Health and environmental groups have warned on the dangers of open burning, observing this was done by millions flocking to the cemeteries leading to the All Saints’ Day celebration.
Through a joint statement, public health expert Dr. Maricar Limpin and zero waste campaigner Jove Mendoza reminded the people that open burning is unhealthy, as well as illegal and punishable under the country’s environmental laws.
“The open burning of discards from the sprucing up of the tombs of our dearly departed ones should be completely avoided for various health reasons,” said Limpin, a well-known pulmonologist and Secretary of the Philippine College of Physicians.
“Open burning generates environmental pollutants such as smoke and soot containing toxic fine particles and other substances of concern that can get into the lungs and the blood stream. Exposure to these pollutants can cause breathing difficulties and trigger asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory illnesses, especially among children, the elderly, and those already suffering from weakened immune systems,” she added.
Aside from particulates, Limpin said open burning is known to produce other harmful contaminants such as dioxins, greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, heavy metals like lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and other pollutants.
Quezon City based environmental group EcoWaste Coalition said “because of its known negative effects on public health and the environment, open burning has been banned under our national laws as well as city, municipal, and barangay ordinances as an essential pollution prevention measure.’’ (Chito Chavez)
