These days, South Korea is covered in a thick blanket of fine dust, so it is hard to see a clear sky. Many news sites have reported about the negative impact of fine dust. However, many people do not realize the seriousness of fine dust. Not only do they not know the effect of fine dust on the human body, they also do not know how to take preventive measures against fine dust. In addition, they do not know what exactly fine dust is.

Many people think fine dust is fog, but it is precisely smog. Smog is a compound word that combines smoke and fog. It means the condition when polluted air remains with fog. When the car exhaust fumes, or sulfur monoxide and carbon monoxide which are produced when coal is burnt meet fog and sunlight, they trigger smog.

There are two kinds of smog; London type smog and Los Angeles type smog. First, London type smog is black colored smog that is made by pollutants from factories and household heating equipment. It usually appears during winter months.

The word London type smog was derived from a 1952 accident in London that resulted in the death of many people. England was an advanced industrial nation. There was a high demand for energy to power homes and factories. In London, the capital city of England, coal which emitted sulfur dioxide was used as industrial fuel and domestic fuel and it triggered serious atmospheric pollution.

As air pollution was sustained, thick fog did not disappear and the amount of sun light was 40% less than in other areas. As the result of sustained serious air pollution, the London sky was full of smog. People in London were tortured by smog; they got eye infections and could not breathe well. As a result of the smog, 4,000 people died in five days, and 12,000 people died by spring of the same year.

The second type of smog is Los Angeles smog. It is photochemical smog which is triggered by car exhaust fumes. In other words, when nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons from the exhaust have a chemical reaction with ultraviolet light, the noxious chemical ozone is made. The ozone triggers the light brown colored Los Angeles type smog. The ozone in the air causes headaches, sore eyes, and respiratory infections.

In Korea both the London type and the Los Angeles type of smog have appeared. During spring and winter, the London type of smog is prevalent, and during the summer the Los Angeles type of smog is common. Seoul is especially impacted by smog. Both forms of smog occur in Seoul and they combine to turn the sky gray. There are complex causes that trigger smog in Seoul.

To protect our body from smog (fine dust), there are several preventative measures we can take. It is best to stay indoors when the fine dust concentrations are high. When heading out, it is important to wear a face mask and a long-sleeved shirt to minimize skin exposure to pollutants. When returning home, taking a shower helps to remove dust. Washing your face, brushing your teeth, and using eye drops can help to remove dust. Wearing eye glasses rather than contact lenses can also help.

In addition, drinking enough water helps prevent dust from entering your body. At the same time, it also helps the body remove the toxic substances through sweat or urine. Consuming a lot of vitamins from fruits and vegetables can also help the body deal with the negative effects of fine dust. Using an air purifier can prevent respiratory disease and exposure to fine dust, but cleaning the home frequently is more helpful to prevent the exposure.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fine dust is classified as the first group of carcinogens. It means it belongs to the same carcinogenesis category as the hepatitis B virus, asbestos, and alcohol. To prevent our body from fine dust, it is important to take preventative measures.

L.L.F. Editor-in-chief Eun-Young Kim