Dangerous Health Effects of Home Burning of Plastics and Waste

1 Dangerous Health Effects ofHome Burning of Plastics and WasteFact SheetBackyard Waste Burning in old barrelsDioxin emissions from plastic burningThe most Dangerous emissions can be caused by Burning Plastics containing organoch-lor-based substances like PVC. When such Plastics are burned, harmful quantities ofdioxins, a group of highly toxic chemicals are emitted. Dioxins are the most toxic to thehuman organisms. They are carcinogenic and a hormone disruptor and persistent, and they accumulate in our body-fat and thus mothers give it directly to their babiesvia the placenta. Dioxins also settle on crops and in our waterways where they eventu-ally wind up in our food, accumulate in our bodies and are passed on to our children.

2 Burning of Plastics and wasteSurveys show that home Burning of Waste is widespread across rural areas all-over theworld. Waste is either burned outside in the yard or garden, or inside in ovens. Wastethat is burned can include paper, cardboard, food scraps and Plastics , essentially anymaterials that would otherwise be recycled or picked up by a Waste collection compa-ny. Air emissions from home Burning are released directly into the house or the atmos-pherewithout being treated or filtered. How does home plastic Waste Burning affect people shealth?Most people who burn their plasticdomestic Waste do not realize howharmful this practice is to their healthand to the environment.

3 Current researchindicates that backyard- Burning of wasteis far more harmful to our Health than previously thought. It can increase the risk of heart disease, aggravate respiratory ailments such as asthma andemphysema, and cause rashes, nausea, or headaches, damages in the nervoussystem, kidney or liver, in the reproducti-ve and development system. The Burning of polystyrene polymers -such as foam cups, meat trays, egg containers, yogurt and deli containers -releases styrene. Styrene gas can readilybe absorbed through the skin and high levels styrene vapor can damagethe eyes and mucous membranes. Long term exposure to styrene can affect the central nervous system, causing headaches, fatigue, weakness,and only these people who are burningthe trash are exposed to these pollutants,but also their neighbours, children filter to stop toxic emissionsWhy People Burn theirPlastics and Other WasteBackyard and inside Burning of plasticsand other domestic Waste is common inmany countries in the world.

4 People burnplastics for various reasons eitherbecause it is easier than hauling it to thelocal disposal site or to avoid paying forregular Waste collection service, or as there exists no municipal Waste service because it is the only way that manyrural people have to get rid of theirwaste. Particularly in Eastern Europe andthe NIS, rural municipalities do not havewaste collection and disposal services. Indoor plastic Burning is oftenpracticed in areas with a low economicallevel and where citizens use own stovesfor cooking and heating, Many plasticsburns very easily and have a high poten-tial of energy. Stoves are fired withplastics: expensive wood is saved and thegarbage is Burning of Plastics and other Waste harms the environment?

5 Pollutants released from Burning plasticwaste in a burn barrel are transportedthrough the air either short or long dis-tances, and are then deposited onto landor into bodies of water. A few of thesepollutants such as mercury, polychlorina-ted biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and furans persist for long periods of time in the environment and have a tendency to bio-accumulate which means theybuild up in predators at the top of thefood web. Bioaccumulation of pollutantsusually occurs indirectly through conta-minated water and food rather than breathing the contaminated air wildlife, the range of Effects associa-ted with these pollutants includes cancer,deformed offspring, reproductive failure,immune diseases and subtle neuro-behavioral Effects .

6 Humans can be expo-sed indirectly just like wildlife, especiallythrough consumption of contaminatedfish, meat and diary people can do?Separate Plastics separate plastic Waste from other Waste . Do not burn anyplastics in your yard or Plastics Avoid Plastics , in particular do not purchase goods packedin PVC packaging, which generates dioxins when burnedReduce Waste Buy products that can be reused or refilled (glas andmetal containers)Compost Yard clippings, leaves, and food can be easily compostedin your backyardRecycle Demand your municipality to organize recycling of paper,glas and Plastics to producer bring your plastic wasteback to the shop and ask it to be returned to the producerfor recycling.

7 Don t burn Plastics in your garden or in your house!This fact sheet is produced by: WECF Women in Europe for a Common FutureBlumenstrasse 28D 80311 Munich, thanks to EPAR eferences :EPA Backyard burningBurning web Waste Burning in home ovens is a current practic