19.08.2026 23:31
In the İzmit district of Kocaeli, the iron dust settling on the food placed on the table, the car in the garage, and the inside of homes has become part of the daily life of neighborhood residents. A citizen, collecting the particles they claim spread from the stainless steel factory in the area with a magnet, stated that they even struggle to open their windows and eat outside, saying, 'Iron dust rains down on us like rain.'
Citizens living in the Alikahya Atatürk neighborhood of Kocaeli's İzmit district are experiencing grievances due to black particles settling on the interior of their homes, on their vehicles, and on the streets.
The residents claim that this dust spreads from the stainless steel factory POSCO Assan TST operating near the neighborhood, and they collect the substances accumulating on surfaces using magnets.
"IRON DUST HAS CARVED OUT A PLACE IN MY LIFE"
Tugay Ataş, who stated that his childhood was spent in the Alikahya Atatürk neighborhood, said, "There were at least 100-120 households here. They took our homes, our lands one by one for a meager amount, and built factories in their place. The factories were mostly established in 2011, and we are now fighting against them. There is iron dust everywhere in our house. Iron dust in the room I sit in; I set my dinner table in the evening, and there is iron dust on the table. Everywhere. Iron dust has carved out a place in my life. It has stuck even to our lungs. Likewise, my father is sick and has undergone surgery. He needs to breathe clean air and protect himself. We are surrounded by factories on all sides."
"LET THEM PROMISE US OUR FUTURE, NOT JOBS"
Referring to the situation of young people living in the neighborhood, Ataş said, "We are in a difficult situation. There were 35-40 of us young people; only one friend from our neighborhood is employed. Let them not promise us jobs, but let them promise us our future. Let them not dull our future. We have children, as you can see. Their futures are at risk. How long can they live with iron dust? In today's world, diseases are constantly increasing. Who knows, maybe a ton of diseases are spreading from this iron dust."
"IT RAINS DOWN ON US LIKE RAIN"
Ataş, who maintains that the iron dust comes from the POSCO Assan TST factory, continued: "Previously, analyses were conducted and tests were done, and it was stopped. It was raining [dust] until 3-4 days ago; for the last two days, there's nothing currently, it's not falling, but when they produce stainless steel, material constantly comes from the chimney, iron dust comes. It flows into our neighborhood like rain, it rains down on us. We collect it with magnets. You've already seen it; you see it in the photos and videos too. Forget cleaning the house with a broom, we now clean iron dust from inside the house with a magnet. That's the point we've reached."
"WE'VE REACHED A POINT WHERE WE CAN'T EVEN EAT OUTSIDE"
Ataş, explaining that they also struggle to eat outside due to the iron dust, said, "In the evenings, we set up the table outside. It's airy outside, but iron dust rains down on us. When I open the pot lid, iron dust gets inside. I look into the food to see if there's iron dust. I wipe the plate I'm going to eat from again; iron dust has gotten on it. We've reached a point where we can't even eat outside."
"THE CEMETERY IS COVERED ENTIRELY IN IRON DUST"
Ataş, claiming that the dust also reaches vehicles and the cemetery, said, "Even my car in the enclosed area, my car in the garage, is covered in iron dust. I constantly wipe and wash my car, but the same thing happens again. Our cemeteries are the same; the cemetery is covered entirely in iron dust. The cemetery is closer to the factory, right next to it. We are also next to the factory, but the cemetery is closer. Everywhere is as much iron dust as possible."
Calling on the authorities, Ataş concluded, "I want what needs to be done to be done. I want us to have a life now. Let them lend us a hand, let them not leave us alone. Let them not condemn us to this dirty air. Let them not take away the conditions that are already ours. I ask for nothing other than that."