The practice of burning of garbage is releasing diseases into the air that are incurable
THE practice of putting a match to garbage was not a risky proposition in the pre-industrialization era. Subsequently the tradition had been going on for generations. And anyway most household garbage contained only paper, wood, and glass-materials that, when burned, gave off less harmful smoke and ash.
However, today’s garbage is a mix of plastics, toxic metals and other synthetics that release a hazardous mixture of carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals) and other toxins when burned in the open air. Even seemingly harmless items, can give off toxic emissions that cause serious environmental and health problems. It is for this reason that garbage burning and on-site disposal of household wastes is therefore illegal in the western countries. But in Pakistan, it’s a whole different ball game.
Rapid population growth, urbanization and industrialization has resulted in more garbage that Pakistani authorities can handle. Karachi alone produces approximately 6000 tons of garbage every day. A substantial amount of municipal budget is spent on its management with only one-third or at the most 42 per cent of the garbage is removed. By last count Lahore was producing 3600 tons of garbage a day and the city government there only had the capacity to lift 2300 tons. This means that thirteen thousands tons of rubbish is left festering in the open every day. Even the garbage that we manage to lift has no place to go. We dump it in open spaces outside the city. Just as the good old jharoo; it only moves dust from one part of the house to the other, garbage removed from the city is only moved to the suburbs.
The burning of garbage fills large residential areas with dense smoke and pungent smell consisting of all type of inorganic carcinogenic material with serious health problems. It has been indicated by several scientific studies that the environmental pollution level in many cities of Pakistan exceeds the maximum international recommended standards. This indicates that the open burning of mixed waste in Pakistani cities releases some of the biggest poisons known to mankind. The obvious evident rise in health related problems of the population who have had to live with stench, refuse, inhaling poisonous gases emitted through garbage burning is a strong indication of the grave environmental situation.
It is ironic and sad that very few people, including the educated class, refuse to think about the toxicity of smoke and gases they inhale every day. There isn’t any realistic solid waste management plan at any level of the government whereas immediate efforts need to be taken to curb this problem. Even in countries where incinerators are in place to dispose off garbage, health problems have been discovered. Research and occupational health studies done on the mortality of garbage workers who worked in incinerator plants and the communities that live around the vicinity, in countries including Germany, Sweden and the UK have revealed a significant rise in breathing difficulties. There have been higher incidence of rare cancers like sarcomas of the liver, brain tumours, childhood cancers, neurological problems, endocrine and hormonal disruption and effects on the reproductive health.
Ash and other particulate matter produced by the open burning of waste can irritate the eyes and throat, damage the lungs, cause bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer, and restrict visibility. It can seriously affect people with asthma or certain allergies.
Ash formed by open air burning is laden with heavy metals is particularly toxic and often seeps into the ground water. These toxins poison our bodies causing serious health concerns for our children, ourselves and for the coming generations. In all the scientific studies, many of the pollutants produced by open air burning of garbage, were classified as carcinogenic (able to cause cancer), based on studies of laboratory animals or of people who have been exposed to these pollutants.
The most common toxins produced by the open burning of waste are the organic carcinogens and the harmful vapours of metals polluting the air.
Organic carcinogens include substances that are common byproducts of petrochemical based products. The organic substances are divided into three groups: dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
DIOXINS: One of the most dangerous dioxin releasers is PVC. A common plastic, it is recycled and is found in the bottling of cosmetics, syringes, drugs and even food items. However, that is all good, till the time that the PVC burns. For its major combustion byproducts include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride. Numerous other chemicals may also be generated depending on the conditions of burning and the additives that are present in almost all plastics, including PVC. The most dangerous form of dioxin, 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-dioxin , has been called ‘the most lethal human-made poison’.
Its toxicity is second only to radioactive waste; just three ounces would be enough to kill one million people. It was once used in Agent Orange, during the Vietnam War and still continues to cause health problems for many American veterans exposed to it decades ago.
In residential areas, the effects are very harmful. Slow to break down, dioxin lingers for centuries in the affected area and is absorbed into plants that grow in the contaminated soil. Animals that eat these plants absorb the dioxin, and ultimately dioxin makes its way to humans who eat the animals or crops grown in this soil.
Dioxin does not break down or pass out of our bodies; it accumulates in our fat cells. Livestock feeding on mixed waste lying in dumps and rubbish heaps have shown an alarming rises in the dioxin levels of milk and butter produced by these live stocks. Some studies have shown an increased risk of lung, skin, gut and bladder cancers. Some PAHs have been shown to cause cancer in animals.
A number of environmental regulatory authorities have classified polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as carcinogenic to humans.
Through the open burning of waste, harmful metals are also converted into the vapour form. Symptoms of toxic metal poisoning include serious skin diseases including gangrene and skin cancer. Some of the metal are as follows:
MERCURY: It is used in light fixtures thermometers, dental amalgams. Hospital waste usually contains enough mercury to be considered as in dangerous proportions. Mercury is a well-known poison and has effects on the central nervous system (CNS), causes cardiovascular and lung/breathing effects, kidney damage, visual impairment and multiple sclerosis.
CADMIUM: Commonly used in batteries and paints, along with nickel, it has effects on developing fetuses, the CNS and renal damage. Exposure to high levels of cadmium, has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer and a number of non-carcinogenic effects, particularly in the lungs and kidneys.
NICKEL: Used in paints and batteries, this sensitises allergies, causes eye and skin irritation besides irreparable liver and kidney damage. Exposures to nickel can cause bad health effects in the lungs, gut and kidneys. The major concern is the cancer-causing potential of inorganic nickel, and it is not possible to exclude a small increase in cancer risk resulting from low level exposure to inorganic nickel compounds.
LEAD AND ARSENIC: Used popularly in all petro-fuels, paints, batteries, lead along with arsenic, a common chemical for treating wood, cause irreversible damage to the brain including dementia with higher levels of exposure, negative effects on intelligence and growth of children. There are also blood cell disorders including rare cancers, besides kidney impairment at higher exposures.
CHROMIUM: Here damage includes inflammation of the skin and lung cancer. Effects on the nose and skin are unlikely to occur at current environmental (or workplace) exposure levels, but a small risk of lung cancer cannot be excluded.
ALUMINIUM: Used in almost all packaging, especially food items and juices, excessive aluminium buildup leads to the breakdown of brain cells and degeneration. Irreversible side effects include Dementia, Alzheimer’s and other biological dysfunctions. When aluminium in packaging reaches into the soil, biaccumulation leads to higher levels of aluminium in the soil, which later enters the food chain through food and fodder.
While waste cannot be eliminated, we can reduce its environmental impact by preventing waste wherever possible, and making more sustainable use of the waste.
Reduce, reuse and recycle are the three important steps in waste management in a poor country like Pakistan, where environmental problems associated with hazardous waste have become very complex.
Taking care of garbage is everybody’s business. The non-biodegradable refuse like glass, recyclable plastic, bulbs and tube lights, PVC, batteries, paint containers should be stored separately in a dry form. These can be sold as scrap for recycling with care taken to retain the PVC . Kitchen waste being a rich source of fertilizer it can be composted and the compost can be utilized by the local farmers.
If every member of our society realizes the gravity of the situation and starts an effort on individual bases, these efforts put together may lead to community efforts and can make an overwhelming difference. Garbage should be reduced to such a level that it can be manageable by the budget of the municipalities. Our initiative may pave the way towards a cleaner environment and a better health for ourselves and for our children.
The practice of burning of garbage is releasing diseases into the air that are incurable 
