Search

Outdoor and Indoor air pollution in China is mainly due to direct combustion of coal for domestic heating and cooking purposes. In general, air pollution levels are more severe in the northern parts of the country, during the cold season and cooking hours than in the southern parts, during the warm season and non-cooking hours. The direct impact of air pollution on human health is increasing incidents of chronic respiratory disease in urban and rural residents, and even increased cases of lung cancer in nonsmoking women. With the purpose of controlling air pollution and improving environmental health, a series of laws, standards and regulations have been adopted over the last few years.

A brief description is presented of the air quality, structure of current air pollution programs and future developments in air pollution control in the Republic of Korea. With the rapid increase of industrialization and urbanization during the 1970s, air pollution problems have become a primary social and public health concern. The major pollution sources are: increasing emissions for industrial processes; automobile exhaust emissions; and the combustion of coal briquettes, a domestic fuel which is used in more than 70% of the households. A summary is presented of air pollution measurement methods and ambient standards in Korea. Included are data for sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, total suspended particulates, ozone, and hydrocarbons.

Air Pollution By K. Barker and 18 other authors. (World Health Organization Monograph Series, No. 46.) Pp. 442. (Geneva: World Health Organization; London: H.M. Stationery Office, 1961.) 24 francs; 40s.; 8 dollars.