

By Kim Hyun-bin



Fine dust has been smothering the nation as of late and the government was left with no choice but to issue emergency measures in hopes of reducing the fine dust level.



The government's fine dust warnings have become a part of everyday life for most residents of Korea, especially those living in the capital region.



Dust is everywhere in the Earth's atmosphere. Small particles of dust are called fine dust or particulate matter (PM). A particle that is smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) is categorized as fine dust, and that smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), as ultrafine dust.



Fine dust is caused by fine particulates, which is largely emitted by internal-combustion engines and industrial sites, and is particularly strong during winter, aggravated by yellow dust from the Mongolian desert.

Some particles are emitted into the air directly, but others form as a result of complicated chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Particles can travel hundreds to thousands of kilometers downwind, affecting people far from the source.



The phenomenon has become a major hazard to public health, especially for vulnerable groups including the elderly, babies, pregnant women and people with cardiovascular disorders.



Epidemiologic studies have linked long-term exposure to fine dust and mortality rates from various diseases.



The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that over 3.7 million people died in 2012 due to air pollution. Cardiovascular reasons took roughly 80 percent of the causes of death from air pollution, followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 11 percent, and lung cancer, 6 percent. It showed the No. 1 cause of death from air pollution was cardiovascular diseases, not respiratory ones.



Long-term exposure to PM increases the mortality risk from ischemic heart disease, cardiac dysrhythmia, heart failure or cardiac arrest, by 8 percent to 18 percent, according to American Health Association.

In October 2013, the WHO designated fine dust as a group 1 carcinogen.



When a person with ischemic disease is exposed to PM2.5 for a long time, it increases the mortality rate by up to 80 percent.



The microparticles are too small to be filtered by bronchial tubes or mucous membranes, and they reach the pulmonary alveoli, increasing chances of cardiovascular diseases.

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"There is a chance that cardiovascular disease could reoccur due to fine dust. So when a fine dust warning is issued, people should refrain from outdoor activity and wear a mask," said Park Yong-hwan, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Samsung Changwon Hospital. "It is important for people to take care of their pre-existing cardiovascular disorders. It is also important for high-risk groups to consult with a professional and find the right treatment for them."



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a guideline to help prevent fine dust from causing cardiovascular diseases.



It advises people to actively treat pre-existing conditions, ban long hours of physical activity, stay hydrated, close windows, limit outdoor activities and wear a mask that has been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

