'Group Dermatitis' Outbreak at Busan Water Playground: Water Quality Normal but Cases Increasing?

Local Governments Conduct Additional Safety Inspections on Flooring Materials and Water Play Facilities

Water Playground at Sinhogong Park operated by Gangseo-gu./Photo by Busan Gangseo-gu, Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] There have been claims that a group outbreak of contact dermatitis occurred at a water playground in Gangseo-gu, Busan, but it has been confirmed that there are no issues with the water quality at the playground. Local governments plan to expand the investigation to cover all water playground facilities to identify the cause.

According to Gangseo-gu, Busan, on the 26th, the Busan City Health and Environment Research Institute tested three items related to the water quality of the problematic water playground: pH level, turbidity, and E. coli, all of which were confirmed to be within normal ranges.

Earlier, after numerous complaints of skin diseases following the use of the water playground in Jisadong, Gangseo-gu, Busan, on the 16th and 17th, Gangseo-gu requested a water quality test from the Health and Environment Research Institute on the 20th.

Although no particular problems were found in the water quality test, additional complaints were received, prompting the district to increase the number of test items for more detailed water quality verification and to conduct additional safety inspections on floor materials and water playground facilities. As of now, the total number of complaints received by Gangseo-gu related to this issue has increased by 4 from the previous day, reaching 56.

The district will collect samples of the floor material, which is coated with elastic material, and send them to the Korea Industrial Safety Association to check for the presence of harmful substances. They will also comprehensively examine the ozone levels used to sterilize the water and the water playground equipment.

Accordingly, the Jisadong water playground, which has been temporarily closed since the 20th, will remain closed for the time being.