Sejong, Fine Dust Situation 'Clear'... Impact of Seasonal Management and COVID-19

Provided by Sejong City

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The fine dust situation in the Sejong area recorded clear conditions. This is interpreted as a result of a decrease in local air pollutant emissions, combined with meteorological conditions and the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

According to Sejong City on the 16th, during the ‘Fine Dust Seasonal Management Period’ from December last year to last month, the average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was 29㎍/㎥, about 28% lower than the 40㎍/㎥ recorded during the same period last year.

Additionally, analysis of data from the city’s Health and Environment Research Institute’s air monitoring network showed that over the past four months, the number of days with good fine dust levels (15㎍/㎥ or below) increased more than threefold from 8 days to 25 days, while the number of days with poor levels (36㎍/㎥ or above) decreased by 21 days from 58 to 37 days.

The city interprets the improvement in air quality as a complex effect of reduced air pollutant emissions due to the seasonal management policy, meteorological conditions such as precipitation and gusts, and fluctuations in domestic and international pollutant emissions caused by COVID-19.

For example, during the period when the fine dust seasonal management policy was implemented, intensified reduction policies were promoted during specific periods when high concentrations of fine dust frequently occur, helping to reduce the frequency and intensity of high concentration occurrences.

This system operates 18 tasks across 6 sectors in 2 fields with the aim of lowering fine dust concentrations from December to March, when high concentrations tend to worsen. Sejong began its first implementation in December last year.

The main seasonal management measures include ▲focused monitoring of illegal emissions and inducing voluntary reductions ▲strengthening reduction measures in the transportation sector, including old vehicles and construction machinery, which are major sources of fine dust ▲enhanced reduction measures and monitoring for roads and construction sites.

Additionally, ▲preemptive management and thorough facility inspections for facilities used by sensitive and vulnerable groups ▲providing safe places free from fine dust ▲active information provision and publicity to encourage citizen participation and behavioral changes are carried out simultaneously.

In particular, the ‘Fine Dust Monitoring Team,’ which worked in coordination with enforcement departments, focused on improving public awareness by promptly handling complaints about illegal activities, encouraging voluntary reductions at workplaces, and conducting guidance activities to prohibit illegal burning.

Furthermore, the city contributed to alleviating difficulties faced by small businesses and local residents’ complaints by promoting reductions in the transportation sector such as early scrapping of old vehicles (1,874 units), installation of emission reduction devices on construction machinery and old vehicles (79 units), and support for purchasing eco-friendly vehicles. It also launched the first support project in the Chungcheong region for installing air pollution prevention facilities targeting small-scale businesses, improving 31 prevention facilities at 13 business sites.

The city plans to continue implementing fine dust reduction measures, including designating and managing areas with high fine dust concentrations and dense facilities used by vulnerable groups as fine dust intensive management areas until July.

A city official said, “We will carefully analyze the results of this year’s first seasonal management policy, improve any shortcomings, and prepare for the next seasonal management period. In particular, through the operation of the ‘Fine Dust Countermeasures Committee with Citizens,’ we will continuously discover and implement fine dust reduction measures that citizens can feel.”

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