'The Silent Killer' Approaches... Ozone Threat That Even Masks Can't Block

Ozone, Deadly to Respiratory Diseases
May Cause Fetal Development Disorders
Environmental Science Institute "Seoul Ozone Levels Could Rise Further"

On the 10th, an ozone advisory was issued across Seoul and was lifted at 8 p.m. When ozone concentration increases, it can cause various inflammations in the respiratory system and other areas, leading to illnesses. For this reason, it is also called the "silent killer."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] On the 10th, an ozone advisory was issued across Seoul and lifted at 8 p.m. When ozone concentration increases, it causes various diseases such as respiratory inflammation. It also affects crops, potentially damaging the ecosystem.

This year's first ozone advisory was issued on April 18 in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, and the date of the first ozone advisory has been steadily advancing since 2000.

According to a current issue report on 'Climate Change and Ozone' by the National Institute of Environmental Research under the Ministry of Environment, South Korea's annual average ozone concentration rose from 0.011 ppm in 1989 to 0.030 ppm in 2020.

The number of advisory days also increased about 3.5 times, from 19 days (84 advisories) in 2005 to 67 days (400 advisories) in 2021.

Ozone, a secondary pollutant generated when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere react photochemically with solar energy, irritates the respiratory system and eyes, causing inflammation and worsening lung diseases such as asthma. It can also cause developmental disorders in fetuses. Moreover, ozone damages the ecological environment by reducing crop yields. For this reason, ozone is sometimes called the 'silent killer.'

Additionally, ozone is problematic because, unlike fine dust, it is difficult to avoid. Fine dust particles can be filtered by wearing masks, but gaseous ozone inevitably enters the body.

The main causes of ozone generation include greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting global warming. However, since the recent Ukraine war, greenhouse gas emissions have reached record highs. As the energy supply chain collapsed, the urgent need to secure energy led to prioritizing immediate solutions over the long-term goal of reducing fossil fuels.

In fact, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) in San Diego, California, greenhouse gas emissions measured at the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii last May reached a record high of 421.27 ppm. To maintain a healthy Earth, it is recommended to keep greenhouse gas emissions below 350 ppm.

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Environmental Research forecasted that if the current situation continues, ozone concentrations during summer in Seoul and other areas will keep rising through the 2050s.

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