The long winter is over. It is a perfect time for outdoor activities. Place your winter clothes in storage and take a walk and exercise with light clothing while enjoying the spring breeze and warm sunshine. Chungbuk National University campus is also bright, lively and beautiful like the new freshmen. Spring days bring warm feelings but unfortunately the weather is actually not good in South Korea due to a yellow fine dust called particulate matter(PM). We are depressed. Usually, we check the temperature for the weather and want to know if it is a rainy or sunny day using a smart phone. In recent days, we also have to check particulate matter concentrations.
  In South Korea, it is easy to think that yellow fine dust from China is the cause of increasing particulate matter. But the fact is that it is derived from vehicle and factory emissions in South Korea. Seoul is a world-class city and numerous vehicles travel through it everyday. Most cars are not environmentally friendly and depend on fossil fuel. It is very difficult to buy an eco-friendly car due to price. This problem of particulate matter exists in all large cities not only Seoul. Definitely vehicle emission is a serious issue.
  Now China is called a “powder-keg” environmentally. Yellow dust is just one of its environmental problems. China’s air and water quality have exceeded the critical level. Serious environment issues may be associated with an increase in cars. Passenger car ownership in China reached 120 million by the end of 2012, while the total vehicle population was approximately 240 million. China has also become the world’s largest car producer and largest new car market. The increase in vehicles has led to severe air pollution problems with particle emissions reaching around 600,000 tons in 2011.
  The media says that 1.2 million deaths occur in China each year with fine particulate matter responsible for nearly 40 percent of the global total. There is no way to avoid the particulate matter in South Korea. Some suggestions may be helpful. First, wear a yellow dust mask outside. Second, check the concentration of particulate matter. Third, clean your room everyday and do not open the windows. That’s it.
  We have no way of avoiding particulate matter. However, emigration to other countries is one of the options(if possible). If you have to live in South Korea, consider a move to a residential area or suburban area, not a modern apartment. Generally, a contemporary apartment in South Korea is located along the street because we are very busy. For this reason, as the number of vehicles increases, the particulate matter will become a greater. Therefore, it may be good to leave a highly polluted environment. A patient with a respiratory illness caused by particulate matter takes this suggestion seriously. The bigger problem is that most schools(elementary~high school) are often also located along busy roads. Due to vehicle exhaust emissions children can be exposed to the particulate matter easily. Exposure of children to high levels of particulate matter impairs lung function and its effect on growth remains unclear, according to research.
  What do you think? An apartment in a big city or a house in a suburb? Where do you live? Another question remaining is, why is pollution increasing? The answer is that human beings are too greedy. There is no safe place to live in South Korea. Don’t exercise outdoors for your health.