"Throat Burns and Headaches in 10 Minutes"... Soccer Field Next to Apartment Reeking of Stench

"The smell of burning plastic is so strong it gives me a headache and reaches all the way up to the 6th floor of the apartment."

On August 19, a 60-year-old apartment resident surnamed Lee in Doksan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, voiced complaints, stating that the odor emanating from the artificial turf soccer field inside the nearby Doksan Neighborhood Park was extremely foul.

Residents of the apartment, located just 150 meters away from the soccer field, complained that they suffer greatly every summer from the stench whenever they open their windows for ventilation.

The soccer field, which sits right next to the apartment complex, measures 91 meters in width and 56 meters in length.

At 10:00 AM on that day, when midday temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), approaching close to the soccer field fence immediately assaulted the nose with a pungent smell resembling burning rubber.

The odor of rubber heated by the heat was particularly severe on the side close to the apartment management office.

Inspecting the inside of the soccer field, pellet-type rubber infill was seen piled up thickly along the edges of the artificial turf.

Some had even leaked out beyond the fence to the area beneath the benches.

This rubber infill, heated by the sunlight, was one of the main causes of the stinging, irritating odor.

Rubber infill was also visible in various spots inside the soccer field.

The problem of the artificial turf stench recurring every summer has escalated into collective backlash from residents.

The resident representative council of Apartment A submitted a petition to the Geumcheon-gu Office in June, collecting signatures from 363 residents across four buildings adjacent to the soccer field, demanding the creation of a resident-friendly green park.

Residents urged for a resolution not only regarding the artificial turf odor, but also concerning the noise, unauthorized smoking by soccer field users, and fine dust issues that have accumulated over the years.

An official from the resident representative council explained, "Complaints have been sporadically received regarding odors and blowing dust originating from the worn-out rubber of the aging artificial turf," adding, "We have gathered individual complaints that have been coming in since 3 to 4 years ago and officially delivered them this time."

The official added, "The residents' goal is to demolish the soccer field and recreate it into a pleasant green space, but if that is immediately difficult, at least minimum measures should be established, such as replacing it with eco-friendly materials that have fewer harmful substances," and noted, "We are also reviewing the promotion of a signature campaign covering all 2,300-plus households through a meeting of building representatives."

According to the Geumcheon-gu Office, the artificial turf soccer field was first established in 2014, went through reconstruction in 2021, and is now entering its 5th year.

Experts point out that when aging artificial turf is left in high temperatures, chemicals can volatilize into the air, negatively impacting the health of vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

Lim Young-wook, a professor emeritus at Yonsei University's Institute of Environmental Pollution, explained, "The older artificial turf gets, the higher the probability that the infill and fibers will crack or wear out, exposing internal components to the outside." He added, "When ground temperatures soar up to 50 to 60 degrees Celsius (122 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer, some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among petroleum-based chemical substances with lower boiling points than water are more likely to volatilize into the air."

He continued, "Even in outdoor spaces, if there is no wind and high-temperature conditions persist for a long time, chemical substances are likely to continuously move into the air," and stated, "For sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and allergy sufferers, it has a high probability of causing adverse health effects, such as worsening existing diseases."

In response, the Geumcheon-gu Office stated that it would review improvements to the artificial turf field by comprehensively considering the opinions of apartment residents and soccer field users, as well as the budget.

An official from the Geumcheon-gu Office said, "The artificial turf and infill met the Korea Industrial Standards test criteria at the time of installation and were judged as 'not detected' in hazardous substance test results," while adding, "We will review the possibility of applying eco-friendly infill when organizing facilities by securing a budget in the future."

However, regarding demands such as abolishing the soccer field, converting it into a green park, and installing soundwalls, the office took a cautious stance, stating, "We will review them long-term by comprehensively considering demand for use, project effectiveness, and required budget."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.