Gyeonggi-do Health and Environment Institute, Real-Time Disclosure of 'Greenhouse Gas' Concentrations in the Province

Front View of Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment

The Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment Research will publicly disclose real-time concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane, the representative greenhouse gases, through the Gyeonggi-do Air Quality Information Service website (https://air.gg.go.kr).

The disclosed data consists of hourly measurements taken at the Pyeongtaek and Gimpo air component monitoring stations, marking the first time real-time greenhouse gas concentration data has been made publicly available in Korea.

Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The Institute measures carbon dioxide and methane, which have high emission proportions.

Carbon dioxide and methane, which account for about 90% of the six major greenhouse gas emissions in Korea, mainly originate from fossil fuel combustion, landfill sites, and agriculture and livestock. Nitrous oxide is emitted during industrial processes and fertilizer use, while hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride are generated in refrigeration and semiconductor manufacturing processes.

The Institute has previously disclosed lead and calcium concentrations in the air of the Pyeongtaek area, and with this website update, the disclosure scope has been expanded to include the Gimpo area and benzene concentrations among volatile organic compounds.

Lead contained in fine dust is a substance that can cause neurological disorders with long-term exposure and is regulated by the air quality standard (0.5μg/m3 annually). Calcium poses no harm to human health but is a representative crustal material used to assess the impact of yellow dust. Benzene is known to be involved in ozone formation.

Kwon Bo-yeon, Director of the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment Research, stated, "We hope that the disclosure of greenhouse gas concentrations will raise awareness of climate change and contribute to efforts to reduce greenhouse gases," adding, "The Institute will continue research to enhance the value of scientific data utilization."