Busan Air Quality 'Good'... Busan Institute of Health and Environment Research Finds Airborne Heavy Metals 'Safe'

Reference data on heavy metal concentrations in the air of the Busan area.

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[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The air quality in the Busan area has been found to be at a safe level that does not harm citizens' health.

The Busan City (Acting Mayor Lee Byung-jin) Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 31st that the concentrations of 12 heavy metals included in fine dust, analyzed monthly from five currently operating atmospheric heavy metal monitoring networks, were below environmental standards and thus "safe."

According to the institute, the annual average concentration of lead, for which domestic air quality standards are set, was 0.0146㎍/m3 in 2020, about 3% of the air quality standard (0.5㎍/m3 or less).

Cadmium and manganese were also found to be much lower than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended standards, at 0.0005㎍/m3 and 0.0278㎍/m3 respectively (0.005㎍/m3 and 0.15㎍/m3 or less).

By metal component, crustal-derived elements such as iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), aluminum (Al), and magnesium (Mg) accounted for 94.8%, making up the majority.

Other trace heavy metals accounted for 5.2%. Crustal-derived metals showed the highest concentration in April due to the influence of yellow dust.

By location, the average heavy metal concentration at the Hakjang-dong monitoring station, an industrial area, was higher than in commercial areas like Yeonsan-dong or residential areas such as Deokcheon-dong, Gwang-an-dong, and Bugok-dong.

This is presumed to be due to the influence of about 40 small-scale plating companies concentrated in the Hakjang-dong area, dealing with chromium, nickel, and others. Chromium and nickel concentrations in this area were about 8 to 10 times higher than in residential or commercial areas.

Compared to other cities and provinces, crustal-derived general metals were at similar or lower levels, but the average concentrations of chromium and nickel in industrial areas were higher than those in Seoul and other major metropolitan cities and provinces in Korea.

However, analysis of data from the past five years by the Health and Environment Research Institute shows that chromium and nickel concentrations in industrial areas have generally been decreasing, and evaluations of carcinogenic risk and toxicity indicate levels much lower than those set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, suggesting no cause for concern regarding residents' health.

Busan City plans to strengthen guidance and inspections of plating businesses to improve air quality in industrial areas and prioritize support for these companies in the small-scale business facility installation support project, which has been underway since 2019.

Jung Young-ran, director of the Health and Environment Research Institute of Busan City, stated, "We are carefully monitoring to create an air environment that citizens can breathe comfortably, and in cooperation with related departments, we plan to reduce harmful heavy metal levels in industrial areas to alleviate citizens' concerns about air quality."

The atmospheric heavy metal survey by the Health and Environment Research Institute has been conducted since 2013 at three residential areas, one commercial area, and one industrial area, targeting 12 heavy metal items included in fine dust (PM-10).

Busan City uses this data to establish measures to reduce atmospheric heavy metals and for health risk assessment materials.

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