Imagine sitting around a campfire and breathing in a toxic soup of pollutants that endanger your health. Apparently, some Powell River residents are doing just that, by burning tires. Not only are they endangering their own health, however. They are polluting drinking water sources and the air in popular recreation areas.
The Powell River office of BC’s Conservation Officer Service shared disturbing news this week that burning tires and other waste materials appears to be increasing. Most alarming is that some of the locations are immediately adjacent to Duck Lake. Lang Creek, which flows out of Duck Lake, is a source of domestic water for many people in the Kelly Creek area. As well, Duck Lake has healthy populations of fish and is a popular area for hikers, bikers, dog walkers and mushroom pickers.
Burning garbage releases a number of toxic chemicals into the air, including dioxins, furans, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. These chemicals have a wide range of potentially devastating health effects, including cancer, lowered immunity, disorders of the nervous system and interference with child development. Dioxins and furans are among the most toxic chemicals in the world. They are long-lasting and dangerous at extremely low levels.
Tires are composed of natural rubber from rubber trees, synthetic rubber made from petrochemical feedstocks, carbon black, extender oils, steel wire, up to 17 heavy metals, other petrochemicals and chlorine. Significant amounts of liquids and solids containing dangerous chemicals can be generated by melting tires. These products can pollute soil, surface water and ground water. The resulting ash is also toxic and can easily get into the ground.
When dioxins get into the environment, they don’t break down. They build up in the fats of animals and humans and can even become concentrated in human breast milk.
While the amount of waste that is dumped and burned is appalling, the cumulative impact is more alarming. The total disregard of the environment, wildlife and water supplies is hard to comprehend, yet people continue to recklessly dispose of their garbage in ways that endanger their own health and well as that of others with impunity.
Our community needs to have a conversation about the inexcusable increase in illegally dumped and burned garbage in our forests and recreation areas. More awareness and increased information about the amount of waste dumped and burned illegally will hopefully help bring pressure on those who ignore the law to dispose of their garbage properly.
