"Busan 'Underground Air' This Good?" Nationwide Underground Stations Show Best Average Air Quality Including Fine Dust

‘Pollution Levels’ Significantly Lower Than the Average of 6 Metropolitan Governments

Air Quality Concentration in Underground Stations of Six Metropolitan Local Governments Nationwide.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Where is the place with the best air quality among underground stations managed by local governments nationwide?

The average value of fine dust measured at 104 underground stations in Busan was found to be the best in the country.

Busan Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 4th that as a result of operating an underground station air quality monitoring network in the first half of 2021, the average concentration of ultrafine dust in Busan underground stations was measured at 19㎍/㎥.

This was a much lower figure than the average concentration of 25㎍/㎥ in six metropolitan cities.

This is the lowest measurement among the six metropolitan cities and is evaluated as a result of the institute’s systematic management of underground station air quality.

Nationwide, indoor air quality in underground stations is managed by subway operating agencies including Seoul Metro, but Busan has been the first in the country to have the research institute take charge since 2008.

Following the amendment of the Indoor Air Quality Control Act on April 2, 2019, which mandated the installation of indoor air quality measuring devices in underground stations, the institute completed the installation of devices at 91 underground station platforms and 13 transfer stations and underground shopping mall adjacent concourses in Busan by December 2020.

This completed a real-time air quality information provision system. Since April 1, 2021, the measured values linked with the Ministry of Environment’s ‘Comprehensive Indoor Air Quality Management Information Network’ have been disclosed, allowing citizens to check the indoor air quality of underground stations nationwide in real time.

Also, through large kiosks installed at 104 underground stations, not only the indoor air quality measurements of underground stations but also public interest information such as fine dust advisories in the atmosphere, which citizens benefit from accessing quickly, are posted together.

Jo Bong-su, director of the Busan Health and Environment Research Institute, said, “The underground station air quality monitoring network was the first to be operated by our institute nationwide,” and added, “Based on our experience so far, we will contribute not only to managing the air quality of Busan underground stations but also to the management of indoor air quality in underground stations nationwide.”