Backyard or community trash burning has become a
common method to dispose of garbage.
·
Health concerns from trash burning
·
Better trash disposal options available
to you
Most people who
burn their waste do not realize how harmful this practice is to their health
and to the environment. Current research indicates that backyard burning
is far more harmful to our health than previously thought.
A study measured
the types and amounts of many chemicals in the smoke from burn barrels. For
some of those chemicals, burning about 10 pounds a day of trash in a household
burn barrel may produce as much air pollution as a modern, well-controlled
incinerator burning 400,000 pounds a day of trash!
Backyard burning
of trash in a barrel, pile or illegal dump site releases smoke into the
air. The content of the smoke depends on the trash that went into the
fire, the temperature of the fire and the available oxygen.
Trash fires in burn barrels can smolder and as a
result produce greater amounts of harmful chemicals in the smoke. Harmful
chemicals can also be present in the ash.
Trash containing plastics, polystyrene (such as
foam cups), CCA pressure-treated wood and bleached or colored papers can
produce harmful chemicals when burned. For example, when CCA pressure-treated
wood (which contains arsenic) is burned, arsenic can be released in the smoke
or remain in the ash.
Burning rubbish can lead to the
following
- it adds to air pollution
- burning garden waste produces smoke, especially if it is damp and
shouldering
- burning plastic, rubber or painted material not only creates an
unpleasant smell but also produces a range of poisonous compounds
- it will also add to the general background level of air pollution
- it causes detrimental health effects
- smoke may cause problems for asthmatics, bronchitis sufferers,
people with heart conditions and children
- it causes annoyance to neighbours
- the smoke, soot, and smells from fires are the subject of many
complaints to
- smoke prevents your neighbours from enjoying their gardens, opening
windows or hanging washing out, and reduces visibility in the
neighbourhood and roads
- it is a potential safety risk
- fire can spread to fences or buildings and cans are a hazard when
rubbish is burned
- piles of garden waste are often used as a refuge by animals, so
look out for hibernating wildlife and sleeping pets
Who Is At Risk?
Smoke from any fire can affect your health, your
family's health and your neighbor's health. The smoke from backyard burning
is released close to the ground where people can easily breathe it. The smoke
from the fire can deposit chemicals on garden vegetables and garden soil.
People can be exposed to those chemicals by eating fruits and vegetables grown
near the trash-fire or in garden soil tilled with the ashes. Young children may
be at greater risk than adults because of their playing behaviors, their small
size and their developing bodies.
The chances of developing health effects from
contact (exposure) with smoke from burn barrel fires depends on how much smoke
a person contacts, how a person is exposed (e.g., breathing the smoke or
eating vegetables affected by the smoke) and how long and often the person is
exposed. Some people may be more or less sensitive than others to chemicals in
smoke. People exposed to smoke could experience burning eyes and nose,
coughing, nausea, headaches, or dizziness. Some people find the odors produced
by burn barrels disagreeable, and they may experience discomfort, headaches,
and nausea. Smoke can trigger asthma attacks. People with heart and lung
conditions are at greater risk for health effects. Repeated exposures to
pollutants in burn barrel smoke may occur when people burn trash on a regular
basis, and this may increase the risk of chronic health problems. Also, unattended
burn barrels or backyard burning can cause accidental fires.
Smoke from burning trash in a barrel contains
particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide,
benzene, styrene, formaldehyde, arsenic, lead, chromium, benzo(a)pyrene,
dioxins, furans and PCBs. Some of these chemicals are found in smoke from any
fire. Although substances such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide and
formaldehyde can cause immediate health effects with enough exposure, some
chemicals such as dioxin can build up in foods and in your body. Some of these
chemicals can remain in the environment for a long time and can remain on your
property (for example, soil outside and dust inside your home).
How Can Burning Trash Get Chemicals
Into Your Body?
- Breathing
the smoke.
- Eating
food contaminated by smoke and ash.
- Playing
in areas of contaminated soil or dust.
How Can Chemicals From Burning Trash
Get Into Your Food?
- Smoke
and ash can settle on fruits and vegetables.
- If
ash is mixed into the garden soil, chemicals can be taken up by crops.
- Chemicals
can enter milk, eggs or meat if farm animals eat contaminated feed or
soil.
Break The Habit! And Stop Backyard
and Community Burning.
Here are some simple tips to avoid the need to burn
your trash:
Avoid waste. Buy fewer items and select products
with the least packaging.
Buy products that can be re-used and/or come in
containers that can be re-filled.
Learn about your community's recycling programs. Dispose
of your recyclables accordingly and urge others to do the same. RAZ –
Recycling Association of Zimbabwe recycling@environmentafrica.org
Compost plant-based kitchen and yard waste – Step
by Step instructions available
Be considerate
of your neighbors!
For your health, the health of your
family and your neighbors and your community's environment, you are
urged to Stop Backyard Burning.
Burning Trash Is Not Only a Bad Idea:
It is Against the Law.
DR
MUNGOFA
MRS
SHOKO
Director
of Health
Services
Environment Management Agency
Cellphone
No. 0712 860
734
Cellphone No. 0772 951 287 / 0712 236 835
Landline:
753330 /
772926
Landline: (04) 793125 / 705662
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