Haze And Smog Warnings Begin Early In Seoul As Homes In China Start Using Fossil Fuels To Generate Heat Amid The Cold Weather Contributing To Air Pollution
South Korea is suffering yet again from air pollution thought to be blown from China as they start using fossil fuels to warm their homes from the dropping temperature in their country, noted International Business Times Oct. 22.
On top of China's contribution to air pollution, autumn haze in South Korea has also settled over Seoul earlier than expected that officials have already issued a fine dust advisory and encouraged citizens to stay indoors to keep away from the hazardous air pollution.
South Korea's coal power plants, which gives off nitrogen and sulfur oxides, also contribute to the air pollution as tiny dust particles get suspended in the air from the lack of air to blow them away, especially that no rain is expected to fall in the region.
A slight improvement has been observed as weeks went by, but the smog level has been considered the worst for this season.
According to UPI on March 23, airborne dust from South Korea and China contain lead and arsenic that people need to wear protective masks, especially when dust advisory is announced in the nation.
Yellow dust, accounting to 50 percent of the pollution in Seoul, comes from the deserts of southern Mongolia and China is deemed the most hazardous form of pollution. According to the South Korean National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), industrial pollution is gathered by desert dust when wind blows from Beijing to the Korean peninsula, carrying lead, arsenic and cadmium.
The toxic chemicals that are left in the atmosphere contribute to ultrafine dust that researchers have found to be capable to entering the bloodstream and into the lungs.
The current dust level in South Korea is four times the seasonal average, noted Korea Times on Tuesday.
said a NIER official. "Central parts of the country will continue to be under the fine dust advisory if there is no rain."
If pollution from coal-powered plants continue to contribute to air pollution, deaths from pollution-related causes reportedly could reach to 2,800 by 2021.
