Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Corea]

The air sucks today.

That is all.

[3DR]

Yup. Sneezing and coughing like crazy the past two days.

[Stan Rogers]

Quite the neighbors the Koreans have.

[Cave Dweller]

The yellow dust wasn't that bad. I could see buildings half a mile away clearly.

[Captain Corea]

Here's the site I use

http://aqicn.org/map/southkorea/

[World Traveler]

999 in Paju; 800 in central Seoul? How can it be so high? If it is yellow dust from China, why is the pollution so much higher here now than in any part of China? (And why is the air pollution in Japan so low?)

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=176244

http://www.newser.com/story/202903/scientists-find-link-between-suicide-and-air-pollution.html

[wooden nickels]

For anyone choosing Korea over China because of the Eden-like pristine air of the morning calm, well…

[World Traveler]

http://aqicn.org/map/mexicocity/

I'm surprised the air in Mexico City is so clean. When I was a kid I heard it was horrible- the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day.

It looks like they've made some big improvements:

Air pollution in Mexico City is a continuing concern for citizens, health experts, and environmentalists. However, much improvement has been made in the city since 1992 when the United Nations named Mexico City "the most polluted city on the planet." At the time pollution was thought to cause 1,000 deaths and 35,000 hospitalizations per year.

Currently, ozone and other air pollutants rank at about the same level as Los Angeles. This improvement in air quality was achieved, starting in the 1980s, through the Mexican government's requirement that gasoline be reformulated, that polluting factories be closed or moved, and that drivers be prohibited from using their car one day per week. More recently there has been an expansion of public transportation.

[creeper1]

Is it possible that levels hit 800 in Seoul?

I am looking at that site right now and the levels are down to approximately 200.

200 would be a relatively good day in Beijing. In Beijing levels are almost ALWAYS elevated.

I must say I am shocked. I have looked at this website many times and Korea is always green with safe, clean air.

I actually didn't think it was physically possible that Korea would register "unhealthy" or even "unhealthy for sensitive people"

I guess the air pollution is coming from China.

[World Traveler]

Beijing is at 150 now, which is lower than Seoul. Still, 150 is really freaking unhealthy- more than quadruple most North American/European/Australian cities. It must suck to live in Beijing breathing in those pollutants day after day. Levels in Seoul actually hit 1,100 (according to what I read anyways) and a measurement at the American military base in Yongsan (central Seoul) measured 1,044. That's an insane apocalyptic level. The 황사 isn't coming from Beijing (for the most part) because Beijing is the capital city, not a desert. Sand is coming from the Gobi Desert and then mixing with pollutants from factories operating along the East coast (and maybe a little bit of Beijing air is mixed in, too).

[World Traveler]

[wooden nickels]

[candy bar]

Hallyu

[Chaparrastique]

[wooden nickels]

140s here in Seoul at the moment. 20s in my Hometown.

Can't wait to get out of this place~
If it's the last thing we ever do~
humming humming humming~
There's got to be a better place for me and you~
humming~
music plays~