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Open burning of waste can be dangerous to your health and the health of the natural environment. Burning trash in the open produces many pollutants, such as dioxins, particle pollution, hydrocarbon, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, hexachlorobenzene and ash. People can be exposed to these persistent pollutants by inhaling or ingesting even small amounts of these pollutants and this may lead to very serious health effects. Worse situations are where vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, or people with pre-existing respiratory conditions are exposed to these pollutants.

Dioxins 
Backyard burning is of particular health concern because it produces significant quantities of dioxins. Dioxins and "dioxin like" compounds are a group of 30 highly toxic chlorinated organic chemicals. They are produced naturally in small quantities, but are primarily the result of human activity. They can be produced through industrial processes such as chlorinated chemical manufacturing and metal smelting. Currently, however, the largest quantified source of dioxin emissions is the uncontrolled burning of household trash (backyard burning). 

Studies have shown that only small amounts of chlorinated materials in waste are required to support dioxin formation when burning waste. This means that even when materials containing high levels of chlorine, such as PVC, are removed from household trash, burning the waste still creates dioxins because nearly all household waste contains trace amounts of chlorine. Dioxins can alter the fundamental growth and development of cells in ways that have the potential to lead to many kinds of impacts. These include adverse effects on reproduction and development, suppression of the immune system, disruption of hormonal systems, and cancer. 

Particle Pollution
Particle pollution (PM) is microscopic particles released by open burning. These particles are small enough to get into the lungs and can cause numerous health problems. The particles can worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis, and have been associated with heartbeat irregularities (cardiac arrhythmia) and heart attacks. People with heart or lung disease, the elderly, and children are at highest risk from exposure to particles. 

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of chemicals commonly found in or smoke and soot (particulate matter) released from backyard burning. They are formed from incomplete burning (combustion) of certain materials. Some PAHs are cancer-causing (carcinogenic).

Ash
Burning waste also produces ash residue, which can contain toxic metals such as mercury, lead, chromium, and arsenic. These metals can be toxic when ingested. When a person ingests hazardous amounts of lead, for example, he or she may experience high blood pressure, heart (cardiovascular) problems, kidney damage, and brain damage. Unaware of the potential danger, some people scatter the ash in their gardens or bury it on their property. Garden vegetables can absorb and accumulate these metals, which can make them dangerous to eat. Children playing in the yard or garden can incidentally ingest soil containing these metals. Also, rain can wash the ash into groundwater and surface water, contaminating drinking water and food.

Watch this column for subsequent articles on health and environmental effects of burning waste.