Last Year's Fine Dust Concentration at 19㎍/㎥, Lowest Ever: "Impact of COVID-19 and Seasonal Management Measures"

As cold air accompanied by chilly winds arrives, the fine dust concentration shows 'Good' on the 8th, with a blue sky spreading over downtown Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Last year, the annual average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nationwide recorded the lowest level since observations began, at 19㎍/㎥. This is analyzed to be the result of a combination of the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the effects of domestic and international fine dust policies.

The National Institute of Environmental Research announced on the 4th that, after analyzing data from 472 national air pollution monitoring networks across the country, the annual average concentration of fine particulate matter nationwide in 2020 was 19㎍/㎥.

This is the lowest figure since fine particulate matter monitoring began in 2015 (26㎍/㎥). It also decreased by 17.4% (4㎍/㎥) compared to 2019 (23㎍/㎥), marking the largest annual decrease since 2015.

According to the institute, the number of days with fine particulate matter levels classified as "bad" or higher (36㎍/㎥ or above) last year was a total of 27 days, which is 20 days fewer than in 2019, the lowest since observations began. The number of "good" days (15㎍/㎥ or below) was 154 days, an increase of 39 days compared to two years prior, making it the clearest year on record.

In particular, while there were 6 days classified as "very bad" (76㎍/㎥ or above) in 2019, none occurred last year.

Looking at the trend of fine particulate matter concentration reduction by period, the decrease in concentration from January to March, when the seasonal management system was implemented, was between 9 and 18㎍/㎥ compared to the same period the previous year, which was greater than the decrease from April to December.

March of last year showed the most significant improvement in concentration, with a nationwide decrease of 18㎍/㎥ and a 21㎍/㎥ decrease in the metropolitan area compared to the same month the previous year.

An official from the Ministry of Environment explained, "In January, before the impact of COVID-19, China saw an increase in concentration compared to the same month in 2019, but South Korea showed a clear trend of concentration reduction starting from January."

By region, the improvement in fine particulate matter concentration was significant in Chungbuk (7㎍/㎥↓), Sejong and Jeonbuk (6㎍/㎥↓). The improvement was relatively smaller in Daegu (2㎍/㎥↓), Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeju (3㎍/㎥↓).

Among the four air quality management zones?capital area, central region, southern region, and southeastern region?the central region, which includes the Chungcheong area, saw a 5㎍/㎥ decrease in fine particulate matter concentration compared to the previous year, while the other zones saw a 4㎍/㎥ decrease.

The Ministry of Environment stated that the causes of the improvement in fine particulate matter concentration last year were a combination of ▲domestic policy effects ▲China’s continuous trend of fine dust improvement ▲the impact of COVID-19 and ▲favorable meteorological conditions.

Domestically, the first seasonal fine dust management system was introduced and implemented from December 2019 to March 2020. During this period, strong fine dust measures were promoted, including tightening emission standards for pollutants from workplaces.

China also implemented fine dust measures, reducing the annual average concentration of fine particulate matter in 337 regions from 62㎍/㎥ in 2014 to 31㎍/㎥ in 2020 (January to November), a 50% decrease over six years.

The Ministry of Environment said, "There are limitations in accurately analyzing the impact of COVID-19," but added, "Considering the decrease in national final energy consumption, the number of ship arrivals and departures, and the number of flights, it is judged that COVID-19 had an impact."

Regarding meteorological characteristics, the nationwide average precipitation in 2020 was 1588.3㎜, a 34.1% increase compared to 1184.7㎜ in 2019. The number of stagnant air days (days with average wind speed of 2m/s or less) was 245 days last year, a 4.3% decrease compared to 256 days in 2019.

Kim Young-woo, head of the Climate and Air Research Division at the National Institute of Environmental Research, said, "High concentrations of fine dust can occur at any time due to external factors such as weather," and added, "We will not let our guard down and will strengthen sectoral measures in industry, transportation, and power generation in line with the government’s carbon neutrality strategy to simultaneously reduce fine dust and greenhouse gases."

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