Incheon City's 6th Seasonal Management Period Records Lowest Ever PM2.5 Concentration

Incheon City announced on May 9 that the average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during the 6th Seasonal Fine Dust Management Period, which ran from December last year to March this year, was 23.5 ㎍/㎥, representing a 5.2% decrease compared to the 5th management period.

This is the lowest level recorded since the introduction of the seasonal management system in 2019, and it is analyzed as a visible achievement of Incheon City's air quality management policies.

During the same period, the number of days with a "Good" PM2.5 concentration (15 ㎍/㎥ or less) reached a record high of 39 days. However, due to frequent yellow dust events and stagnant atmospheric conditions in the spring, the number of days with a "Bad" PM2.5 concentration (exceeding 35 ㎍/㎥) increased by 4 days year-on-year, totaling 25 days.

To rapidly reduce PM2.5 concentrations during high pollution episodes, the city implemented three emergency reduction measures and two preliminary reduction measures, respectively.

Fine dust concentration during the seasonal management period. Incheon City

During this seasonal management period, the city promoted 20 fine dust reduction projects across four sectors: transportation, industry and power generation, intensive management of fine dust in public living spaces, and fine dust information provision and public awareness. Key initiatives included the implementation of alternate-day driving restrictions for administrative and public institution vehicles, shortening of work processes with high fugitive dust emissions at construction sites, restrictions on the operation of grade 5 emission vehicles, lowering the operating rates of major air pollutant-emitting businesses (categories 1 to 3), and enhanced cleaning of main and vulnerable roads.

An Incheon City official stated, "As a result of implementing the 6th Seasonal Fine Dust Management Period, PM2.5 concentrations have improved by approximately 27% compared to the same period in 2018, before the system was introduced. Moving forward, we will continue to pursue customized fine dust reduction policies that reflect local characteristics such as thermal power plants, ports, airports, and industrial complexes. We will also establish a cooperative system with related agencies to protect the health of our citizens."

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