UPDATE : Monday, September 7, 2020
상단여백
HOME Life science
Experts call for government to reduce fine dust
  • By Lee Min-ju
  • Published 2017.09.28 15:30
  • Updated 2017.09.28 15:30
  • comments 0

Find dust affects not only respiratory organs but circulatory, nerve systems and pediatric diseases, and therefore the government should come up with drastic steps to reduce it, experts said Wednesday.

At an academic forum jointly organized by National Academy of Medicine of Korea (NAMOK)대한민국의학한림원, the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK)한국공학한림원, and the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST)한국과학기술한림원 in Severance Cancer Hospital세브란스 암병원, the participants shared the view that fine dust affects the occurrences of various diseases.

“Fine dust has a bad effect on respiratory diseases. Particularly it hinders children’s lung growth and degrades adults’ lung functions,” said Yoon Hyung-kyu윤형규, a professor at the internal medicine division of the Catholic University of Korea.

“The stunted development of lung function caused by fine dust rapidly aggravates the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and increases mortality rate,” Yoon said. “The increase of fine dust in the air also heightens the risk of lung cancer and the occurrence rate of asthma.”

Experts emphasize how fine dust affects the occurrences of various diseases during a forum at Severance Hospital Wednesday.

"Domestic and foreign researchers have also found exposure to fine dust increases the risk of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and arteriosclerosis,” said Park Sung-ha박성하, a professor at the internal medicine division of Yonsei University College of Medicine. “Another study showed regardless of the exposure period, it also raises the occurrences of stroke, heart failure, and angina.”

“Fine dust causes the respiratory tract infections of children and heightens the incidents of allergy, asthma, and bronchiolitis. Besides, domestic researches showed it affected atopic dermatitis and autism for children, said Hong Soo-jong홍수종, a professor at pediatrics division of University of Ulsan College of Medicine. “Fine dust increases the mortality rate of children, degrades lung growth and function of children, and deters psychological development. It can cause premature birth and low weight for babies while causing stress, gestosis, and fetal growth retardation for mothers.”

These experts said the government has to take drastic measures to reduce fine dust.

Professor Jang Young-gi장영기 at the environmental energy engineering department of Suwon University called for strengthening fuel policy, enhancing the management of unmanaged combustion, improving the credibility of regular measurement and emission data, and air pollution control based on the contribution of concentration.

“The government needs to work out fuel policy by taking into account the emissions polluting the air, discharge of greenhouse gases and the emission of hazardous air pollutant (HAP) at the same time,” Jang said. “As pollutants from illegal incineration, stoves burning firewood, and the combustion of agricultural remnants are serious, the government has to take measures to prevent them.”

The Ministry of Environment환경부 said it would produce visible results in reducing fine dust within five years through consultation with experts. “We have tried to include the various proposals of experts in our policy against fine dust,” said Director-General Kim Beop-jung김법정. “We will develop implementing the ability to turn these steps into action.”

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(KCDC)질병관리본부 said it would provide an action guide according to the concentration of fine dust.

“Currently, we have a guideline for people vulnerable to fine dust such as people with underlying diseases, the elderly, and children,” said Lee Hee-il이희일, a team leader at KCDC. “As this workshop has reaffirmed the risks of fine dust to all people, we will make a general guideline about how people should cope with fine dust when its concentration goes up.”

minju9minju@docdocdoc.co.kr

<© Korea Biomedical Review, All rights reserved.>

Other articles by Lee Min-ju
iconMost viewed
Comments 0
More
Please leave the first comment.
여백
여백
여백
Back to Top