Synopsis: A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that burning plastic for heat, cooking, and waste removal is a widespread yet dangerous practice in the developing world, with one in three respondents across 26 countries aware of it.
-The research highlights that burning plastics, particularly PVC, releases highly toxic dioxins and furans that cause cancer and reproductive disorders, disproportionately affecting women and children.
Image of US Currency. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-With global plastic use expected to triple by 2060, experts are urgently calling for international NGOs and health organizations to launch educational campaigns to mitigate this silent public health crisis.
Burning Plastics Is a Common Problem in the Developing World
In the developing world, it is common for people to burn plastic for heat, waste removal, cooking, and pest control.
The problem is that it can be hazardous to one’s health.
A new study has found that one in three respondents to a survey knew of people in the Global South who ignite plastic to make their lives easier.
The journal Nature Communications published research indicating that around 33 percent of people in 26 countries knew someone who burned plastic for basic survival reasons. One thousand respondents were interviewed.
These were often people from poor backgrounds who had endured a fuel shortage and lacked indoor electrical power. Some interviewed admitted that they personally burn plastic on a regular basis as fuel sources are difficult to come by, and that is all they can afford.
“This is an issue that has largely been happening out of sight in communities and has been difficult to get accurate data on. However, this survey provides additional insights into what is going on,” Dr. Bishal Bharadwaj, from the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition said, as noted by Phys.org.
“We noticed that people burned everything from plastic bags and wrappers to bottles and packaging, just to meet basic household needs,” Bharadwaj said.
Women, Children, and the Elderly Are at Risk
The practice is widespread, and this is the first study to analyze it empirically. Burning plastic can release toxic carcinogens, especially if it is ignited indoors.
People with pre-existing respiratory conditions are especially at risk, as are pregnant women and disabled children, along with senior citizens already suffering from adverse health conditions.
A Chloride Compound Is a Health Risk
The hazardous material in the air resulting from burning plastic is called polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
“When PVC is burned, it releases highly toxic dioxins and furans, which are among the most dangerous pollutants known,” Professor Hari Vuthaluru of the Curtin’s Western Australian School of Mines said. “These compounds persist in the environment, accumulate in the food chain and can cause serious health problems including cancer, reproductive disorders and immune system damage. PVC ranks as the third most commonly burned plastic, which is extremely concerning,” Phys.org reported.
The PVC can get into food and water, posing a significant problem in the developing world.
Victims of air poisoning often do not know the dangers.
The material can also contaminate crops and sources of drinking water.
Plastic use is “expected to triple by 2060,” the researchers claimed.
How Can People Be Alerted About the Problem?
Now the goal is to educate people about the dangers.
NGOs and other non-profits must step up and inform individuals that this practice can be damaging to their health.
That may not be possible since 26 countries have citizens who are involved in burning plastics.
Who Can Help?
One American source of personnel to assist those in the developing world is the Peace Corps.
Members of this organization could design an educational program to ensure people do not burn plastics, but the problem requires even more volunteers to educate citizens about the dangers.
USAID could have been a source of funding for educational programs, but it has been disbanded by the Donald Trump administration.
The job may have to be done by NGOs such as Doctors Without Borders.
There Is Much More to Be Learned
Plastics are not going away anytime soon, and they burn easily and rapidly. This is a global public health problem that could use more light shed on it. This study is a step in the right direction, but more research is needed in this field.
Hopefully, the findings can serve as a warning about the potential hazards from burning plastic. This problem will require time, money, and resources to solve.
The next step would be to survey people with respiratory diseases, cancer, and other health problems to see if there is a link to the practice. This would have to be conducted by medical professionals who are difficult to recruit in the Global South.
Education as a Public Service
Perhaps public health experts in the various countries can make the burning of plastics into an advertising campaign to educate citizens about the hazards.
It will take government attention to bring the dangers to the forefront.
International organizations such as the United Nations could also assign personnel to educate people about the risks, and environmental groups could focus on reducing the amount of plastic thrown away haphazardly.
Burning plastics will likely continue to be a problem, and their effects are only beginning to be understood.
The fires are easy to start, and people probably have no idea they are breathing toxins that can lead to more health problems.
This study is a step in the right direction, and hopefully, more educational campaigns and funding can be invested in awareness programs from NGOs, non-profits, and international organizations.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Author of now over 3,000 articles on defense issues, Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
