Williamsport (Penna.) Sun-Gazette, February 21, 2007

OPPONENTS OF OPEN TRASH BURNING URGE PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH

[Rachel's introduction: "We can't say for sure that people are getting cancer from backyard barrels. But it's the precautionary principle," she said.... "We have unborn babies already exposed to these chemicals," she said. "People from other areas can't believe we do this."]

By Mike Reuther Mreuther@Sungazette.Com

Few issues ignite the emotions of residents like a burning ban.

But those who've studied the issue claim there exist sound, health- related reasons to end burn barrel trash fires once and for all.

Evidence indicates that harmful compounds are released into the air when people burn trash, even when seemingly innocuous paper is afire.

While the material burned does matter, the manner and temperature at which it is burned are even more important, James Garthe, a Penn State University instructor of Agricultural Sciences said.

"In a burn barrel, you are looking at an oxygen-starved environment. The air cannot get into the barrel."

Garthe co-authored the article "Open Burning of Trash" with Jamie L. McCoy, a Penn State research technician. In the piece, which appeared in the university's College of Agricultural Sciences magazine, the authors concluded that minimizing atmospheric pollutants from open fires would require either an end to burning, or ensuring that fires achieve complete combustion.

"Achieving complete combustion in open fires is very difficult, if not impossible, but high temperatures can reduce the amount of harmful emissions associated with open fires," Garthe said.

Incomplete combustion, he said, results in such harmful emissions as heavy metal vapors, acid gases and carcinogenic tars.

Thick black smoke from a fire is a strong indicator of incomplete combustion.

Pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAH's are highly toxic compounds produced at low combustion temperatures, according to Garthe.

Included among the PAH family are dioxins, which some experts believe are among the most toxic carcinogens.

Dioxins are linked to increased risks of cancer, delays in child development, and damage to the immune system.

The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that the highest single source of dioxins are released by the open burning of trash.

In fact, the EPA found that for certain pollutants a single household burning trash in a barrel produces more contaminants than a well- operated full scale municipal waste combustion facility.

Garthe said the most frequently measured PAH resulting from incomplete trash combustion is benzopyrene, another carcinogen.

One study, he added, revealed that open fire smoke contains 70 parts per million of benzopyrene -- about 350 times that of cigarette smoke.

Other pollutants often emitted from trash fires include chlorine and metal additives found in plastics.

Chlorine is used in the bleaching process for paper, and releases dioxins into the air when burned.

Garthe said other materials containing chlorine, such as polyvinyl chloride or PVC and some plastic containers, are sources of dioxin when burned at low temperatures.

Other plastics contain metal additives that may emit arsenic and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium when burned. Short- term exposure to such emissions can cause vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and mood disturbance.

Neurological and reproductive systems can be harmed through long-term exposure to such emissions.

The burning of any plastic releases dioxins.

Barb Jarmoska, the owner of the Fresh Life health food store in Loyalsock Township, said that are many days when she can look out on her neighborhood and see a haze of smoke from residents burning trash.

Jarmoska has spoken in favor of a burn ban at township meetings.

"We can't say for sure that people are getting cancer from backyard barrels. But it's the precautionary principle," she said.

While burning in itself is bad enough, she thinks many people fail to separate recyclables from the paper products being burned.

"We have unborn babies already exposed to these chemicals," she said. "People from other areas can't believe we do this."

Loyalsock Township is considering a burning ban, or at least strengthening its burning ordinance. Meanwhile, other local communities including Williamsport, Montoursville, and most recently, South Williamsport, have passed such ordinances.

Jarmoska said she feels the issue comes down to people being opposed to having government telling them what they can do on their properties.

"A lot see it as an issue of personal freedom. (But) If those people were to get beyond the emotions of it ..."

Jarmoska thinks there are alternatives to burning.

"I wouldn't be against a municipal waste incinerator," Jarmoska concluded. "That reduces far less (pollutants)."

She also thinks landfills are a better alternative to open burning.

She said that Pennsylvania's landfills could be freed up if out-of- state trash they accept is reduced.

The Williamsport Sun-Gazette 252 W. Fourth Street Williamsport,PA 17701 570-326-1551

Copyright 2007 The Williamsport Sun-Gazette