Concerning Signs
Despite POSCO investing more than 1 trillion won (US$757 million) over five years since 2017 in environmental improvement costs to reduce air pollutants, the amount of dust containing carcinogens has been increasing every year.
According to the results of automatic chimney emission measurements by Korea Environment Corporation on May 9, POSCO’s Gwangyang Works had the highest annual emissions of 16,621 tons in 2021 among 827 worksites across the nation. The plant also ranked first in 2019 by emitting 19,420 tons and in 2020 by emitting 19,995 tons. Air pollutants measured by Korea Environment Corporation include dust, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and carbon monoxides.
Although POSCO’s Gwangyang Works was dishonored as the No. 1 air pollutant emitter for the third consecutive year, the plant’s total amount has contracted by about 17 percent from 2019.
POSCO invested 1.49 trillion won (US$1.13 billion) in environmental improvement costs from 2017 to 2021, according to POSCO Holdings. It introduced coal silos, dust collectors, and nitrogen oxide reduction equipment for sintering and power generation at its Gwangyang Works and Pohang Works.
However, despite these investments, the amount of dust emissions has been steadily increasing every year. In 2019, the amount was 238 tons, followed by 308 tons in 2020 and 378 tons in 2021.
The percentage of dust in the steelmaker’s total air pollutants is actually not that big. However, dust from steel mills contains heavy metals. Fine dust from steel mills is a carcinogen designated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In June of last year, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences released some of the results of a health impact survey of residents of Ondong Village in Myodo, Yeosu, Jeolla Province, about 2 kilometers from POSCO’s Gwangyang Plant. They showed that heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, and lead were detected in large amounts in their bodies.
Residents of the village complain that they are unable to carry out their daily activities due to dust from the steel plant. According to a report on pollution and damage in the area around steel plants released by the Jeonnam Green Alliance in November 2022, residents of Myodo testified that they had no choice but to keep their windows closed even during the hot summer months, and are unable to take light walks and do any exercise except for farming.
POSCO did not provide a clear explanation for the increasing amount of dust while the total amount of air pollutants has shrunk. However, the company said, “We plan to invest an additional 1.78 trillion won [US$1.35 billion] in environmental facilities by 2024, and we will do our best to curb fugitive dust generation, especially by sealing raw material yards.”