Arak Journal

Dying from Dust in the Wind

By Jaehun (Jason) Jeong

Go outside, take a deep breath, and relax. The fresh air can fill your lungs with life and energy. But wait, what if the air you breathe is actually deadly? Air is essential to life, and the average person cannot live much more than three minutes without air. Yet air pollution is on the rise in many forms, causing a myriad of issues. The World Health Organization refers to air pollution as the “invisible killer” and reports that polluted air is being breathed into our body and is a global disease crisis causing “over one-third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory disease and one-quarter of deaths from ischemic heart disease.” One type of air pollution known as fine dust has been increasing at an alarming rate in South Korea. The sale of masks and air purifiers has risen dramatically in the past year as citizens experience sore throats, cough and itchy red eyes from the high levels of fine dust air pollution. Furthermore, statistics reveal a link between fine dust pollution and increased mortality rates. Fine dust is dangerous, and now is the time for South Korea to implement new laws to limit coal-fired power plants, manage car emissions, collaborate with neighboring nations, and invest in research.

Air pollution is nothing new, but the chemical makeup of air pollution has changed over the years, and the concern now is the increased prevalence of dangerous fine dust. There is a long history of yellow dust that originates from the deserts in Asia and is carried long distances from high-speed surface winds. The phenomena of visible dust storms in Korea date back as far as the second century, and the concern and exploration of the dust in the wind continue today. The earliest record of a dust storm in Korea was in 174 AD. Records found among artifacts of the Silla Dynasty record the first known dust storm in Korea. The dust was called “Uto,” meaning raining dirt, and was believed at the time to be the result of an angry god sending down dust instead of rain or snow (Chun). While there have been many records and concerns about “yellow dust” over the years; the particles are too big to be breathed in deeply as they are made up of sand particles from the desert. The winds still carry the sand across the continent as they did centuries ago, but now the winds also contain what is known as fine dust, particulate matter, or PM.

The fine dust in Korea is nearly invisible, can be inhaled deep within the lungs, and lingers in the air. Chemical measurements of fine dust are known as PM readings (Doyle). The World Health Organization defines PM readings as “the total of suspended particulate matter found in the atmosphere as solid particles or liquid droplets” (“Air Pollution”). The chemical composition of the matter can vary. Airborne particulates include “windblown dust, emissions from industrial processes, smoke from the burning of wood and coal, and motor vehicle or nonroad engine exhausts” (“Air Pollution”). Fine dust is classified as PM2.5. The “PM 2.5 air pollutants are 30 times thinner than a human hair and can enter the lungs and even the human bloodstream when inhaled” (“Bad Air days”).

The World Health Organization began highlighting the dangers of breathing air pollution in the 1990s. Countries are beginning to pay attention as the risks of air pollution and fine dust have been documented. Close monitoring of the PM2.5 pollutant levels in South Korea has been occurring over the past decade, and the measurements have been released to the Korean public over the past three years to warn citizens when the air is not safe, so they can make daily adjustments to protect themselves (Hyun-Ju).

The fine dust problem is affecting everyday life for Korean citizens and causing serious health concerns. People are advised to minimize outdoor activity during specific periods due to health problems linked to fine dust inhalation. Popular outdoor attractions in Seoul are often sparsely occupied during spring and summer because of fine dust warnings (“Bad Air Days”). Generally, healthy people will experience minor concerns such as dry, itchy eyes and irritation of their throats when fine dust levels are high. However, for those that have asthma or other respiratory concerns, the effects are more adverse and concerning. Those who suffer from respiratory and cardiovascular disease can have such severe reactions to the fine dust that it can even lead to premature death (“Health and Environmental Effects”). When the polluted air is breathed in, the fine dust can enter the bloodstream and affect the brain. Recently fine dust exposure has been linked to Parkinson’s disease and possibly brain disorders such as dementia according to the Korean Ministry of Environment. Furthermore, new research shows that fine dust contains carcinogens, which can lead to various forms of cancer (Doyle). Asia has been particularly interested in the research in light of the growing problem with air pollution in the region.

South Korea is utilizing data on fine dust from around the world as it considers how to manage the growing fine dust problem. An extensive scientific study by the United States Environmental Protection Agency has linked small particle pollution or PM2.5 fine dust exposure to a variety of problems, including “premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing” (Health and Environmental Effects). South Korean citizens have been aware that high levels of fine dust can lead to minor health problems and are therefore changing their daily activity at times.

However, now there is growing evidence that fine dust can also be deadly. The citizens of Korea are very concerned and now is the time that South Korean President Moon Jae-in must take action to address the sources of fine dust. One of the first priorities for the Korean government should be to develop and enforce policies which address the major internal causes of fine dust such as coal. In 2016, the Korean Ministry of Health established a goal to reduce PM pollution from coal-fired power and increase the use of renewable energy. The plan includes an “extensive retrofit of existing power plants with a fuel transition from coal to biofuel over twenty years” (“Air Quality Measures”). In addition, many of the new government policy measures call for a “voluntary agreement” to promote coal powered emission reduction. However, in light of the serious effects of fine dust pollution on the health of the people, new laws with more stringent timelines and requirements are necessary to address the problem more effectively. Source analysis of the PM2.5 pollution in 2015 by the Korean Ministry of Health revealed that forty-one percent was the result of industrial coal-fired powered facilities pollution (“Air Quality Measures”). Making the problem worse is the fact that in the past decade South Korea built “20 new coal-fired power plants, at a time when most developed countries are cutting back on coal” (“Bad Air Days”). The government must implement laws that prohibit any new coal-powered facilities as well as limiting the expansion of existing plants. Limiting pollution caused by coal from industrial sources needs to be a critical focus.

Industrial pollutants found in Korean fine dust particles are not only from Korean-based facilities: Some have been carried by the winds from China into Korea and are one of the main sources of fine dust. South Korea is currently working with NASA to obtain a detailed analysis of PM2.5 pollution. These efforts could lead to more precise information about the contents of the particulate matter. The first joint research effort between NASA and Korea took place in 2016. Planes were used to observe fine dust concentrations and their path of movement and concentration levels. A second research project is planned for in 2021 using satellite observation. The Korean government hopes that once the United States can assist in verifying the cause and analysis of the fine dust pollution, conflicts over how much fine dust is arriving from other countries such as China will be resolved, and the focus can be placed on effective and efficient solutions.

For decades South Korea has claimed that China is responsible for the majority of the pollutants that affect the Korean Peninsula. However, to thoroughly address the problem, it is clear that both China and Korea are in dire need of developing new energy sources other than coal to improve air quality in Asia. The author Doyle points out that both governments have considered solar and hydropower as options. In order to combat air pollution and fine dust, the countries must work together to address pollution from coal and other sources. In addition to pollution from coal, vehicle emissions are another major source of particulate matter. Air quality analysis by the World Health Organization shows emissions are a pollution problem in both Korea and China. Diesel vehicles are creating emission pollution, and new regulations in South Korea over the past five years have significantly strengthened the regulations on diesel vehicles. However, there have been few consequences for ignoring the new policies. Government regulations in the revised enforcement policies under the 2016 Special Act on Metropolitan Air Quality Improvement plan now state that the government will “tighten the current standard for designating a diesel vehicle as a low-emission car to the same level applied to a gas vehicle,” and for “vehicles which fail the new standards, recall action will be required” (Ministry of Health). In an attempt to increase the effectiveness of the actions, refusal to comply will lead to fines. However, the fines and measures continue to be minimal, voluntary or not enforced strictly. Korea must aggressively enforce the measures on diesel vehicles, increase the penalties for noncompliance, and make new standards mandatory. Also, social awareness programs could encourage citizens to do their part personally. For example, China has been attempting to encourage citizens to drive less, buy electric cars, and use more public transportation (Qiao). South Korea can learn from what China has done to address the serious car emissions problem in their own country. Agreeing to work together, the countries could put additional pressure on car manufacturers to produce more environmentally friendly vehicles. A partnership could also lead to the discovery of new strategies for managing the dangerous emissions which are contributing significantly to the fine dust problem.

Addressing car emission pollution can be a starting point for the countries to collaborate; collaboration will be the key component in reducing fine dust pollution. Solutions that provide significant change and new technology will require collaboration starting with information exchange and joint research. Researchers from around the world have agreed that China is producing substantial air pollution. China has a history of prioritizing economic growth over environmental protection and “now produces more than a quarter of the world’s human-caused greenhouse gases” (“Air Pollution”). However, China has begun to emerge as a supporter of automobile emission changes under intense pressure to rein in dangerous air pollution and is giving Chinese companies financial incentives to make changes (Qiao). The Chinese government had long held back from implementing emissions standards, stating automakers needed more time to catch up with the latest clean car technology. Fortunately, the Chinese government began to address the concerns starting in 2018 through incentives and increasing tailpipe regulations (Qiao). Korea is actively pursuing similar stringent tailpipe measures for personal vehicles, buses, trains, and construction equipment. Collaboration on these and other measures will allow Asia to address the car emissions issue most effectively. Managing the currently identified causes of air pollution such as coal and emissions in joint efforts, as well as discovering new solutions through collaboration, is critical.

A new solution that is being researched and implemented is the use of artificial rain. In January 2019 a plane flew into the airspace west of Seoul carrying silver iodide, a chemical that helps water droplets form in clouds. Authorities say, “the plane released twenty-four bursts of the chemical above the clouds in hopes of inducing rain” (Miller). Unfortunately, the Korea Meteorological Administration reported the initial results were “disappointing.” While a weak, misty rain for several minutes was detected, “there was no observation of significant precipitation” (Miller). A significant amount of rain needs to fall to wash away and eliminate the dust from the air. While the results were less than expected, this is still a viable option. Korea is not alone in exploring this option; several countries around the world are trying to develop technology for artificial rain production. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has followed up with a plan “to carry out fourteen more tests in 2019 in hopes of perfecting the technology by 2024″ (Hyun-Ju). Aside from its success or failure, the initial test was an opportunity to accumulate the necessary technology for faster commercialization of cloud seeding and artificial rain production,” the KMA added. Korea is investing in artificial rain, recognizing that the fine dust problem requires multi-faceted solutions.

While Korea is developing policies and expanding research on new technology to address the fine dust problem, many still argue that the primary focus should be putting pressure on China. Korea can control the dangerous fine dust that results from internal sources, but if China, who is seen as the primary source of the problem by some, is not forced to make changes, South Korea will not experience significant relief, they argue. According to a study in January of 2019 by the National Institute of Environmental Research, “external sources from China, Mongolia, North Korea, and Japan were responsible for seventy-five percent of ultrafine dust particles in South Korea” (“75% of South Korea’s”). Although the National Institute did not single out one country, considering the wind directions, “China is presumed to have the largest impact on South Korea’s fine dust level” (“75% of South Korea’s”). Obviously, air pollution from China is a problem; therefore, many advocate that it is time to place political pressure on China to cooperate and not just ask for collaboration. While I definitely concur with the need to have China play a role in addressing the fine dust problem, finding shared benefits to reinforce and encourage collaboration will be more productive and lead to real teamwork versus using political pressure. Political banter will delay action that can be taken now by Korea through policy change and peacefully seeking collaboration.

The combination of the facts that China is beginning to address air pollution concerns, and Korea is focused on the fine dust problem creates the conditions necessary to actively pursue collaboration and solutions. Both countries are recognizing the benefits of electric cars as an alternative and can work together to promote their use, especially within major cities. Car manufacturing is a part of the economy of both nations, and collaboration could ensure that changes can be made that address the economic interests of both countries and is done so in an environmentally sound way. Sharing technology and air quality studies will provide data that is needed to address emissions pollution more efficiently for both nations. Also, agreeing to work together on the emissions issue and development of new clean power sources will ensure more timely solutions. In addition, the researcher Pill explains how China has been using artificial rain since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and can work with Korea to further enhance the use of this strategy. Intentional, peaceful collaboration and combined research with a focus on shared benefits must be pursued without wasting valuable time with politics, which can be divisive.

The fine dust in Korea is a serious problem with deadly health risks, and action is needed by the Korean government for internal changes and advancement of solutions through collaboration. South Korea is taking action to address the domestic sources of fine dust by implementing policies against coal-fired power and minimizing car emissions. The policies must be more aggressive in terms of time frames and enforced such that companies and individuals take responsibility as required. Also, companies should be given incentives by the government to encourage implementation and changes even sooner.  Individuals should be offered tax breaks for choosing electric cars for their personal use, and utilization of public transportation should be supported whenever possible. Universities should be rewarded for participating in new technology research review and contributing to the advancement of modern technology to combat the problem. Finally, collaborating with China must be actively facilitated because, as Doyle points out, “Air knows no boundaries.”

The documented research from agencies around the world clearly shows that fine dust air pollution is a severe health problem and is growing at an alarming rate in South Korea. The people of South Korea are hardworking people that cherish family and honorable conduct. If the government releases policies and procedures to reinforce behavior and life changes to protect the air in the country, I believe the citizens will cooperate and support the changes needed. In addition, there needs to be an extensive educational campaign to further inform citizens of the dangers of fine dust and solutions. As informed citizens, they can pursue change as individuals and become more involved in advocating for industrial changes. The Korean people are ready to support collaboration with China and work together to change the dust in the wind.

Works Cited

Works Cited

“75% Of South Korea’s Fine Dust Pollution Comes from Outside Country.” UPI, UPI, 7 Feb. 2019,www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2019/02/07/75-of-South-Koreas-fine-dust-polluti on-comes-from-outside-country/8921549527498/.

“Air Pollution.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 28 Feb. 2019, www.who.int/airpollution/en/.

“Air Quality Measures in South Korea 2016.” Https://Www.unescap.org/, Korean Ministry of Environment, 2016, www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/Session%201.1.%20Youngsook%20Yoo_ROK.pdf.

“Bad Air Days.” The Economist, The Economist Newspaper, 25 Aug. 2016, www.economist.com/asia/2016/08/25/bad-air-days.

Chun, Youngsin, et al. “Historical Records of Asian Dust Events (Hwangsa) in Korea.” Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, vol. 89, no. 6, 2008, pp. 823?828., doi:10.1175/2008bams2159.1.

Doyle, Josh. “South Korea Chokes on Smog and Once Again Seeks to Blame China.” South China Morning Post, 14 Jan. 2019, www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2181967/south-korea-chokes-smog-and-once- again-seeks-blame-china.

“Health and Environmental Effects of Particulate Matter (PM).” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 20 June 2018, www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm.

Hyun-Ju, Ock. “What Is South Korea Doing to Combat Fine Dust Pollution?” The Korea Herald, 14 Feb. 2019, www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190214000358.

Pill, Snead. “Everything You Need to Know About Artificial Rain.” Dynamic Thinking, 30 Mar. 2019, www.dynamicpedia.com/category/social-cause/.

Qiao, Henry. “The Role of Electric Vehicles in Decarbonizing China’s Transportation Sector.” Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Apr. 2019, www.belfercenter.org/publication/role-electric-vehicles-decarbonizing-chinas-transportat ion-sector.

Paper Prompt

Final Argumentative Research Paper with Presentation

Spring 2019

Description: A research paper is one in which you use outside sources to support your argument on a particular topic.

Directions: You are going to write an 8 ? 15-page research paper in MLA format (double-spaced, 12-point font) that focuses on problem in a field within your major. If you do not have a major, this will be a time to explore a topic and gain more insight about a possible major. The topic must be approved by the instructor. 

As a part of your research paper, you will do Field Research in which you will interview an expert in the field, create a survey, volunteer at an establishment or another type of field research that will need to be approved by the instructor. The research will include a write up of what type of field research you did, which will include how the field research may impact your overall conclusions. These conclusions may or may not be included in your final research paper. 

In your paper, you will cite a MINIMUM of 5 sources in your paper. All the articles and sources that you use must be indicated on your Works Cited page. 

The conclusion of your essay, will include your thoughts on possible solutions to the problem presented based on your evidence ? think small steps!

Deliverables/Check List for Your Argumentative Research Paper:

• Research Proposal ? 10 points

• Annotated Bibliography ? 20 points

• Field Research Write Up ? 20 points 

• Outline for Oral Presentation ? 5 points

• 8 ? 15-page Research Paper (MLA format) – 40 points

PLEASE NOTE: Research paper cannot be more than 15 pages. I WILL NOT read it!

In addition to your research paper, you will be creating a 3-minute presentation of your paper (you will be timed). You will give the audience ? your classmates ? information about the topic of your paper, your thesis, the  sections of your papers, your findings, and possible solution. For this presentation, you will need the following:

• A visual representation of your project ? This can be a Power Point, Prezi, poster board, painting, etc. Approval by instructor needed. 

• A digital element of your presentation ? Power point, voice over, light show, etc. Approval by instructor needed. 

• You must speak for at least 2 minutes of the presentation. 

Argumentative Research Paper Check List

• Annotated Bibliography ? NOTE: If you add more articles as evidence for your paper after this assignment is due, you MUST include them in your Works Cited Page.

• Live links to all articles used in the paper

• Field Research Write Up 

• *Interview/Survey Write Up

•  If you did an interview, you need a copy of the consent form signed by everyone you interviewed

•  If you did a survey, you need a copy of the link or printed surveys you used. You must include the consent form information in electronic versions of the survey. 

• *Survey Results / Individual Surveys

• Outline of your presentation 

• Outline of the entire research paper

• Works Cited Page

• *Editing Feedback (we will do peer review in class, but it may be good to have an additional person to review your work). 

Remember to PROOFREAD everything thoroughly before you turn it in!!!!