Pollution Policy
POLICY NAME Air Pollution Policy
UPDATE BY Head of College
REVIEWED ON Jan 2023
NEXT REVIEW Jan 2025
Policy Objective
The College monitors our surrounding environment to ensure we take all reasonable precautions to keep children safe at school. The Seoul Metropolitan Government provides an air pollution forecast service and guidance on required action when levels of PM2.5, PM10 or yellow dust reach particular levels. The College always follows the advice offered by the local government. There is an air pollution monitoring station at the end of the school’s road.
We access Seoul data on air pollution from: http://cleanair.seoul.go.kr/air_city.htm?method=measure
We access guidance on air pollution in Seoul through the Seoul Metropolitan Government site: http://english.seoul.go.kr/policy/environment-energy/air-quality/1-air-quality-information/
Please see the annotated website page that follows for an explanation of what data we access for our decision making. If either PM10 or PM2.5 readings reach an ‘unhealthy’ air quality level we will respond as per the guidance in the grid shown in Appendix C.
In addition, the College may obtain advice from the local government to close the school. This would occur during a PM10 / yellow dust density of 800 µg/m³ per hour lasting over 2 hours or a PM2.5 density of 250 µg/m3 per hour lasting over 2 hours. http://cleanair.seoul.go.kr/main.htm
College Measurement and Response
Measurement
Common air pollution Apps do not report precise current concentrations of specific pollutants but use a calculation based on the current and previous 24 hours figures to estimate an air pollution index. For example, you will see the AQI figures on AQICN.org are different from the raw data figures (micrograms cubic metre of PM2.5 or PM10) that the Korean government quote. Similarly to the government, our policy is based on an assessment of the raw and current data for pollutants – this provides us with the opportunity to react to real-time changes in pollutant concentrations.
PM 2.5 / PM 10 / Yellow Dust / AQI
We monitor hourly levels of PM2.5 and PM10 particles in the atmosphere and a 24 hour AQI. Simple graphics formed from the real-time data is shown on our screen in the foyer and on teachers’ laptops. These guide our response and ensure all staff, students and parents have access to visible data.
School Response
The school’s response to air pollution depends on the age of students, type of activity and length of potential exposure. The grid at the end of this document defines our various responses to real-time concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particles in the atmosphere as measured at our local monitoring station. In addition, SMG AQI figures are responded to when they reach what are defined by the index as in the ‘Red’ zone.
When the external air quality warrants limitations to outside access or strenuous activity, an email warning is sent to all staff to advise of the air quality levels and the appropriate response. In addition, external doors and windows should be closed to ensure optimum air filtering in the classroom can be achieved.
The College has invested in a centrally controlled air filtration system incorporating over 100 air filtration units across the College. This system ensures that even during poor air quality days, the air quality within the classroom is always at an acceptable level. The effectiveness of this system is monitored using an extensive monitoring system that measures the PM2.5 levels in each classroom as well as CO² levels, Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), Temperature and Humidity.
❑ Seoul Metropolitan Government / Air pollution information.
- Korean website
- http://cleanair.seoul.go.kr/air_city.htm?method=measure
- English website
- http://english.seoul.go.kr/policy/environment-energy/air-quality/1-air-quality-information/
