'Effectiveness of Fine Dust Seasonal Management System'... Incheon PM2.5 Concentration Reduced by 25%

Seasonal Management System Implemented from December Last Year to March This Year
Reduction in Pollutant Emissions Due to COVID-19 Impact

Fine dust 'Bad' [Photo by Asia Economy]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) in Incheon over the past four months has decreased by 25% compared to the same period last year.

According to Incheon City on the 22nd, the average concentration of fine particulate matter in Incheon from December last year to March this year was 24㎍ (micrograms)/㎥, down 25% from 32㎍/㎥ during the same period last year.

The number of days with "high concentration" fine particulate matter (51㎍/㎥ or higher) sharply decreased from 17 days to 1 day, and the number of "bad" days (36?50㎍/㎥) also dropped from 35 days to 20 days. Conversely, the number of "good" days (15㎍/㎥ or less) more than doubled from 15 days to 36 days.

The city analyzed that the improvement in air quality was due to a combination of factors, including the implementation of the seasonal fine dust management system and fluctuations in domestic and international emissions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government implemented the seasonal fine dust management system for four months starting in December last year to suppress fine dust generation during the winter season when air quality conditions worsen.

As a result of expanding the upper limit operation system, which operated coal power plants 1 to 6 at only 80% capacity continuously during this period, fine particulate matter emissions decreased by 28%, from 773.5 tons during the same period last year to 554 tons.

Additionally, measures such as restricting the operation of grade 5 emission vehicles, strengthening cleaning of heavily managed roads, intensive monitoring of air pollution emission sites, promoting eco-friendly low-NOx boilers, designating and operating fine dust shelters and heavily managed roads, and designating intensive management zones were implemented.

Furthermore, the city noted that the reduction in pollutant emissions due to decreased factory operation rates domestically and internationally amid the COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to the improvement of air quality.

An official from Incheon City stated, "We will analyze the effects of the seasonal management system first implemented in December last year and prepare the next seasonal management system thoroughly. In particular, to strengthen measures to protect citizens' health, we plan to expand the designation of fine dust shelters and heavily managed roads."

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