[Editorial] Serious `carcinogenic air` in Residential Areas

The report that similar amounts of carcinogenic substances, found near industrial area are in the air in Seoul residential areas, shows how worse environment we are living in.

To provide clean air and water is the basic of environment policy.

Nevertheless, the air in Dae chi dong Gangnam-gu, Seoul is no different from polluted air of Sihwa Industrial area or Incheon reclaimed land, it is doubtful what on earth environment policy of current government is.

If Daechi-dong that is big-scale apartment town and is well-known for excellent residential environment is like this, it is useless to investigate other areas.

Benzene and styrene among noxious substances that environment ministry measured this time are representatives of carcinogenic substances.

According to result of investigation, density of Benzene in Daechi-dong was far higher than Incheon Yeonhui dong, near reclaimed land and styrene was above than what is found in Sihwa industrial area.

This is compatible to the result of investigation of environment pollution research in Yeonsei univ. that volatile organic compound found in domestic metropolitan cities is of the level which can cause cancer to 7 among 10,000 people.

Therefore, it is not strange that cancer has recently become the first reason of death of our people.

It is too absurd that there are no standards of allowing exhaust regarding noxious substance yet.

Japan already confirmed environmental standard regarding three noxious substances like benzene.

The U.S is managing carefully by not only environmental standards but also measuring the efficiency how these substances can harm the health.

It is not only advanced nations.

Even China also declared `war on pollution` in the beginning of this year.

Likewise, it has been long time that management of noxious substances in air appeared as issue of environmental policy, however, we could barely managed to measure it now, far from arranging standards.

Thus, we are speechless to hear about backward nation in environment.

The main cause for air pollution in residential area which is located not even in industrial area is exhaust gas of car.

Therefore, prior job for retrieving clean air is to reinforce the standards regarding exhaust gas of car and to drop benzene content in gasoline.

Besides, the standards regarding air noxious substance should be arranged.

To provide sound life condition to people is the basic duty of nation.