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Pollution in Korea has become diversified and serious due to rapid industrialization and urbanization since the 1960s. [1] The causes of environmental pollution, both in South and North Korea, can be found in population growth, urban concentration, and industrial structure, similar to the rest of the world. [2] [ page needed ]
Air pollution refers to the fact that the constituents of the atmosphere change due to the excessive presence of pollutants emitted artificially and naturally, and their quality deteriorates, which adversely affects the life activities of humans and animals, and plants. [3] Air pollutants can be broadly divided into gaseous substances and particulate matter. [4] Gaseous substances are generated by the combustion, synthesis, and decomposition of substances. [4] Particulate matter occurs when the material is crushed, sorted, transported, or otherwise mechanically treated or burned, synthesized, or decomposed. [4] When air pollutants are classified according to the generation process, they can be divided into primary and secondary pollutants. [4] Primary pollutants are emitted directly into the atmosphere from the chimneys of factories or automobiles, and secondary pollutants are generated by chemical reactions and photochemical reactions in the atmosphere of the discharged pollutants. [4]
In the 1960s and 1970s, the use of fossil fuels and the reckless attraction of industries as a growth-oriented development logic caused air pollution in Korea. [2] [ page needed ] According to an analysis of the "2019 World Air Quality Report" published by AirVisual, a global air pollution investigator, Korea ranked first in ultrafine dust pollution concentration among OECD members, showing that it is the worst air pollution country. [5] [6] Air pollution in Korea is becoming more serious. [7] The main cause of fine dust generation in Korea is a coal power generation and the use of fossil fuels (oil) in the transportation sectors. [6] Thus, reductions in fossil fuels and greenhouse gases, and air pollutants should be continuously considered. [6]
In addition, there is no border in the air. Air pollutants in Northeast Asia, such as China and Japan, are threatening the air environment in South Korea. [8] According to the International Joint Study on Long-distance Air Pollutants (LPT) in Northeast Asia, China's air pollutants have an average effect of 32% on ultrafine dust in three Korean cities. [8] [9]
Fine dust (PM10) refers to dust with a particle size of 10μm or less and ultrafine dust (PM2.5) refers to dust with a particle size of 2.5μm or less. [10] Common dust is large in particle size, so most of it is filtered out of the nasal hair or bronchial mucosa, which has a very small impact on the human body, but fine dust accumulates better in the body without filtering out the human nose hair, mouth, or bronchial tubes. [11] The International Cancer Research Institute under the World Health Organization(WTO) has designated fine dust as a first-degree carcinogen. [11]
| 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|
| Very bad | 4 days | 9 days |
| Bad | 57 days | 53 days |
| Normal | 174 days | 192 days |
| Good | 130 days | 111 days |
If you look at the annual trend of days with fine dust concentration above "bad," the number of days with "bad" is decreasing every year, while the number of days with "very bad" is increasing every year. [12] The 'very bad' days of 2019 were concentrated on January (3rd) and March (6th). [12] The reason for the increase in fine dust concentration more than "bad" than in the past is that the number of days when ultrafine dust generated abroad and in Korea has accumulated in the air due to air congestion has increased. [11]
From February 5, 2019, a special law on fine dust reduction and management was implemented. [13] This refers to emergency measures to improve air quality in a short period when a high concentration of fine dust (PM2.5) lasts for a certain period. [13] If emergency reduction measures are implemented, the public should actively participate in restricting the operation of vehicles, and businesses and construction sites should take measures to reduce fine dust, such as adjusting operating hours. In case of violation, a penalty will be imposed. [13]
Water pollution sources are largely classified as domestic sewage, industrial sewage, and livestock wastewater. [2] [ page needed ] Among them, the proportion of domestic sewage is overwhelmingly high. [2] [ page needed ] The main causes of water pollution include domestic sewage, industrial wastewater, and agricultural and livestock wastewater, but among them, domestic sewage occupies the largest proportion as the main source of pollution. [14] 60% of the total amount of wastewater generated is domestic sewage, followed by industrial wastewater, agricultural, and livestock wastewater. [14] Domestic sewage contains food waste, synthetic detergent, and septic tank manure. [14] These substances cause turbidity, eutrophication, and lack of dissolved oxygen, and if not purified, they contaminate lakes and rivers, destroying the water ecological environment. [14]
Major pollutants that generate domestic sewage include households, lodging, food service, and public baths. [2] [ page needed ] The main contaminants are suspended solids and nutrient dyes. [2] [ page needed ]
Industrial wastewater is generated as a result of various industrial activities. [2] [ page needed ]
This is of high concentration and contains a lot of harmful substances such as heavy metals. [2] [ page needed ]
Livestock wastewater is a liquid or solid pollutant discharged from livestock breeding. [2] [ page needed ]
Since it contains a lot of high-concentration organic substances, it increases water pollution if not properly managed and treated. [2] [ page needed ]
30tons of phenolic liquid leaked from Doosan Electronics in Gumi Industrial Complex into Nakdong River. [15]
A pipe ruptured in a phenol stock storage tank at Doosan Electronics in Gupo-dong, Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. 30 tons of phenol flowed into Okgyecheon, a tributary of the Nakdong River, and then went to the water intake plant of Daegu citizens. [15] As a result, when Daegu citizens reported that tap water smelled, the water intake plant added a large amount of chlorine disinfectant without properly identifying the cause, making the situation worse. [15] The water intake site responded with simple disinfection by adding a large amount of chlorine disinfectant. [15] However, when phenol is combined with chlorine, it undergoes a chemical reaction and turns into chlorophenol. [15] As a result, the tap water of Daegu Metropolitan City was quickly contaminated with phenol. [15] In addition, phenol flowed along the Nakdong River and was detected in Haman and Miryang downstream, and eventually, phenol was also detected in the water supply source of Busan Metropolitan City, causing contamination of the Nakdong River basin with phenol. [15]
Doosan officials apologized for the pollution and vowed to "restore tap water to normal." [16] Government prosecutors condemned the company and other factories for water pollution and instituted an immediate 70-day crackdown; they also arrested six Doosan officials. [16]
A tanker truck carrying 20tons of sulfuric acid crashed in the upper stream of the Nakdong River, killing a group of fish. [17] [18]
Water pollution waves, starting with the smell of tap water in Dalseong, Daegu, benzene, and toluene were detected in the Nakdong River water system. [19] [20]
Dichloromethane, a Carcinogenic substance, was detected more than 5300 times the standard value, and water intake at 12 water purification plants in the Nakdong River was stopped. [18]
The wastewater storage tank of the Seongseo Industrial Complex was deteriorated, causing corruption and urgent repair. It is the case of discharging 20 tons of waste oil that were being stored in the wastewater storage tank by using the rain gap during the rainy season. [21] [22]
It refers to a phenomenon in which various harmful substances are injected into the soil according to industries and production activities, and various plants, especially agricultural products, absorb harmful substances, causing harm to humans or animals ingesting them, or impeding the physical and chemical properties of the soil. [23] The size of the economy is growing year by year. Waste generation is increasing as consumption increases. If these are not handled properly, they can cause water pollution and soil pollution. [2] [ page needed ] South Korea defines 16 substances that cause soil pollution, including cadmium, copper, arsenic, mercury, oil, and organic solvents, as regulated soil pollutants. [24] For each substance, a soil pollution concern standard is established, which are soil pollution levels that are feared to interfere with human health and property and the growth of animals and plants. [24] Starting with the enactment of the Soil Environment Conservation Act in 1995, a full-fledged soil pollution investigation and purification project began. [25]
As a result of a survey of 2,512 locations nationwide, 50 locations exceeded the level of concern for soil contamination, and the excess detection rate increased by about 0.2% compared to the previous year (1.8% in 2017, 2.0% in 2018). [26] The detection rate of each city and province based on soil pollution concerns is high in the order of Gyeonggi, Seoul, and Busan. (Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan, Sejong, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeju have not found any points exceeding the standard.) [26]
| Status of soil pollution concerns exceeded by local governments in 2018 [26] | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sortation | Sum | Seoul | Busan | Daegu | Incheon | Gwangju | Daejeon | Ulsan | Sejong | Gyeonggi | Gangwon | Chungbuk | Chungnam | Jeonbuk | Jeonnam | Gyeongbuk | Gyeongnam | Jeju |
| Survey area score | 2,512 | 317 | 104 | 116 | 89 | 95 | 85 | 65 | 15 | 293 | 222 | 134 | 199 | 155 | 158 | 250 | 165 | 50 |
| Number of samples | 3,417 | 347 | 165 | 116 | 89 | 95 | 125 | 83 | 15 | 920 | 232 | 134 | 199 | 155 | 218 | 272 | 198 | 108 |
| Exceeded Region Score | 50 | 10 | 9 | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 17 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Excess rate (%) | 2.0 | 3.2 | 8.7 | — | 2.2 | 3.2 | — | — | — | 5.8 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.3 | — | — | — |
In general, North Korea's environment is known to be less polluted than South Korea's, but North Korea is also in a serious state of environmental pollution due to its lack of awareness, investment, and technological conditions, and reckless development that destroys nature. [27] So far, little has been known about North Korea's environmentalist policies, but the North Korean representative participated in Rio Summit and expressed his intention to respond to inter-Korean consultations on environmental issues. [27] It became known to the world by acknowledging it. [27] However, the environmental situation in North Korea is still not well known to the outside world, and related damage is only being reported intermittently. [28]
North Korea mainly uses low-quality coal and wood as its main fuel and burns household waste to heat and cook, which is expected to expose it to considerable air pollution during the winter months. [29] The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the death rate from air pollution in North Korea is the highest in the world. [30] The current status of air pollution in North Korea is estimated to vary greatly depending on air pollutants and regions. [28] In the case of industrial districts, air pollution seems to be quite serious because air pollution regulations or pollution treatment devices are underdeveloped, or pollution treatment facilities are not operating properly due to a lack of electricity and parts. [31] Also, air pollutants emitted a lot from coal combustion, which is the main energy source in North Korea, the concentration tends to be high mainly in densely populated metropolitan areas and industrial districts. [31] The WHO reported that the death rate from home and background air pollution per 100,000 people in North Korea was 238.4, indicating that the use of air pollution multi-emissions fuel has a significant negative impact on the health of North Koreans. [32]
The biggest source of water pollution in North Korea is industrial wastewater dumped from factories and mines. [27] This pollutes not only rivers in the industrial complex but also coastal waters and groundwater. [27] [33] In areas where the population is dense, such as the Taedong River and the Tumen River, and industrial activities are high, water pollution in rivers is believed to be quite serious due to untreated sewage. [27] The seasonal water quality of the Taedong River does not exceed environmental standards, but chlorine and Escherichia coli are significantly higher than environmental standards. [34] [ page needed ] In the case of the Taedong River, about half of the sewage and excrement flows into it without being purified, so that residents who drink the tap water are complaining of stomach pain. [35] [ page needed ] In the case of the Tumen River, coal mine wastewater, bleach, and domestic sewage flow from the Musan coal mine, Hoeryeong paper plant, and Gaesantun pulp plant in China, and it is in a serious state of water pollution. [35] [ page needed ] It is estimated that North Korea's major rivers passing through large cities and factories and mining areas are severely polluted. [28] The reason for the water pollution problem in North Korea is, above all, that environmental basic facilities such as sewage treatment plants that can handle water pollutants are not properly established. [28]
North Korea generates less waste from its living system due to a lack of supplies. [28] Most of the solid waste generated in Pyongyang is coal ash, accounting for 64% of the total. In addition, fruits and grains consist of 10%, glass 2%, metal 5%, paper waste 5%, plastic 2%, cloth 2%, etc. [28] Reusable materials are mainly paper, glass, iron, rubber, clothing, plastic, bottles, and Non-ferrous metals, whose reuse is limited by a lack of technology. [34] [ page needed ] This composition is quite different from that of a typical city in South Korea. [28] According to North Korean defectors, most of the waste generated in life is reused as much as possible, and most of the final waste discharged is used as heating and cooking fuel due to a lack of fuel. [28] North Korea's waste disposal method can be inferred from the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the waste sector. It is assumed that most of the wastes in North Korea are incinerated or open-air incinerated, so it seems that the collection and treatment of wastes are not performed properly. [28] When incinerated, waste is transferred to air pollution, whereas when disposed of on land, it can cause soil and groundwater pollution. [28]
Korea's environment based on statistics [36]
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance or energy. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.
Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia, located north of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. With an area of 447,000 square kilometers, Uzbekistan stretches 1,425 km (885 mi) from west to east and 930 km (580 mi) from north to south. It borders Turkmenistan to the southwest, Kazakhstan to the north and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to the south and east. Uzbekistan also has four small exclaves in Turkmenistan.
Industrial waste is the waste produced by industrial activity which includes any material that is rendered useless during a manufacturing process such as that of factories, mills, and mining operations. Types of industrial waste include dirt and gravel, masonry and concrete, scrap metal, oil, solvents, chemicals, scrap lumber, even vegetable matter from restaurants. Industrial waste may be solid, semi-solid or liquid in form. It may be hazardous waste or non-hazardous waste. Industrial waste may pollute the nearby soil or adjacent water bodies, and can contaminate groundwater, lakes, streams, rivers or coastal waters. Industrial waste is often mixed into municipal waste, making accurate assessments difficult. An estimate for the US goes as high as 7.6 billion tons of industrial waste produced annually, as of 2017. Most countries have enacted legislation to deal with the problem of industrial waste, but strictness and compliance regimes vary. Enforcement is always an issue.
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities, so that it negatively affects its uses. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants mix with these water bodies. Contaminants can come from one of four main sources: sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater. Water pollution is either surface water pollution or groundwater pollution. This form of pollution can lead to many problems, such as the degradation of aquatic ecosystems or spreading water-borne diseases when people use polluted water for drinking or irrigation. Another problem is that water pollution reduces the ecosystem services that the water resource would otherwise provide.
Industrial wastewater treatment describes the processes used for treating wastewater that is produced by industries as an undesirable by-product. After treatment, the treated industrial wastewater may be reused or released to a sanitary sewer or to a surface water in the environment. Some industrial facilities generate wastewater that can be treated in sewage treatment plants. Most industrial processes, such as petroleum refineries, chemical and petrochemical plants have their own specialized facilities to treat their wastewaters so that the pollutant concentrations in the treated wastewater comply with the regulations regarding disposal of wastewaters into sewers or into rivers, lakes or oceans. This applies to industries that generate wastewater with high concentrations of organic matter, toxic pollutants or nutrients such as ammonia. Some industries install a pre-treatment system to remove some pollutants, and then discharge the partially treated wastewater to the municipal sewer system.
Soil contamination, soil pollution, or land pollution as a part of land degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead, and other heavy metals. Contamination is correlated with the degree of industrialization and intensity of chemical substance. The concern over soil contamination stems primarily from health risks, from direct contact with the contaminated soil, vapour from the contaminants, or from secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil. Mapping of contaminated soil sites and the resulting clean ups are time-consuming and expensive tasks, and require expertise in geology, hydrology, chemistry, computer modelling, and GIS in Environmental Contamination, as well as an appreciation of the history of industrial chemistry.
The Ministry of Environment is the South Korea branch of government charged with environmental protection. In addition to enforcing regulations and sponsoring ecological research, the Ministry manages the national parks of South Korea. Its headquarters is in Sejong City.
Asian Dust is a meteorological phenomenon that affects much of East Asia year-round and especially during the spring months. The dust originates in the deserts of China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan, where high-speed surface winds and intense dust storms kick up dense clouds of fine, dry soil particles. These clouds are then carried eastward by prevailing winds and pass over China, North and South Korea, and Japan, as well as parts of the Russian Far East. Sometimes, the airborne particulates are carried much further, in significant concentrations which affect air quality as far east as the United States.
This article discusses topics related to the environment of Pakistan.
Sewage treatment is a type of wastewater treatment which aims to remove contaminants from sewage to produce an effluent that is suitable to discharge to the surrounding environment or an intended reuse application, thereby preventing water pollution from raw sewage discharges. Sewage contains wastewater from households and businesses and possibly pre-treated industrial wastewater. There are a high number of sewage treatment processes to choose from. These can range from decentralized systems to large centralized systems involving a network of pipes and pump stations which convey the sewage to a treatment plant. For cities that have a combined sewer, the sewers will also carry urban runoff (stormwater) to the sewage treatment plant. Sewage treatment often involves two main stages, called primary and secondary treatment, while advanced treatment also incorporates a tertiary treatment stage with polishing processes and nutrient removal. Secondary treatment can reduce organic matter from sewage, using aerobic or anaerobic biological processes. A so-called quarternary treatment step can also be added for the removal of organic micropollutants, such as pharmaceuticals. This has been implemented in full-scale for example in Sweden.
Sewage is a type of wastewater that is produced by a community of people. It is typically transported through a sewer system. Sewage consists of wastewater discharged from residences and from commercial, institutional and public facilities that exist in the locality. Sub-types of sewage are greywater and blackwater. Sewage also contains soaps and detergents. Food waste may be present from dishwashing, and food quantities may be increased where garbage disposal units are used. In regions where toilet paper is used rather than bidets, that paper is also added to the sewage. Sewage contains macro-pollutants and micro-pollutants, and may also incorporate some municipal solid waste and pollutants from industrial wastewater.
The environmental effect of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is being investigated since at least the 1990s. PPCPs include substances used by individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons and the products used by agribusiness to boost growth or health of livestock. More than twenty million tons of PPCPs are produced every year. The European Union has declared pharmaceutical residues with the potential of contamination of water and soil to be "priority substances".[3]
Water pollution in the United States is a growing problem that became critical in the 19th century with the development of mechanized agriculture, mining, and industry, although laws and regulations introduced in the late 20th century have improved water quality in many water bodies. Extensive industrialization and rapid urban growth exacerbated water pollution as a lack of regulation allowed for discharges of sewage, toxic chemicals, nutrients and other pollutants into surface water.
Pollution is an environmental issue in Canada. It has posed health risks to the Canadian population and is an area of concern for Canadian lawmakers. Air, water and soil pollution as well as the associated health effects are prominent points of contention in modern Canadian society.
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Islamabad has many environmental issues, severely affecting its biophysical environment as well as human health. The industrialization as well as lax environmental oversight have contributed to the problems. The various forms of pollution have increased as Karachi which has caused widespread environmental and health problems. Air pollution, lack of proper waste management infrastructure and degradation of water bodies are the major environmental issues in Karachi.
Environmental issues in Toronto encompasses all those concerns and opportunities presented by the environment of Toronto. Many are harmful effects, such as the pollution of air and water, while others are factors influenced by urban infrastructures such as highways and public transportation services. As a result of the city's large population, substantial waste is produced annually.
Environmental issues in North Macedonia include air and water pollution, deforestation, threats to endemic species and climate change. There is substantial degree of pollution in the air, water and land of North Macedonia. According to 2019 estimates, the country is considered to have one of the highest degrees of pollution in Europe.
Waste management in South Korea involves waste generation reduction and ensuring maximum recycling of the waste. This includes the appropriate treatment, transport, and disposal of the collected waste. South Korea's Waste Management Law was established in 1986, replacing the Environmental Protection Law (1963) and the Filth and Cleaning Law (1973). This new law aimed to reduce general waste under the waste hierarchy in South Korea. This Waste Management Law imposed a volume-based waste fee system, effective for waste produced by both household and industrial activities.
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