The Korea Herald > National > Social affairs Worst fine dust of year blankets nation
Published : 2017-05-06 12:11 Updated : 2017-05-06 12:11
The worst fine dust of 2017 blanketed much of South Korea on Saturday, as the authorities issued health warnings against the sandy, chemical-laden wind from China.
The National Institute of Environmental Research said fine dust warnings have been issued in 12 cities and counties nationwide as of 7:30 am Seoul and a few other regions have been placed under an advisory.
The fine dust warning is issued
when an hourly average dust concentration
of more than 300 micrograms
per cubic meter (㎍/㎥)
is expected to last
for more than two hours.
The concentration of more than 150 ㎍/㎥ lasting
longer than two hours
leads to an advisory.
When these warnings or advisories are in place,
people are advised
to stay indoors
or wear protective masks
if they must venture outside.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said
dust particles are expected to remain
on the peninsula through Sunday.
Originating from the deserts
in southern Mongolia and northern China,
the dusty air flew
into the Korean Peninsula
on a strong wind
over the weekend.
As of 9 am,
Seoul’s atmospheric concentration levels
of “particulate matter-10” pollutants
reached 235 ㎍/㎥.
PM-10 refers
to airborne particles 10 micrometers
or less in diameter.
Epidemiological evidence indicates
that exposure to such pollutants causes
cardiac and respiratory problems.
A study conducted
from May 2015 to December 2016
showed last Thursday
that 55 percent of the fine dust particles
in the capital
come from abroad,
up from 49 percent
in 2011.
Saturday is the second day of a three-day weekend,
which began with Children’s Day on Friday.
With poor air conditions
apparently keeping many indoors,
major highways were relatively empty
in the morning hours,
according to the Korea Expressway Corp.
(Yonhap)
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