Ozone Advisory Issued for Seosan, Dangjin, and Yesan in Chungnam Province... "Avoid Going Outside"

Ozone Alert System Activated 8 Days Earlier Than Scheduled

Chungnam Province announced on the 9th that it has issued its first ozone advisory of the year.

The Chungnam Health and Environment Research Institute issued ozone advisories on the 7th for Seosan, Dangjin, and Yesan. This is 8 days earlier than the originally scheduled ozone alert system date (the 15th).

Ozone is generated in the atmosphere through photochemical reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under ultraviolet light. High concentrations of ozone appear when sunlight duration is long, temperatures are high, and wind speeds are low. Ozone can cause decreased lung function, worsening of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory infections, and other illnesses, so caution is required.

The Korea Meteorological Administration predicts that summer temperatures this year will be higher than the average (23.4?24.0℃), and atmospheric ozone concentrations are expected to increase accordingly.

In Chungnam, high ozone concentration occurrence rates are elevated in coastal cities and counties as well as north of the Charyeong Mountain Range. The annual average concentration increased by 57.5% over 18 years, from 0.023 ppm in 2005 to 0.040 ppm in 2023. Last year, the number of ozone advisories issued was 25 days, 2.6 times higher than the national average (9.5 days).

The institute is inspecting 40 urban air monitoring stations across the province in preparation for the ozone alert system implementation and is strengthening surveillance of 16 types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are ozone precursors. Additionally, they plan to proactively measure acrylonitrile.

The ozone text alert service can be applied for on the institute’s website, and real-time ozone concentrations and alert system issuance status can be checked on Air Korea.

Director Kim Ok said, "Ozone is a gaseous substance that is difficult to physically block," and added, "When ozone advisories and alerts are issued, people should refrain from going outside and engaging in outdoor activities."