Check Ultrafine Dust Levels on Subway Platforms with Mobile App 'InAir'

Indoor Air Quality Management Integrated Information Network Mobile App Screen Example.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Starting next month, the concentration of ultrafine dust on subway platforms will be easily accessible via smartphone applications.

The Ministry of Environment and the Korea Environment Corporation announced on the 30th that from the 1st of next month, the concentration of ultrafine dust in underground stations nationwide will be provided in real-time through the Indoor Air Quality Management Integrated Information Network website and the mobile app 'InAir.'

This provision of ultrafine dust concentration information in underground stations follows the amendment of the Indoor Air Quality Management Act in April 2019, which required local governments managing underground stations and public transportation operators to install automatic ultrafine dust measuring devices and disclose the measurement results.

To this end, the Ministry of Environment has supported the installation of automatic ultrafine dust measuring devices in underground stations nationwide, while the Environment Corporation has developed the website and mobile app to provide the measurement results.

The measuring devices monitor the ultrafine dust concentration on platforms where passengers mainly stay, and the results are disclosed through the Indoor Air Quality Management Integrated Information Network.

Additionally, in most underground stations, ultrafine dust concentrations can be checked via measuring devices or separately installed display devices. The Ministry of Environment plans to support the installation of display devices in all underground station concourses and on both the up and down platforms.

Underground station managers will establish their own guidelines to improve air quality by strengthening the operation of air purification facilities such as ventilation systems and air purifiers, inspecting filters, and performing wet cleaning to remove dust indoors when ultrafine dust concentrations reach certain levels. Furthermore, the relevant local governments will guide proper management to maintain indoor ultrafine dust concentrations in underground stations below the maintenance standard (50㎍/㎥) through inspections and pollution tests. For underground stations where ultrafine dust concentrations remain consistently high, station managers and local governments must develop and implement more fundamental measures such as facility improvements.

Park Yong-gyu, Director of Environmental Health Policy at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "Due to their structural characteristics, underground stations tend to have high indoor fine dust concentrations, but as they are facilities used by many people, proper indoor air quality management is essential. With this information disclosure, the public can easily understand the ultrafine dust levels of the subway and railway underground stations they use regularly, and on-site personnel can utilize real-time measurement results to strengthen air quality management at stations."

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