Gwanak-gu Establishes Indoor and Outdoor Fine Dust Prevention System

Indoor Air Quality Monitors Installed at 259 Childcare Centers and Senior Centers, 95 More to Be Distributed in H1... 'Fine Dust Information Alert' Installed at 331 Locations, 49 More in March... 'Fine Dust Barrier Nets' Replaced at 49 Senior Centers, 53 More to Be Installed in April

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) has completed the installation of ‘indoor air quality monitors’ to manage indoor air quality in daycare centers and senior citizen centers.

On days with high fine dust levels, it is common to refrain from outdoor activities and operate air purifiers indoors; however, operating only air purifiers without ventilation causes indoor carbon dioxide levels to rise sharply.

Accordingly, the district has distributed ‘indoor air quality monitors’ that measure and display concentrations of (ultra)fine dust, carbon dioxide, and total volatile organic compounds every minute, allowing users to know when to ventilate indoor spaces.

In addition to the 259 national/public, private, and corporate daycare centers and senior citizen centers where installation has been completed, the district plans to distribute ‘indoor air quality monitors’ to 95 other locations such as home daycare centers and welfare centers within the first half of this year.

Also, the ‘Fine Dust Information Alert’ project, which began in 2019, has so far been installed in 331 locations including daycare centers, senior citizen centers, and welfare centers. In March of this year, it will be distributed to 49 elementary schools and kindergartens, the last target facilities used by vulnerable groups to fine dust.

The ‘Fine Dust Information Alert’ informs about outdoor (ultra)fine dust concentrations, temperature, humidity, and behavioral guidelines such as refraining from outdoor activities during high fine dust concentration periods, greatly contributing to protecting the health of children and the elderly vulnerable to fine dust.

A district official stated, “Since the launch of the 7th local government, we have invested a total of 398 million KRW to support air purifier operating costs at facilities used by vulnerable groups, distributed indoor air quality monitors and fine dust information alerts, minimizing residents’ exposure to fine dust.” He added, “This year, an additional 264 million KRW will be invested to complete a respiratory health protection and prevention system for children and the elderly through preemptive prevention of indoor and outdoor fine dust exposure.”

Furthermore, last year the district replaced 170 existing window screens with ‘fine dust blocking screens’ at 49 district-run senior citizen centers, and in April, plans to install ‘fine dust blocking screens’ at 53 private senior citizen centers in the area.

The ‘fine dust blocking screen’ uses an electrostatic method to block over 70% of fine dust while maintaining high breathability, allowing windows to be opened for ventilation even on days with high fine dust concentrations, creating a comfortable indoor environment.

Mayor Park Junhee said, “We will inspect and manage facilities used by children and the elderly who are vulnerable to high concentrations of fine dust more thoroughly,” and added, “We will do our best to minimize exposure to fine dust and protect the respiratory health of residents by establishing a perfect fine dust protection and prevention system for health-vulnerable groups.”