Starting Next April, Real-Time Nationwide Subway Platform Fine Dust Levels Will Be Publicly Available

Enforcement of Revised 'Indoor Air Quality Control Act' Subordinate Legislation... Strengthened Fine Dust Management in Public Transportation
New Air Quality Guideline 'PM2.5 50㎍/㎥' Established... Promotion of Measures to Support System Implementation

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Regulations on fine dust inside public transportation vehicles such as subways and intercity buses will be strengthened. Starting April next year, the fine dust concentration at all subway platforms nationwide will be disclosed in real time.

The Ministry of Environment announced that the revised subordinate legislation of the 'Indoor Air Quality Management Act,' which strengthens regulations on ultrafine dust management inside public transportation vehicles, will be enforced from the 3rd.

According to the revised subordinate legislation, air quality measurement in public transportation vehicles such as subways, railways, and intercity buses will be mandatory. Transport operators must measure and report the indoor air quality (ultrafine dust, carbon dioxide) of vehicles corresponding to 20% of their fleet or formations at least once a year.

However, to reduce the measurement burden on some large-scale transport operators (3,000?4,000 vehicles) such as intercity buses, the maximum measurement scale is limited to 50 vehicles.

The recommended indoor air quality standard for public transportation vehicles changes from fine dust (PM10) to ultrafine dust (PM2.5). A new recommended standard of 50㎍/㎥, the same level as general multi-use facilities, has been established.

By March 31 next year, automatic ultrafine dust measuring devices will be installed at all subway station platforms nationwide. From April 1 next year, the measurement results will be disclosed in real time through electronic display boards inside stations and the comprehensive indoor air quality management information network (www.inair.or.kr/info).

This revision also expands the children's play facilities subject to indoor air quality management under the Indoor Air Quality Management Act. All types of daycare centers and indoor children's play facilities with a total floor area of 430㎡ or more will be subject to the act. Previously, the law applied only to national/public, workplace, corporate, and private daycare centers.

The Ministry of Environment is promoting support measures for system implementation following this legal revision. It is providing support for the installation costs of automatic ultrafine dust measuring devices installed at station platforms. Along with this, projects to install air purification facilities in subway stations and vehicles and to improve dust collection efficiency in tunnels where fine dust concentrations are constantly high are being supported.

Plans are in place to support indoor air quality measurement, diagnosis, and improvement consulting for facilities used by sensitive groups such as children's play facilities and elderly care facilities.

Hamina, Director of Environmental Health Policy at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "With this revision of the subordinate legislation, air quality management in public transportation is strengthened, and the basis for real-time indoor air quality measurement and information disclosure has been clarified. We will prepare various support measures to help implement the system, accelerate indoor air quality improvement, and provide practical assistance to protect public health."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.