Please End the Hellish War with Iron Powder

Residents of Daeseong Village, Daeseok-ri, Sangbuk-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam, have been suffering for two years from rust-colored metal dust flying from a nearby factory.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] On the afternoon of the 22nd, at the entrance of Daeseong Village, Sangbuk-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam, where the hazy sky seemed to touch the ground, there was a sharp, acrid smell that stung the nose.

The village surroundings were tangled with large and small factories. At some point, this place naturally came to be called the 'Iron Dust Village.'

A resident encountered in the village said, “Because of the iron dust that started blowing about three years ago, we can't even open the windows in summer despite the heat.” They complained that they live in fear of the daily 'black invasion' that affects their laundry and yard.

He soon added, “The noise and dust from the factories are so painful,” and broke down in tears, unable to continue speaking.

The villagers here are complaining of great inconvenience due to flying dust and iron dust drifting into their homes.

Adjacent to the houses, there is a factory that repairs construction equipment and refurbishes large rusty steel pipes. Residents unanimously said the village changed after this company moved in a few years ago. The village, which had lived without much worry, even came to be nicknamed 'Iron Dust Village.'

According to environmental groups in Yangsan-si, residents of Daeseong Village, Sangbuk-myeon, have filed several complaints with Yangsan City from 2018 to recently, claiming that iron dust and flying dust come from nearby factories.

However, Yangsan City has responded to the residents' complaints by stating there is no significant problem.

A Yangsan City official said, “There are no specific regulations for addressing environmental issues caused by steel material stockpiles,” and “Without voluntary efforts from the companies, it is difficult to resolve the problem.”

This means Yangsan City has no clear solution. As a result, the anxiety and distress of the villagers are growing.

An environmental group official said, “According to Article 43, Paragraph 1 of the Atmospheric Environment Conservation Act, businesses that generate flying dust must report to the local city office and take measures to prevent dust dispersion in accordance with the Act.”

They added, “City governance that ignores citizens and prioritizes vested interests must be improved,” and “We will continue to raise issues about the administration’s complacent response, which should prioritize citizens' health and safety and strive to make the city a better place to live.”

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), iron dust and flying dust are classified as carcinogens and can cause dementia, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and various dermatitis.

Professor Son Hyun-geun of the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences at Kosin University said, “Flying dust and iron dust are major pollutants causing fine dust and are classified as carcinogens by the World Health Organization (WHO). When inhaled, they cause lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and neurological disorders.”

In response to the residents' suffering, a company representative only replied, “Since nearby residents are complaining of inconvenience, we will try to have direct talks.”

A village resident said, “Since 2019, we have repeatedly requested improvements through environmental groups, but the company has taken no action,” and demanded, “Now, Yangsan City should actively step up to find more effective solutions.”

He appealed, “Please take measures to quickly end this hellish war against iron dust.”