Air quality in Daegu well within international limits

DAEGU, Aug. 22 (Yonhap) -- When the World Championships in Athletics kicks off here on Saturday, athletes from around the world will compete in relatively clean air.
According to health officials in Daegu Monday, figures indicating the degree of air pollution across the city were well below the limits set by the World Health Organization.



Based on the study by Daegu Research Institute of Public Health & Environment conducted between Aug. 5 and 11, the average particulate matter (PM-10) concentration at Daegu Stadium, the main venue of the competition, was 25 micrograms per cubic meter, half of the WHO standard and a quarter of the local limit.
At Daegu Stadium, the fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) concentration, far more hazardous materials in the air, checked in at 13 micrograms per cubic meter, about half of the WHO limit of 25 micrograms per cubic meter.
Over the marathon and walk course across downtown Daegu, the PM-10 concentration was 21 micrograms per cubic meter on average.
At the Beijing Olympics, Haile Gebrselassie, world record holder in men's marathon, withdrew from the competition citing the poor air quality in the Chinese capital.
"Daegu Stadium and the marathon course are maintaining a fairly good air quality," said Kim Jong-woo, head of the research institute. "And to ensure the championships will be held in clean and pleasant conditions, we ask people to leave their cars at home and use public transportation."
The nine-day championships, the top biennial competition by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), will bring together nearly 2,500 athletes from at least 206 countries.