Pollution over Korea


A toxic haze enveloped the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday after industrial pollutants from China accumulated in the sky due to high temperatures and weak winds, says Chosun Ilbo.

According to South Korea's Environment Ministry, the pollutants began blowing in from China on Monday to pervade the sky over the entire peninsula:

Fine dust density in Songpa-gu, Seoul soared from 42 ㎍/㎥ on Jan. 13 to 189 ㎍/㎥ on Wednesday. The environmental standard is less than 100 ㎍/㎥ daily average. That morning, Bangi-dong at one stage saw 257㎍/㎥, while Nonhyon-dong in Incheon saw 323 ㎍/㎥. The ministry advised the sick and elderly to stay indoors if the daily average density exceeds 200 ㎍/㎥, and everyone to refrain from outdoor activities if the density exceeds 300 ㎍/㎥.

The satellite image is striking and I hope it makes people think about their lifestyles. As more and more products are produced in China, this problem will get worse. Our consumption habits are the source of this, and lets not blame anyone else.

Comments

Pandabonium said…
When I was a kid, it was easy for people in the developed world to pretend their lifestyle didn't have negative consequences. Now it is literally in our faces. Talk about "blow back".
7:39 am, January 19, 2007
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