Gyeongbuk Province Implements Ozone Alert System Across the Region ... Effective from April 15 to October 15

Gyeongbuk Province will operate the 'Ozone Alert System' across the entire region for six months from April 15 to October 15.

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[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] The Gyeongsangbuk-do Institute of Health and Environment Research will operate the ‘Ozone Alert System’ across the region for six months from the 15th of this month to October 15th.

The Ozone Alert System is implemented to minimize damage to residents' living environments and health by promptly issuing alerts when ozone concentrations in the air exceed environmental standards, as concerns about high concentrations of ozone increase during the summer season.

The institute measures ozone concentrations hourly through 47 urban air monitoring stations in 23 cities and counties across the region.

An advisory is issued when the maximum ozone concentration in the air reaches 0.12 ppm or higher, a warning at 0.3 ppm or higher, and a severe warning at 0.5 ppm or higher.

In recent years, ozone advisories were issued 41 times in 2019, 33 times in 2020, and 41 times in 2021, with high concentrations of ozone frequently occurring in the eastern region.

Additionally, the number of days with ozone advisories has shown an increasing trend annually: 11 days in 2017, 15 days in 2018, 15 days in 2019, 11 days in 2020, and 23 days in 2021.

This year, the issuance of ozone advisories is also expected to increase compared to last year.

Ozone is a secondary air pollutant generated not directly from pollutants emitted by cars and factories, but through photochemical reactions of atmospheric pollutants with ultraviolet rays.

It mainly occurs in the strong sunlight afternoons from May to September, has strong oxidizing power, and at high concentrations, it irritates the respiratory system and eyes, adversely affecting health and damaging crop growth.

When an ozone advisory is issued, the elderly, respiratory patients, and infants should refrain from outdoor activities, and unnecessary car use should be suppressed by following behavioral guidelines.

By subscribing to the ‘Ozone and Fine Dust Forecast Text Service’ under ‘Real-time Air Information’ on the Gyeongsangbuk-do website, residents can receive related information on their mobile phones when an ozone advisory is issued.

Baek Haju, Director of the Gyeongbuk Institute of Health and Environment Research, said, “We will strive to promptly inform air quality information so that residents do not suffer additional difficulties from air pollution such as fine dust or ozone during the challenging times of COVID-19.”

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