Asymmetric barriers in atmospheric politics of transboundary air pollution: a case of particulate matter (PM) cooperation between China and South Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taedong Lee ◽  
Wooyeal Paik
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Transboundary Air Pollution ◽  
Asymmetric Barriers

scholarly journals Air quality and acid deposition impacts of local emissions and transboundary air pollution in Japan and South Korea

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (20) ◽  
pp. 13309-13323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Hung Lam Yim ◽  
Yefu Gu ◽  
Matthew A. Shapiro ◽  
Brent Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
South Korea ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Acid Deposition ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Transboundary Air Pollution ◽  
Local Emissions

Abstract. Numerous studies have reported that ambient air pollution, which has both local and long-range sources, causes adverse impacts on the environment and human health. Previous studies have investigated the impacts of transboundary air pollution (TAP) in East Asia, albeit primarily through analyses of episodic events. In addition, it is useful to better understand the spatiotemporal variations in TAP and the resultant impact on the environment and human health. This study aimed at assessing and quantifying the air quality impacts in Japan and South Korea due to local emissions and TAP from sources in East Asia - one of the most polluted regions in the world. We applied state-of-the-science atmospheric models to simulate air quality in East Asia and then analyzed the air quality and acid deposition impacts of both local emissions and TAP sources in Japan and South Korea. Our results show that ∼ 30 % of the annual average ambient PM2.5 concentrations in Japan and South Korea in 2010 were contributed to by local emissions within each country, while the remaining ∼ 70 % were contributed to by TAP from other countries in the region. More detailed analyses also revealed that the local contribution was higher in the metropolises of Japan (∼ 40 %–79 %) and South Korea (∼ 31 %–55 %) and that minimal seasonal variations in surface PM2.5 occurred in Japan, whereas there was a relatively large variation in South Korea in the winter. Further, among all five studied anthropogenic emission sectors of China, the industrial sector represented the greatest contributor to annual surface PM2.5 concentrations in Japan and South Korea, followed by the residential and power generation sectors. Results also show that TAP's impact on acid deposition (SO42- and NO3-) was larger than TAP's impact on PM2.5 concentrations (accounting for over 80 % of the total deposition), and that seasonal variations in acid deposition were similar for both Japan and South Korea (i.e., higher in both the winter and summer). Finally, wet deposition had a greater impact on mixed forests in Japan and savannas in South Korea. Given these significant impacts of TAP in the region, it is paramount that cross-national efforts should be taken to mitigate air pollution problems across East Asia.

scholarly journals The Effects of Risk Perceptions Related to Particulate Matter on Outdoor Activity Satisfaction in South Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bomi Kim ◽  
Eun Joo Yoon ◽  
Songyi Kim ◽  
Dong Kun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
Outdoor Activity ◽  
Activity Satisfaction

In recent years, the Korean public has become aware of the form of air pollution known as particulate matter, with a consequent growth of public anxiety causing a negative risk perception about outdoor activity. This study aims at determining the causal relationship between risk perceptions about particulate matter and outdoor activity satisfaction in South Korea. An Internet survey was conducted with 412 people, and a structural equation model was used to perform confirmatory factor analysis. The statistically significant results show that the perceived risk of particulate matter is higher when people do not show interest in or trust public opinion or policy on the subject. This increases people’s perceptions of health risks, which in turn lowers their satisfaction with outdoor activity. Although trust levels in public opinion or policy had a positive impact on outdoor activity satisfaction, this was not statistically significant. These results are expected to contribute to risk communication guidelines in public opinion reporting and to the direction of environmental health policies in developing countries with high levels of air pollution, such as particulate matter.

scholarly journals Air quality and acid deposition impacts of local emissions and transboundary air pollution in Japan and South Korea

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Hung Lam Yim ◽  
Yefu Gu ◽  
Matthew Shapiro ◽  
Brent Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
South Korea ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Acid Deposition ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Atmospheric Models ◽  
Transboundary Air Pollution ◽  
State Of The Science ◽  
Local Emissions

Abstract. Recent studies have reported that air pollution causes adverse impacts on the environment and human health. Previous studies have intensively investigated the transboundary air pollution (TAP) impact in East Asia in episode events. From the environmental perspectives, it is necessary to better understand the spatiotemporal variations in TAP and the resultant impact on the environment. This study is aimed at assessing and quantifying the air quality impacts in Japan and South Korea due to their local emissions and TAP in East Asia–one of the polluted regions. We have applied state-of-the-science atmospheric models to simulate air quality in East Asia, and then analyzing the air quality and acid deposition impacts of local emissions and TAP in Japan and South Korea. Our results show that ~30 % of annual ambient PM2.5 in 2010 was on average contributed by local emissions in Japan and South Korea, while the remaining was contributed by TAP from other countries in the region. More detailed analyses also revealed minimal seasonal variation in surface PM2.5 in Japan, whereas there was a relatively large variation in South Korea in the winter. Further, among all five studied anthropogenic emission sectors of China, the industrial sector represented the greatest contributor to annual surface PM2.5 concentrations in Japan and South Korea, followed by the residential and power generation sectors. In terms of acid deposition, our results show that TAP’s impact on acid deposition (SO42− and NO3−) was larger than TAP’s impact on PM2.5 concentration, and that seasonal variations were similar for both Japan and South Korea: higher in both the winter and summer. Finally, wet deposition had a greater impact on mixed forests in Japan and savannas in South Korea. Given these significant impacts of TAP in the region, it is paramount that cross-national efforts be taken to mitigate air pollution problems in across East Asia.

scholarly journals Particulate Matter and Its Impact on Mortality among Elderly Residents of Seoul, South Korea

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Satbyul Estella Kim ◽  
Yasuaki Hijioka ◽  
Tatsuya Nagashima ◽  
Ho Kim
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Increased Risk

Climate change, air pollution, and the rapidly aging population are important public health challenges. An understanding of air pollution impacts is imperative for preventing air-pollution-related deaths and illnesses, particularly in vulnerable subgroups such as the increasing population of older adults. To assess the effects of short-term air-pollution exposure on the elderly, we conducted a time-series analysis (1996–2015) of the associations between particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm (PM10) and deaths among elderly residents of Seoul, South Korea, which has a rapidly aging population. We also investigated the synergistic effects of temperature and the lag structures of the effects by sex, cause of death, and season. A 10 μg/m3 rise in the 4-day moving average concentration of PM10 was associated with 0.31% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18% to 0.44%), 0.32% (95% CI: 0.09% to 0.55%), and 0.22% (95% CI: –0.23% to 0.66%) increases in non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortalities, respectively. We found a significant and strong synergistic effect of PM10 concentration and ambient temperature on mortality in elderly people. PM10 posed an increased risk of non-accidental or cardiovascular mortality with increasing temperature, whereas the associated risk of respiratory death was highest on very cold days. The shape and length of the lag structure varied with the cause of death, sex, and season. Results indicate that elderly people exposed to PM10 are at increased risk of premature death. In the near future, these risks are likely to increase in step with the temperature rise associated with climate change and the continued population aging. Stronger emission controls will be needed to minimize the increased health risks associated with air pollution, especially in regions with high populations of elderly individuals.

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