When I first arrived in Korea last May it was near the end of the yellow dust season. We have now entered the beginning of the season,which happens during spring. The yellow dust also known as the Asian dust comes from northern China and floats through the air all over Asia. It is worse over China, Korea and Japan. It is not all the time but periodically it happens in the spring and has been getting worse over the past decade due to the rapid desertification and increased pollution in China. The dust contains many chemicals and pollutants.
The main problems caused by the dust are increased respiratory problems, even people who normally don't suffer from these ailments can have problems. It also causes less visibility, at times it is like a light fog. This dust can also cover things and cause them to turn yellow. This is the most significant at airports where decreased visibility can cause canceled flights and also run ways and planes have to be cleaned when they are covered in the dust. It can also kill plants, harm coral, make animals sick and even kill smaller ones and it also effects the yield and quality of crops. I have asthma and it is slightly worse during these times but it hasn't been that bad but it is not as bad here in Korea as it is in China.
Many countries have tried to help solve this problem but it is still getting worse. Korea,Japan and the US among other nations have offered both financial support and materials to help combat the problem such as trees and sulfur filters. But China will only accept help if they can decide how to use the support which means the trees often get planted in areas where they won't help like next to highways in the wrong part of the country. The money can be used anywhere the government wants and the filters are stored and no factories are forced to use them. So the help has no effect on the dust due to China's mismanagement of the resources.
This dust can even reach as far as the U.S. and it effects global weather and air pollution. In certain parts of China the air can become so polluted it becomes deadly and fatality rates can rise almost 2% during these times. There is not much one can do except stay in doors during the bad times and wear a mask when they go outside. Many people including myself wear masks when the yellow dust gets bad.
Here is a link to wikipedia Asian Dust page if you want to learn more.
Asian Dust on Wikipedia
