#plastic #nature #noplastic<br />How does home plastic<br />waste burning affect people’s<br />health?<br />Most people who burn their plastic<br />domestic waste do not realize how<br />harmful this practice is to their health<br />and to the environment. Current research<br />indicates that backyard-burning of waste<br />is far more harmful to our health<br />than previously thought. It can increase<br />the risk of heart disease, aggravate<br />respiratory ailments such as asthma and<br />emphysema, and cause rashes, nausea,<br />or headaches, damages in the nervous<br />system, kidney or liver, in the reproductive<br />and development system.<br />The burning of polystyrene polymers -<br />such as foam cups, meat trays, egg<br />containers, yogurt and deli containers -<br />releases styrene. Styrene gas can readily<br />be absorbed through the skin and lungs.<br />At high levels styrene vapor can damage<br />the eyes and mucous membranes.<br />Long term exposure to styrene can affect<br />the central nervous system,<br />causing headaches, fatigue, weakness,<br />and depression.<br />Not only these people who are burning<br />the trash are exposed to these pollutants,<br />but also their neighbours, children and<br />families.<br /><br />Dioxin emissions from plastic burning<br />The most dangerous emissions can be caused by burning plastics containing organochlor-<br />based substances like PVC. When such plastics are burned, harmful quantities of<br />dioxins, a group of highly toxic chemicals are emitted. Dioxins are the most toxic to the<br />human organisms. They are carcinogenic and a hormone disruptor and persistent,<br />and they accumulate in our body-fat and thus mothers give it directly to their babies<br />via the placenta. Dioxins also settle on crops and in our waterways where they eventually<br />wind up in our food, accumulate in our bodies and are passed on to our children.<br /><br />Burning of plastics and waste<br />Surveys show that home burning of waste is widespread across rural areas all-over the<br />world. Waste is either burned outside in the yard or garden, or inside in ovens. Waste<br />that is burned can include paper, cardboard, food scraps and plastics, — essentially any<br />materials that would otherwise be recycled or picked up by a waste collection company.<br />Air emissions from home burning are released directly into the house or the atmosphere<br />without being treated or filtered.<br /><br />What people can do?<br />Separate plastics –<br />separate plastic waste from other waste. Do not burn any<br />plastics in your yard or house.<br />Avoid plastics –<br />Avoid plastics, in particular do not purchase goods packed<br />in PVC packaging, which generates dioxins when burned<br />Reduce waste –<br />Buy products that can be reused or refilled (glas and<br />metal containers)<br />Compost –<br />Yard clippings, leaves, and food can be easily composted<br />in your backyard<br />Recycle –<br />Demand your municipality to organize recycling of paper,<br />glas and metals.<br />Return plastics to producer – bring your plastic waste<br />back to the shop and ask it to be returned to the producer<br />for recycling.<br />Don’t burn plastics in your garden<br />or in your house!<br />plastic burning problems
