Contamination in Korea
After the discovery last month of asbestos contamination of the Danish transport system,1 it comes as no surprise to learn that the Seoul subway system is similarly polluted. The findings of tests, conducted in November 2006, were announced on January 22, 2007: asbestos fibers were found in 14 stations2 on three lines of Seoul's subway system. The fibers were liberated from asbestos-containing products used in the 1970s and 1980s in the subways for noise and heat insulation; the use of such products ceased in 2001, but no attempt has been made to remove those previously installed.
Even though a spokesperson for the testing company, ETS Consulting, downplayed the risks saying that airborne asbestos in the stations was “below the permissible level,” Seoul Metro promised to decontaminate the stations and remove contaminated materials.3 While the company's intentions might be good, there are several problems with implementing its plans:
There is no company in Korea certified by the Government to remove asbestos safely as stipulated in 2003 by the Ministry of Labor; companies undertaking such work only hold licenses for the removal of ordinary construction materials. According to Seok Mi-hi, CEO of ETS Consulting: “No South Korean company exists right now to remove asbestos on the walls and ceilings of a subway station with the guarantee of safety.” Seok recommended the use of foreign companies experienced in asbestos removal procedures.
There are no asbestos removal training programs in South Korea; as a consequence, there are no workers with the skills or experience to tackle this work.
There are only a handful of institutions in South Korea with the facilities for carrying out bulk analysis and sampling of materials suspected to contain asbestos.
An editorial entitled Threat of Asbestos in The Korea Times on January 23, 2007, pointed out that many Koreans have been exposed to the asbestos hazard in these stations:
“most of the stations have undergone major construction, installing elevators, ventilation or other facilities lately. A cold shiver runs down our spine when we consider the vast amount of dust poured on passengers during construction. Asbestos is widely used in insulation and ceiling tiles in subway stations. So, these materials should have been handled very carefully during construction work…
The government correctly decided to restrict the use of asbestos from manufacturing and construction materials. But an across-the-board ban will not come until 2009, though the use of asbestos is already banned in the U.S. and European nations.”4
In February 2007, the Labor Ministry (Korea) announced that a national asbestos ban will take effect in 2009.5
January 29, 2007 (Updated February 5, 2007)
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1 See: Hidden Asbestos Risk in Denmark
2 Affected stations:
Line 2: Youngdeungpo Office, Hanyang University, Euljiro 1-ga, Shinlim, City Hall, Seolleung, Bangbae, Sangwangsimni, Samsung, Bongrae, Mungrae, Nakseongdae, Seoul National University of Education and Seocho;
Line 3: Chungmuro
Line 4: Sukmyung Womans University and Sukmyung Womans University (Donam)
3 Asbestos Detected in 17 Subway Stations. The Chosun Ilbo. January 23, 2007. http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200701/200701230030.html
Seoul Subway says it will Remove Asbestos. The Hankyoreh, January 26, 2007.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/186739.html
4 http://search.hankooki.com/times/times_view.php?term=threat+of+asbestos++&path=hankooki3/times/lpage/opinion/200701/
kt2007012317424654050.htm&media=kt
5 http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200702/200702050011.html
