Chungnam Province Issues First Yellow Dust Alert of the Year
Public Urged to Limit Outdoor Activities Due to "Very Bad" Fine Dust Levels
Chungnam Province announced on the 13th that it has issued the first yellow dust crisis alert of the year at the "Attention" level, as yellow dust from the Gobi Desert in China and Inner Mongolia is entering the province.
According to the province, as of 8 a.m. that day, the average daily concentration of fine dust (PM-10) in the province was 64 ㎍/㎥, which is below the threshold for issuing a yellow dust crisis alert.
However, as the concentration of fine dust caused by yellow dust is expected to exceed an average of 150 ㎍/㎥, reaching a "very bad" level on the 13th, the province issued the Attention level alert at 5 p.m. on the 12th and plans to maintain the yellow dust crisis alert until 9 p.m. on the 13th.
Immediately after issuing the Attention level yellow dust crisis alert, the province communicated the situation to cities, counties, and related agencies, requested that they respond according to the public action guidelines for yellow dust, and provided the guidelines to vulnerable groups via SNS and other channels.
The public action guidelines advise households to frequently check for alerts and warnings when the Attention level is issued, and to inspect and seal windows to prevent yellow dust from entering indoors.
In addition, educational institutions are advised to consider adjusting school hours, shortening classes, or switching to indoor classes; elderly care facilities should consider restricting and preparing for outdoor activities; and workplaces and industrial facilities should inspect air purification systems and provide and train workers on the use of protective equipment.
Do Jungwon, head of the Provincial Air Environment Division, said, "Due to the climate crisis, harmful air conditions such as yellow dust and fine dust that threaten public health are expected to occur frequently," and urged, "When yellow dust or fine dust occurs, please refrain from outdoor activities as much as possible according to the public action guidelines, and especially for vulnerable groups, pay extra attention to personal health management such as wearing masks."
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