Seoul‘s fine dust level hits record low

Seoul's average fine dust level fell to a record low this year, thanks to the municipal government's anti-pollution campaign and fewer outbreaks of yellow dust from China, officials said Friday.

On more than 50 days in the first four months of 2012, Seoul's air quality improved to the level of Jeju Island, the southern resort island known for its pollution-free environment, the officials said.

The average concentration of particulate matters less than 10 microns in Seoul amounted to 52 micrograms per cubic meter in the January-April period, the lowest level since 1995 when the city's first test produced a reading of 78 micrograms per cubic meter.

In 2003, the average dust concentration in Seoul reached 79 micrograms per cubic meter, while it dropped to 55 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government attributed the gradual reduction of dust density to clean air drive by the city's autonomous districts and a noticeable decline in yellow dust blowing from China.

The government previously released a set of measures to cut emissions of fine particles in the air, double the frequency of its road cleaning and tighten control of air pollutants from construction sites. In addition, it has replaced fuel for most city buses from diesel to compressed natural gas and plans to expand the supply of electric and hybrid cars.

Moreover, 52 days recorded concentration levels of less than 45 micrograms per cubic meter, an increase of four days over the same period of last year, indicating that the city's air is as clean and fresh as that of Jeju Island. On the nights of these days, N Seoul Tower on Mount Nam, located in the center of the city, beamed out a celebratory message. (Yonhap)