Last Year Recorded the Lowest 'Ultrafine Dust' Concentration... 'Good Air Quality Days' Increased by 30 Days

Ministry of Environment Releases Analysis Results of Observations from 503 Urban Air Quality Monitoring Networks Nationwide
Combined Effects of Domestic Policy Impact, Improved International Conditions, and Favorable Weather

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Last year, the annual average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) recorded the lowest level since observations began in 2015, at 18㎍/㎥.

On the 5th, the Ministry of Environment announced the results of an analysis of observation data from 503 urban air quality monitoring networks nationwide.

According to the data, the national annual average concentration has steadily decreased from 26㎍/㎥ in 2015 to 23㎍/㎥ in 2019, and 18㎍/㎥ in 2021. In Seoul, the concentration peaked at 25㎍/㎥ in 2019, then improved to 21㎍/㎥ in 2020 and 20㎍/㎥ in 2021.

The number of days with fine particulate matter rated as "Good" (15㎍/㎥ or below) was 183 days, a 20% increase compared to 153 days in 2020. Compared to 63 days in 2015, this represents a 190% increase. Conversely, the number of days rated as "Bad" or worse (36㎍/㎥ or above) was 23 days, a decrease of 3 days from 26 days in 2020, and 39 days fewer than 62 days in 2015.

The Ministry of Environment analyzed that the lower domestic fine particulate matter concentration last year was due to a combination of domestic policy effects, improved international conditions, and favorable weather.

Despite increased domestic activity levels, the government strengthened management and support for key emission sources to reduce fine particulate matter emissions. In the industrial sector, emissions from 826 workplaces equipped with stack automatic monitoring systems (TMS) decreased by about 5% in 2021 compared to 2020, with total fine particulate matter emissions amounting to 30,873 tons, through measures such as total air pollutant emission allocations for workplaces.

In the power generation sector, four aging coal-fired power plants were shut down in 2021, bringing the cumulative total to 10 plants closed since 2017. During the second fine dust seasonal management period, up to 46 coal-fired power plants implemented upper limit restrictions. In the transportation sector, the number of old diesel vehicles rated as emission grade 5 decreased by 22%, from 1.68 million in December 2020 to 1.31 million in December 2021, due to early retirement of old diesel vehicles.

The continuous decrease in fine particulate matter concentrations in China, which recorded the lowest annual average concentration last year, also contributed to lowering domestic particulate matter levels. As a result of the Chinese government's implementation of measures such as the heating and non-heating season policies, the average fine particulate matter concentration from January to November 2021 across 339 regions in China was 29㎍/㎥, a 6.5% decrease compared to 31㎍/㎥ during the same period in 2020.

Regarding weather, an analysis of the months with the largest decrease (-3 to -4㎍/㎥) in fine particulate matter concentrations from August to October and the month with the largest increase (6㎍/㎥) in March indicated that changes in wind direction and occurrences of yellow dust influenced concentration changes. From August to October 2021, compared to the same period in 2020, easterly winds increased, bringing in cleaner air more frequently and contributing to lower concentrations.

Kim Seung-hee, Director of Air Environment Policy at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "Visible results are emerging thanks to public interest and active participation, such as the closure of aging coal-fired power plants, reduction of emissions from workplaces, support for installation of prevention facilities at small businesses, and reduction of old vehicles rated emission grade 5." She added, "We will thoroughly check the implementation status of tasks under the third fine dust seasonal management system and closely monitor domestic and international fine particulate matter situations to do our best to protect public health during the remaining seasonal management period."

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