Korean Job Discussion Forums

[creeper1]

I dont accept those figures. If they are real, they are merely fleeting and not at all typical.

We are efl teachers in Asia. western countries air.quality is irrelevant.

The two big efl markets are Korea and China.

That is what it makes sense to compare.

[World Traveler]

You think the figures are fake? Why would they be?

Seoul is 175. That's bad. http://aqicn.org/city/seoul/

Singapore is 55. That's not so bad. http://aqicn.org/city/singapore/central

Bangkok is 39. That's good. http://aqicn.org/city/bangkok

Sydney is 25. That's even better. http://aqicn.org/city/sydney

Beijing is 362. That's horrendous. http://aqicn.org/city/beijing/

[World Traveler]

Ugh. Worse today.

Incheon: 215 ("Very Unhealthy")
http://aqicn.org/city/incheon/

Anyang: 318 ("Hazardous")
http://aqicn.org/city/korea/gyeonggi/anyang-si/anyang-6dong/

Compared to:

Honolulu: 25 ("Good")
http://aqicn.org/city/usa/hawaii/honolulu/

Phoenix: 27 ("Good")
http://aqicn.org/city/usa/maricopa/south-phoenix/

...etc...

[Weigookin74]

[World Traveler]

Last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government issued ultrafine alerts 11 times, triple the number from the year before, city officials said.

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150323000889

"Health concerns are escalating as PM-2.5 can lead to much more serious health problems than other larger particles.

Ultrafine dust is so small that it not only causes respiratory problems but also enters the circulatory system unlike other types of dust,” said Kim Woon-soo, a senior research fellow at the Seoul Institute.

While China has generally been blamed for the murky air in the case of yellow dust, the significantly lesser-known cause of the ultrafine dust comes from home, experts say.

Recent studies have found that the majority of PM 2.5 here originates from within the peninsula.

In 2013, ultrafine dust from China only accounted for 30 to 50 percent of the total, the government’s data showed. The rest was triggered by local coal-fired power plants and diesel cars.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/03/23/Pollution-in-South-Korea-poses-increasing-health-threats/5191427123633/

The desert dust collects industrial pollution when it blows in from Beijing into the Korean peninsula and lead, cadmium and arsenic are some of the chemicals that are incorporated into the atmosphere, South Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research told KBS.

The remainder of the dust affecting air quality arises from coal-fired power plants in South Korea, which emit nitrogen and sulfur oxides. These chemicals turn into secondary particles that contribute to ultrafine dust. The dust, according to a research institute in Seoul, can enter the bloodstream as well as the lungs.

Seoul has seen a rise in dust advisories, also known as warnings against toxic levels of pollution, that pose a serious threat to public health.

[ironjohn]

I had to bump this. I never thought to check the air quality levels in the US, so this blew my mind.

Today, the pm 2.5 air quality reading was really awful in Seoul (currently 155, red, "unhealthy"). I realize this isn't as bad as Beijing or New Delhi, but in Los Angeles--not exactly known for its pristine air--it was 21, green, "good", unbelievable.

Last year, I bought a HEPA air filter for my apartment here in Seoul. This year I started checking the air quality every morning and wearing a respirator on any days over 80 (brought a box of N95s from back home). I get a TON of stares, from both Koreans and foreigners, but I tell myself that once upon a time people laughed at seatbelts and cigarette warnings too.

[Stain]

I think air quality is getting better here. Today, I didn't cough blood once.

[World Traveler]

Korea’s air quality has deteriorated in recent years due largely to an increase in diesel vehicles. According to the National Institute of Environmental Research, more than 40 percent of the fine particles in the Seoul area come from diesel vehicles.

Yet the government has been implementing the mistaken policy of treating diesel cars preferentially. As a result, the proportion of diesel vehicles in new car sales in Korea has risen from 10 percent to 45 percent over the past five years.

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160517000968

Korea is only followed by Myanmar, Pakistan, Laos, Nepal, India, China and Bangladesh, in the order of the rankings from 174 to 180. Among developed states, Korea is surely ranked at the bottom by a wide margin. The nation’s startling ranking shows the urgency of the matter and the wrong direction of air quality control policy.

Many of us have wondered what has caused such a noticeable deterioration in a short period of time. Speculation has been rife about outside factors, such as the inflow of polluted air from neighboring countries. Recent studies signal that the deteriorating environmental conditions have more to do with homegrown reasons than exogenous factors.

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160517000917

[Fox]

Yes, even in just a few year span, the air quality seems noticeably worse. There was always that period in spring when the yellow dust would blow in, but outside of that, things used to be more or less fine up here in the mountains. Now, although most days are still "good" or "normal," we occasionally get days with seriously bad air quality even up here. For quite a while, Korean traffic was the only thing with which I really took issue here, but air quality is starting to become an issue as well. It must be pretty horrible for those living in Seoul.

[Scorpion]

You have to laugh at people who, while lighting up their twentieh cigarette of the day, start complaining about 'bad air' from China.

Also, if they are worried about its effect on their children they might start with getting rid of the horrid chemicals used in constructing schools and homes. My school smells like a chemical plant, and my apartment isn't much better. Add the father smoking cigareetes in the home and there's your danger. Then there's the pollution from cars.

But let's blame foreign pollution! Not saying it isn't real, but the pollution at home is a greater danger. And it's something Koreans have control over, yet do nothing, while bitching about yellow dust over which they have no control.

Get the horrid chemicals out of the materials used to construct elementary schools, then let's complain about the yellow dust. The dust is a temporary nuisance, chemical schools are a year-round health hazard. Same with the homes they have to go back to after the school day ends.

Priorities, people.

[tophatcat]

[World Traveler]

More evidence links air pollution with increased risk of developing dangerous high blood pressure.

http://health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2016-05-31/smog-can-make-blood-pressure-soar-studies

High blood pressure is a key risk factor for stroke and heart disease, the number one cause of death worldwide. And high blood pressure itself is associated with about 17 percent of fatalities globally, the study authors pointed out.

"It is urgent to take more actions to protect our environment and clean the air quality," said Liu.

For now, people -- especially those with high blood pressure -- should "closely focus on the air quality every day, and try to avoid outdoor activities or wear filtered masks when air quality is poor," Liu said.

[Tomfoolery]

[World Traveler]

Quote:

NASA's research team observed atmospheric conditions on the peninsula by mobilizing three aircraft, five satellites, two research ships and 290 scientists from 15 countries on May 2. After flying 3,000 kilometers for eight hours, and checking 15 times a day, the team concluded air pollution on this peninsula has reached a dangerous level. "Since we launched this project, we have seen clear skies free from fine dust only on the next days after rain," said Alex Tang, a researcher. "We'd never thought it would be this bad."

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/06/116_206558.html

[Underwaterbob]

Google "coal power in Korea". China isn't entirely responsible. In fact may only be 30% responsible. Korea is heavily reliant on coal power plants and is actively planning on building more. China makes a nice scapegoat though.