Fine Dust 'Junggukbal' Confirmation Soon to End... Development of Pollution Source Tracking Technology

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute "Measures Radioactivity in Fine Dust to Trace Pollution Sources"
Patent Completed...Likely to End Fine Dust Responsibility Disputes Between Korea and China

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Domestic researchers have developed a technology that can more objectively distinguish and evaluate fine dust and trace the sources of pollution to determine where it originated. As China denies responsibility for the fine dust covering the skies of Northeast Asia, attention is focused on whether this technology can be used to hold them accountable.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) announced on the 21st that it has developed and patented a technology that analyzes trace amounts of radioactive substances within fine dust to trace the sources of pollution.

Led by Dr. Kim Ji-seok of KAERI’s Hanaro Utilization Department, this technology measures changes in radiation levels of various radioactive substances present in fine dust and uses them as markers. It identifies and verifies radioactive markers mainly found in China-origin fine dust and those mainly found in Korean fine dust to trace back the sources of pollution.

KAERI has been analyzing 35 nuclides in fine dust using neutron activation analysis, and recently succeeded in analyzing an additional five trace radioactive nuclides. Among these, radioactive substances such as Beryllium-7 (Be-7), Lead-214 (Pb-214), and Lead-212 (Pb-212) are being focused on to verify whether they can serve as markers for foreign-inflow and domestic fine dust. Neutron activation analysis involves irradiating the sample with neutrons to transform elements into radioactive isotopes and quantitatively measuring the gamma rays emitted to determine the amount of specific elements. Be-7 is mainly produced in the stratosphere and shows a pathway descending to the ground along with various dust particles. Since a significant portion of fine dust originating from China floats at high altitudes for long-distance transport before descending, it is expected to contain a large amount of Be-7.

Lead-214 (Pb-214) and Lead-212 (Pb-212), which occur in gaseous form from the crust, are measured in various fine dust samples. Due to their short half-lives, they are unlikely to travel long distances and are expected to be present only in domestically generated fine dust. Additionally, the research team expects that by analyzing the ratio of short half-life nuclides to long half-life nuclides and other radioactive substances not found domestically using this technology, they can more broadly interpret China-origin fine dust.

KAERI has also established and is operating independent fine dust monitoring stations in Seoul and Daejeon using this technology. They plan to build a database of various substances contained in fine dust collected at these stations and analyze each substance to accurately identify the origins of fine dust. Furthermore, they aim to provide the public with more precise information about the origins of fine dust by using the amount of radiation emitted from radioactive substances within the fine dust.

Dr. Kim Ji-seok, who developed this technology, said, “We will contribute to proposing more effective solutions for fine dust by analyzing pollution sources based on clear evidence,” adding, “I hope to develop real-time fine dust source tracking technology in the future to help improve air quality.”

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