Protecting the Public with Ozone Alarm Systems

– Gyeonggi Province to test Ozone Alarms in four areas from May 9 to September 9 to reduce adverse physical effects of pollution

– Outdoor activities and public transportation usage guidelines

Gyeonggi Province will test run its new Ozone Alarm system, which is designed to mitigate sore eyes, throat, headaches, coughs and other symptoms caused by pollution among residents, between May 9 and September 9.

The concentration of ozone tends to increase during the summer season. Ozone Alarm Watch Rooms will be set up in government-funded welfare and environment research centers in the thirty-one cities and counties of the province, according to the announcement made by the provincial government on the second of this month.

The four areas where the test will be conducted are Goyang-Gimpo, Namyangju-Uijeongbu, Anyang-Ansan and Yongin-Suwon. The pollution levels of each area will be monitored on an hourly basis. With the average numbers as the standard, 0.12ppm will be marked as “caution” and levels over 0.3ppm as “warning”. Anything over 0.5ppm will be regarded as a red alert.

Whenever the ozone warning is given, people with respiratory conditions, senior citizens, and young children will be advised to stay indoors. Commuters will have to leave their cars at home and use public transportation instead. In the event of a red alert, kindergartens and schools will be prohibited from engaging in outdoor activities and traffic will undergo tight monitoring.

When the alarm is sounded, the government will notify residents through electronic displays, radio broadcasts, and community announcement channels in real time. Information will be made available through cell phones; residents who wish to receive personal notification messages can register through the air pollution information website at air.gg.go.kr under the air pollution information text service.

The Ozone Alert System has been in operation since 1997. Warnings were sent out on fourteen days in 2004, on nine days in 2005, on eight days in 2008, on four days in 2009, and on five days in 2010.

Gyeonggi Province plans to slash carbon and organic compound emissions through the strict management of factories, gas stations, painting facilities, and any establishments with large output. The local government is also reviewing road cleaning and the regulations on car emissions.

Kim Gyo-seon, head of the Climate & Air Quality Management Division, said, “When we have finished installing pollution monitoring facilities in all thirty-one locations, daycare centers and nursing homes will have better access to essential information. We are confident this will contribute significantly to the health of local residents. When the alarm is given, we recommend that you stay indoors, refrain from vigorous workouts, and use public transportation.”

There are two layers of ozone in the atmosphere, one each in the stratosphere and the troposphere. The ozone in the stratosphere is beneficial as it blocks harmful ultraviolet rays, protecting all living creatures on the earth’s surface. On the other hand, the ozone layer formed in the lower level of the atmosphere consists of nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, and other harmful substances from vehicle and factory emissions. These substances react chemically with the sun’s rays and have adverse effects on human health.

The atmosphere turns into an irritating and oxidizing gas that can irritate the eyes or cause headaches and coughing. In the worst cases, it can cause skin cancer and lung damage.

@GNews Plus News | Nam Gyeong-woo
http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201105041420357055C048&s_code=C048