[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Dooyul] The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that the recent cold snap would retreat starting Thursday, with daytime high temperatures rising to 20 degrees Celsius, signaling a clear return of spring warmth.
Fine dust levels are expected to remain at poor levels nationwide until Friday, so the elderly and vulnerable groups should exercise special caution when going outside.
As spring approaches, news about fine dust warnings inevitably follows.
According to data on the average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) last year from 6,475 cities in 117 countries released by a Swiss air quality monitoring and purification company, South Korea ranked 54th.
A lower ranking indicates less fine particulate matter in the atmosphere. Although South Korea has been gradually improving each year, it still falls short of the World Health Organization standards.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency introduced a seasonal fine dust management system in 2019 to protect public health, implementing a government-wide response from December to March, when fine dust concentrations are higher than in other seasons.
Since the government is actively managing the issue, fine dust remains a health threat, and wise measures are necessary during the spring when fine dust begins to intensify.
Fine dust mainly originates from primary pollutants emitted by combustion sources such as automobiles and thermal power plants, which react with other substances in the atmosphere to form secondary pollutants composed of organic carbon, sulfates, nitrates, and more.
The World Health Organization estimates that 3.7 million premature deaths occur annually due to fine dust exposure.
Ultrafine dust particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) can cause serious harm to the human body and are classified as Group 1 carcinogens.
Invisible to the naked eye, fine dust irritates the respiratory mucosa, causing symptoms such as breathing difficulties, wheezing, chest tightness, and asthma, or worsening existing respiratory diseases.
Fine dust also affects the cardiovascular system. Once absorbed into the bloodstream through the respiratory tract, it supplies reactive oxygen species to various organs, accelerating cellular aging and increasing inflammatory responses. Cardiovascular symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, chest pressure, and shortness of breath may also occur.
Fine dust can worsen underlying conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and ischemic heart disease, or increase mortality rates, so caution is necessary.
The skin and eyes, the outermost parts of our body, are also irritated, potentially leading to skin itching, stinging, allergic skin reactions, dry eyes, and allergic conjunctivitis.
Dr. Kim Soo-hyung, head of the Cardiovascular Center at Daedong Hospital, stated, “For those with underlying cardiovascular diseases, prolonged exposure to fine dust can cause a rapid rise in blood pressure, which can be dangerous, so caution is needed. On days with severe fine dust, it is best to avoid going outside, but if going out is unavoidable, wearing a health mask is recommended.”
Dr. Kim emphasized, “If you have underlying respiratory issues or experience abnormal symptoms such as breathing difficulties or headaches, you should consult medical professionals thoroughly before deciding whether to wear a mask, rather than wearing one unconditionally.”
Health guidelines for fine dust include developing the habit of checking fine dust forecasts before going outside. When fine dust levels are poor, it is advisable to stay indoors as much as possible, and sensitive groups should avoid going out.
If going outside is unavoidable, wearing a health mask is recommended, along with thorough personal hygiene such as hand washing and adequate hydration.
Groups sensitive to fine dust include the elderly, patients with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, respiratory disease patients, allergy sufferers, pregnant women, and children. If symptoms such as breathing difficulties, chest tightness, coughing, or eye and skin irritation appear after exposure to fine dust, one should visit a nearby medical institution for diagnosis.
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