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When spring comes to us, fine-dust also comes to us easily. Let's talk about how to deal with the rise of fine-particle pollution.

Breathing uneasy

How to deal with the rise of fine-particle pollution

Mar 06,2014

	Fine-particle dust is increasingly becoming an early sign of spring in Korea, as the nation has been blanketed by pollution. [JoongAng Ilbo]

Budding flowers, yellow dust and a sudden, short spell of cold weather often herald spring in Korea. But these days, one more item should be added to the list: fine-particle dust.

Seoul and other cities across the nation have been hit hard this winter by fine particulates called PM2.5, meaning particles 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller. Since PM2.5 particles are small enough to pass through the membrane lining the lungs and enter the bloodstream, Korea’s health-related ministries, such as the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, have been advising people stay inside and wear face masks whenever they go out.

But other than wearing masks and staying inside, most of us don’t really know what to do to avoid the dangerous, fine-particle dust, which contains cancer-causing substances. So here is a list of additional tips to help keep you safe from fine-particle pollution.

“Yellow dust and fine-particle dust fall into the same category of air pollution,” said Cho Eun-hee, an official in the climate change response division of the Health Ministry. “Keep these living tips in mind and practice them when either yellow dust or fine-particle dust hit the nation.”

	From top: Food such as Korean bellflower tea, garlic and miyeok help people cope with fine-particle dust. When cleaning the home, mopping is better than using a vacuum cleaner.

Face masks that work

Many of us keep a face mask or two at home, but most of them don’t protect you from inhaling fine-particle dust.

“Hundreds of face masks are available in stores, but none of them are effective in preventing fine-particle dust,” said Cho. “You have to purchase face masks with double filters that are certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.”

Certified face masks have labels bearing the name and logo of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Face masks that clearly state “prevention of yellow dust” are also good for fine-particle dust. The website of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, www.mfds.go.kr (Korean only), lists the certified masks.

Because most of these face masks are disposable, you should discard the mask after each use. Washing it is no good because the process can damage the filtering function.



Keep your home and laundry clean

Letting fresh air into your house regularly is important for your health, but not when fine-particle dust is blanketing the nation.

Instead, you should rely on air filters. If you are planning to buy one, make sure to get one that is designated as a “high efficiency particulate air filter,” or HEPA, for short. This filter is able to filter up to 99 percent of fine particles.

Drying your laundry safely is also an issue. Experts say you should dry your laundry inside your house to keep exposure to air particles to a minimum.

You also have to change the way you clean your home when fine-particle dust is heavy. Instead of using an electric vacuum cleaner, which cannot suck up fine-particle dust, use a mop. Before mopping the floors, spray the air with water, which will help move the fine-particle dust onto the floor.



What to eat?

Whenever yellow dust hits the nation, the consumption of samgyeopsal, or grilled pork belly, soars because people think that it helps remove pollution from the body. But experts disagree with this, instead saying water is the best solution for getting rid of fine-particle dust.

“If you drink enough water, it moistens your mucous membranes, which protects your respiratory system and prevents you from inhaling the heavy metals that are part of fine-particle dust,” said Sim Yun-su, a professor of internal medicine who specializes in respiration and allergies at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, which is run by Hallym University Medical Center.

Sim recommends drinking between eight to 10 cups of water. Each cup should equal about 6.7 ounces.

Teas such as doraji (Korean bellflower), omija (five-flavored herb tea) and gyeolmyeongja (Cassia tora seed) are also considered good, but you should not replace water with caffeinated drinks like coffee or soda.

Onion, garlic, miyeok (sea mustard), minari (water parsley) and green tea are also believed to help remove the heavy metals, which are often found in yellow dust and fine particles.

“People often say pork is good when yellow dust is heavy, but that is not scientifically proven,” said Cho Mi-sook, a professor of food science and engineering at Ewha Womans University.

When buying groceries, avoid purchasing food from street stalls. If you do buy food from street vendors, be sure to soak it in water for two minutes and then rinse it under running water for more than 30 seconds.



Daily rituals

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety says the best way to deal with fine-particle dust is by staying inside, but if you must go out, you should keep an eye out on the air conditions. There are several websites, but www.kaq.or.kr has information in English. Use the website to help you keep track of your traveling time. You should also avoid going out in the morning because pollution is heavier at the ground level before 10 a.m. Using sunscreen is highly recommended because it can help keep fine particles away from your skin. Wearing caps, glasses and long sleeves is also a good idea. Wash your clothes as frequently as you can, and use a lint remover to help keep fine particles off of them.

Rinsing the inside of your nose using a saline solution is another good option. Never rub irritated eyes, but use eye drops to cleanse them.

Feb. 25 was the worst day this winter for fine-particle pollution, with an average PM2.5 of 162 micrograms per cubic meter.

·Breathing 162 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5 for one hour results in the average person inhaling 58 micrograms of fine-particle dust.

·58 micrograms of fine-particle dust is the equivalent to inhaling cigarette smoke for 84 minutes.

·58 micrograms of fine-particle dust is the equivalent to inhaling the exhaust from a diesel car engine for 220 minutes.

By Sung So-young [so@joongang.co.kr]

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Sorry guys. As I mensioned yesterday, I will be abcent today's class because of an appointment. see you on friday :)