Indiscriminate and open burning of garbage is harming our health and our environment

While the indiscriminate and open burning of garbage is pervasive, anecdotal evidence shows that this practice is more commonplace in areas that have a sub-optimal government-operated garbage collection system. Data gathered globally has shown that this health and life-threatening practice disproportionately impacts those who are impoverished and live in rural areas.

The open burning of garbage refers to burning garbage in barrels, open pits, etc. Such a practice has been carried out for years, e.g. by our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. Unfortunately, the items being burnt via such a method today are much more toxic than the items burnt by the same method a generation or two ago.

Items that release a cocktail of harmful toxins into the atmosphere when burnt:

Clothing
Plastic products
Paper cups
Rubber
Painted and chemically treated wood
Synthetic fabrics
PVC
Vinyl products
Flooring
Cosmetic products
Pharmaceuticals
Children’s toys
Meat trays
Foam cups
Fast food containers and cups
Egg crates
Bleached paper products
Pizza boxes
Cardboard
Magazines
Newspapers
Plastic bags
Car tires
Aluminium cans
Construction waste
Motor oil
Yard trimmings
Disposable diapers
Plastic wraps/ film
Shoes
Batteries
Inner lining of the barrel used for burning.

Chemicals and contaminants released by the burning of trash

The burning of trash releases a wide range of extremely toxic substances, which can result in serious, acute and chronic health problems. These include:

Nitrogen oxides
Sulphur dioxide
Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)
Polycyclic organic matter (POMs)
Dioxin
Furans
Ammonia
Carbon Monoxide
Particulate matter (soot)
Arsenic
Mercury
Chromium
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Lead.

These harmful pollutants not only directly impact the health of those breathing them in but can have an indirect effect on human health by contaminating our soil, water sources, and livestock that we consume.

While all of us are vulnerable, those who are most vulnerable to this smoke are:

Those with pre-existing medical issues, especially respiratory conditions.
Babies, infants, and children
Elderly
Pregnant women.

The direct health impact include:

Irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract
Skin rashes
Nausea and vomiting
Headaches
Shortness of breath
Aggravation of pre-existing lung conditions – asthma, COPD, emphysema
Heart disease
Cancers
Sub-fertility
Miscarriages
Developmental abnormalities – pre and post birth
Increased dementia risk
Premature death.

Ways of mitigating the open and indiscriminate burning of trash:

The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment must design an implementable plan.
Cultivate a “brother’s keeper” mindset across the country.
Raise public awareness of the consequences of such a practice, even for the person burning the trash.
Systematically improve and expand the garbage collection system.
Promote composting, natural decomposition, etc.
Develop community outreach programmes to reduce waste production.
Laws governing the open burning of trash must be updated (e.g. stiffer penalties) and they ultimately need to be enforced.

We are approximately three months away from Christmas, it is a time of year when most households undergo a major self-imposed cleaning. It’s a time when we throw out the old, creating space for the new. Many burn the obsolete items in an open fire in their backyard. I’m strongly appealing to you to: PLEASE DO NOT! For you are going to be exposing many to potentially dire health hazards over the short to long term, inclusive of but not limited to:

Yourself (the fire setter)
The occupants of your home
Your neighbours within hundreds of meters of the fire
Domestic animals and livestock within hundreds of meters of the fire
The environment within hundreds of meters of the fire.

I feel compelled to share Mrs. X’s sad story and tragic ending. Mrs. X, was a gentle and kind soul, she was one of my stalwart patients. She suffered from asthma, which was readily triggered by smoke. She always carried around her reliever and preventer inhalers, and had a nebulizer and nebulizer medicines at home.
Mrs. X had an inconsiderate neighbour who regularly burnt their trash openly. This often resulted in Mrs. X’s asthma “acting up”. One occasion, she ended up being hospitalised for a severe asthma attack.
Mrs. X reported the matter to the police, who instructed Mrs. X’s neighbour on a few occasions to cease openly burning their trash. They ignored the instruction and continued to periodically burn their trash.
One fateful day, as a result of the smoke from the burning trash, Mrs. X had a fatal asthmatic attack and died at her home. No one was charged for her death.
It has been over 16 years, however, Mrs. X’s case still very much saddens and infuriates me.
Her death from a severe asthma attack secondary to trash generated smoke was absolutely preventable.
Let us stop the indiscriminate and open burning of trash.

l Author: Dr. C. Malcolm Grant – Family Physician, Family Care Clinic, Arnos Vale.
Former tutor in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados.
For appointments: clinic@familycaresvg.com, 1(784)570-9300 (Office), 1(784)455-0376 (WhatsApp).
Disclaimer: The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Dr. C. Malcolm Grant, Family Care Clinic or The Searchlight Newspaper or their associates, respectively, are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information provided above.