Gyeonggi-do's Air Has Become Cleaner

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Last year, the concentration of heavy metals in fine dust in Gyeonggi-do decreased by 8.2% compared to 2018, showing a clear improvement in air quality.

The Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment announced on the 17th that the analysis of 12 heavy metal items such as lead and arsenic in fine dust (PM-10) from four locations including Suwon, Ansan, Pyeongtaek, and Uijeongbu showed a yearly decrease: ▲2018: 2.2551 μg/㎥ ▲2019: 1.9981 μg/㎥ ▲2020: 1.9745 μg/㎥ ▲2021: 1.8482 μg/㎥.

The institute believes that the Seasonal Management System (December to March), implemented since 2019, has contributed to the improvement of air quality.

The Seasonal Management System is a policy that focuses on controlling sources of fine dust during periods of severe pollution by restricting vehicle operation and shortening business hours at workplaces.

In fact, in Pyeongtaek City, the heavy metal pollution levels in fine dust have decreased significantly since 2019, with cadmium down 14.9%, lead 22.4%, chromium 38.6%, arsenic 48.3%, manganese 61.7%, and most of the 12 heavy metal items showing a reduction rate between 14.9% and 61.7%.

By season, the concentration of heavy metals was highest in spring (2.4347 μg/㎥) and winter (2.4038 μg/㎥), which are seasons with severe fine dust, followed by autumn (1.9738 μg/㎥) and summer (1.1477 μg/㎥).

By region, industrial areas such as Ansan (2.2954 μg/㎥), Pyeongtaek (2.1775 μg/㎥), Uijeongbu (1.9001 μg/㎥), and Suwon (1.7874 μg/㎥) showed higher concentrations.

Park Yong-bae, director of the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment, said, "We are measuring fine dust and air quality to create a comfortable environment where residents can breathe easily," adding, "We will ensure that the survey results are well utilized in measures to reduce fine dust and air toxicity."

Meanwhile, the institute operates an atmospheric heavy metal monitoring network in seven cities and counties for air toxicity evaluation. Among them, Ansung, Gapyeong, and Pocheon were established in 2020 and are not reflected in this survey. The institute plans to expand the monitoring network according to the Ministry of Environment’s air pollution monitoring network installation and operation plan.

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