
But the stuffy, foggy and smoggy air conditions are unlikely to show any marked improvement throughout the year. The Ministry of Environment said that Seoul and other major cities are now regularly breaching the PM10 limit ― a sign of serious pollution set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In 2006, Seoul recorded a PM10 level of 60 μg/m³, much higher than WTO's limit of 40 μg/m³. Yangju in Gyeonggi Province became the worst area in the nation with a PM10 level of 91 μg/m³.
The average PM10 level of big cities ranged from 60 to 68μg/m³ which is much worse than other international cities such as New York with 22 μg/m³; London, 27 μg/m³; and Tokyo, 32 μg/m³.
To improve the air quality in metropolitan areas, the government invested 208 billion won last year and has increased the budget to 260 billion won this year.
``Environment-related policies tend to need more time to see outcomes,'' an official from the Environment Ministry said. ``But we believe the air quality has been slowly getting better.''
The ministry is seeking cooperation with neighboring countries, especially China, from which the notorious yellow dust comes to Korea in spring, worsening the air pollution.