The outdoor burning of household trash can produce toxic pollutants and carcinogens. Many that live in rural areas do not have sanitation services such as commercial trash pickup or nearby landfills, so they are tasked with finding alternative means of trash disposal. It has been the norm for some time to place household trash in steel 55-gallon drums and light the trash afire. However, doing so is not only detrimental to ones health, it can severely impact air quality.
Backyard burning emits hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds. The smoke contains a plethora of toxins including hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide. Both are considered chemical asphyxiants. They can interfere with the delivery of oxygen to vital organs and tissues. Carbon monoxide binds to oxygen with an affinity 220 times that of oxygen. This displaces oxygen from cells that require oxygen to survive. Hydrogen cyanide disables the ability of a cell to make use of oxygen. Even though oxygen is delivered, the cells cannot use it and eventually die.
Today household trash contains many more plastics and synthetics than in the past. Dioxins are released when products containing chlorine are burned. Dioxins impact the environment by settling out of the air and into water and onto vegetation. Dioxins are then consumed by cattle which are later consumed by humans. Dioxins can cause cancer, suppression of the immune system, and hormonal imbalances.
The state of Texas is currently under a statewide outdoor burn ban. There are a few exceptions to the ban, but with the extremely dry weather that we have been experiencing, it is a good idea to know the rules and regulations regarding outdoor burning. If you must burn your trash there are a few guidelines that you can follow to reduce emissions.
- Consider donating household goods
- Recycle
- Compost food scraps, leaves, and grass clippings
By being responsible we can all enjoy breathing fresh air without choking and hacking due to poor air quality.
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