When considering the big picture, many people do not realize that what they do has an immediate impact on the environment. Even though they are just one person, they have an effect on the environment. If one million “one persons” do the same “slightly negative thing” towards the environment, that “slightly negative thing” turns into a major problem. One example of this is burning trash. Burning one person’s trash means nothing to the environment. That small amount of toxins is easily cleaned out. But it is not just one person doing it… it is millions of people. That makes it a major problem.
HOW DOES BACKYARD TRASH BURING EFFECT OUR ENVIRONMENT?
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services backyard trash burning is especially harmful because it releases chemicals that are persistent in the environment, polluting our air, food, lakes and streams [1]. The explanation provided by these experts demonstrates that the trash does not “disappear”, it is still present in our environment (we just can’t see it). So it can be reasoned that instead of disposing of trash at the facilities that are created to handle it, burning trash lifts the trash out of the trash bags and into the environment. Polluting the place we live.
I THOUGHT BURING TRASH WAS HOW A PERSON IS SUPPOSED TO GET RID OF IT?
Well, if this was the first thing that came to your mind, you are right. In a sense, burning trash can be a proper form of disposing of some waste. But it still requires professional equipment and assistance to be done properly. In order to eliminate a large portion of the air pollutants temperatures must be at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit [2]. This temperature is required to lessen the effects of the pollutants. A burning barrel for example only reaches about 500 degrees. A person burning 10 pounds of trash, at 500 degrees, is equivalent to a modern well-controlled incinerator, 1,800 degree, burning 400,000 pounds. So instead of just harmlessly burning trash, a person is polluting the air at an alarming rate.
POLLUTANTS THAT ARE RELEASED FROM BURNING TRASH
This is a small list of some of the pollutants released into the air if these items are burnt without using an incinerator:
· Batteries - heavy metals like cadmium, lead, mercury
· Plastics - dioxins, volatile organic compounds and halogenated hydrocarbons
· Treated wood - arsenic and heavy metals, plus the ash is very toxic. (Treated wood includes deck lumber, railroad ties, and telephone poles treated with chromated copper arsenate, creosote or pentachlorophenol)
· Paper- dioxins
· Pesticide containers - pesticide residuals, dioxins, volatile organic compounds, halogenated hydrocarbons
· Leaves - carbon monoxide and particulate matter
· Petroleum products - dioxins, volatile organic compounds and halogenated hydrocarbons
· Styrofoam/polystyrene - benzene, dioxins and furans
AIR POLLUTION AND THE REAL ENVIRONMENT IT HARMS
These pollutants are very harmful to the environment. Not only are they harmful, but they persist in the environment for long stretches of time. Included in this use of the word environment is us humans. We are the direct cause of this air pollution and we are also directly harmed by it. According to the American Lung Association, “Natural defenses protect our lungs from germs and large particles like dust and pollen. Air pollution harms lung tissue directly and bypasses or weakens those important defenses” [3]. Not only does air pollution harm us, but it makes us more susceptible to becoming harmed in the future. The American Lung Association’s website also has a long list of health issues that are caused by air pollution and poor air quality. If you need more convincing you should click the link [3] at the bottom and read about some of the harmful effects air pollution has on the lungs.
If you or someone you know is burning trash, they should be educated about the harm they are causing. It may be their lack of knowledge about the effects of burning trash that keeps them from stopping. Something needs to be done to keep our air quality from becoming more of a concern.
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