Yellow dust advisory issued in Seoul

SEOUL (Yonhap) – The weather office issued this year's first advisory against yellow dust particles in the city on Sunday, the Seoul metropolitan government said, asking citizens to stay indoors.

The Korea Meteorological Administration issued the advisory as of 5 p.m. as an hourly average dust concentration of more than 400 micrograms per cubic meter is expected to continue for more than two hours, the city government said.

The same advisory is also in place in Gyeonggi Province, it added.

Seoul's atmospheric concentration levels of "particulate matter (PM)-10" pollutants recorded 232 micrograms per cubic meter as of 4 p.m.

PM-10 refers to airborne particles 10 micrometers or less in diameter. Epidemiological evidence indicates that exposure to such pollutants causes cardiac and respiratory problems, according to experts.

Originating from the deserts in southern Mongolia and northern China, the dusty air flew into the Korean Peninsula on a northwesterly wind over the weekend, the city government said.

"Citizens should refrain from doing outdoor activities in order to minimize damage from the yellow dust. When going outside, they are advised to wear protective glasses and yellow-dust masks," it said.