Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Dust Levels Double OECD's
The amount of dust in Korea's air is more than twice the amount found in Japan's or in the air of any other OECD country, the Ministry of Environment said yesterday. According to its report on the air quality of Korea in 2005, the average amount of dust in the air was 61 micrograms per cubic meter, which is far more than that of London (27 micrograms) or New York (22 micrograms).
By Bae Ji-sook, Korea Times (November 3, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200611/kt2006110318564811990.htm

Meggiebea · Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Location: Uijeongbu, South Korea

I have asthma. Should I be concerned. Anyone out there with Asthma that is having a problem.

charlieDD · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Seoul, Korea

I use a Hauzen air cleaning system: it does what it does, but what it can't do is keep the apartment from needing to be dusted ! The top of the machine itself gets dusty from time to time! For the 800k price, not sure I'm getting my mula's worth. However, when I do take the front, washable filter out for cleaning, it's amazing the black, sooty gunk that collects there. It's oily or graphitey and requires you use soap and water to wash it off your hands after cleaning the filter. I guess if it's taking that out of the air I'm breathing, . . . well, still ! I had visions of a dustless atmosphere dancing in my head!

(Note: If you use an air cleaner, don't use an ultra-sound humidifier; the white dust it emits in the mist will clog air cleaner filters in no time! Learned that the hard way. The HAUZEN has a second charcoal type filter that is supposed last a year; costs 100K to replace. Had to replace it within months due to the ultra-sound humidifier's dust.)

Related: A friend serving in the U.S. military here used a Norelco cleaner that had instructions saying to replace the filter after it turned gray in color, usually 3 - 5 months. It was black in a month in his Seoul apartment!

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

sock · Joined: 07 Oct 2006

I had really mild asthma as a kid, outgrown by the time I started first or second grade. Since I've been in Korea I have been a lot more susceptible to getting bronchitis. I've had it I think three different times now in the past six to eight months. Never had it before. Don't really get sick in any other way much, just the bronchitis.

Dr. says I have chronic bronchitis & bronchial asthma. Basically I just have a cough and a bit of a wheeze that never seems to go away. Otherwise I'm just fine, and I'm grateful that it really doesn't bother me more than that. Could be a lot worse. I think if I were at home it would be easier for me to recover permanently. When I went home during August, after about a week of breathing fresh air, I felt as good as new. Back in Seoul, less than a month, bronchitis returns.

Anyway, guess the air affects everyone differently, and some areas are much worse than others. I can't imagine what it's like for all the people who smoke AND breathe the pollution all day.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

My asthma at home (semi-rural Canada) only bothered me when I exercised in cold weather- never exercising in warm weather and never in cold weather without exercising.

Since moving to Seoul I've needed to use my inhaler from time to time- about a year ago I needed it every workout. Lately I haven't needed it though. Maybe I'm used to the air now? Can that happen with asthma?

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

I get sinus infections here. I blame it on the dust.

sillywilly · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Canada.

Absolutely wait until you get to Korea to get your asthma meds. I spent close to 2 grand on that stuff for a years supply before leaving Canada. Then I found out it was about one tenth the price over in Korea.

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

The study is wrong. Everywhere is equally as dirty. Haven't you been following the forum? Rolling Eyes

josesiem · Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Location: Bundang, Korea

The air here is considerably worse. I rarely used any meds in the US, but when I got here, it's most of the time. If you want clean air, stay home! Or go to Jeju or Ulleungdo.

poet13 · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:48 am Post subject:

It stands to reason that at this time of year the air is dirtier than Japan. Isn't the prevailing wind from the NW? Gobi desert dust and all that? It's got a lot further to go to get to Japan....

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

Spring is worse...I got sick from it last Feb.