South Korea has seen a drastic increase in the monthly average levels of ultra fine dust in January, compared with data recorded over the previous three years. But research also shows 75-percent of the ultrafine dust air pollution last month came from external sources.
Lee Seung-jae has the details.
January was a terrible month for air quality in South Korea. The capital, Seoul, saw its highest average monthly levels of ultrafine dust in over three years.
According to the National Institute of Environmental Research, the average level of ultrafine dust particles, those smaller than 2-point-5 micrometers in diameter, was recorded at 38 micrograms per cubic meter in Seoul last month, the highest level since 2015 when the government began tracking data on the country's ultrafine dust levels.
On Wednesday,... the state-run environment agency said,... that external sources accounted for 75-percent of the nation's ultrafine dust air pollution in January.
External sources from China, Mongolia, North Korea and Japan were responsible,... for the drastic rise in dust levels between January 11th and January 15th.
Although the agency didn't specify one nation,.. considering wind direction and the amount of emissions,... China is presumed to have the largest impact on South Korea.
The environment ministry says it plans to hold a working-level consultation on the issue when South Korea, China and Japan hold a trilateral policy meeting on February 20th.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.