Burning of plastics and treated wood “more carcinogenic than wood smoke”
The head of air quality for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) says she is shocked at the amount of plastics, treated wood and garbage being burned by local residents.
Janice Johnson, Co-ordinator of the RDOS Air Quality Committee, said in Osoyoos last week, The particulate emissions from these materials are even more carcinogenic than wood smoke, and provincial law bans the burning of plastics and treated wood.
She was leading a meeting in town addressing air quality in the South Okanagan. It also attracted concerned residents from neighbouring Oliver and Keremeos.
The session, held at the United Church, was also led by Ministry of Environment Air Quality Meteorologist Eric Taylor. Osoyoos Mayor John Slater was also on-hand to explain that the regional district has drafted an Air Quality Management Plan that will soon be forwarded to the RDOS Air Quality Board for approval.
A few people in the audience stated that it took them some time to make the connection between wood smoke and their health problems. Osoyoos resident Lorraine Snyder passed around a photo taken in March showing a good example of an air inversion. In the photo, both the elementary and the high school were seen engulfed by a horizontal band of smoke hovering over the town. She added that three of her relatives who purchased condos here are considering moving to escape the smoke.
They moved here two years ago and have experienced the cough and irritated eyes whenever there is open burning in town. They find it very uncomfortable to be outside during burning days and in fact, avoid exercise and outdoor activities during those times.
Taylor spoke about air pollutants, including their source, the health and visibility impacts, and how weather and topographic influences cause temperature inversions that trap pollutants in the valley. He also explained how the Venting Index works and how difficult it is to predict the exact times and places for good venting (when smoke can escape from the valley). In general, he noted good venting usually occurs in the afternoon, once the sun has warmed the valley floor, and April is the best venting month of the year. Some ways to protect and improve air quality include: 1) reducing or eliminating emissions from open burning; 2) reducing or eliminating open backyard burning; 3) reducing wood stove use or using them more efficiently; 4) replacing wood stoves with high efficiency pellet stoves.
Johnson advised there is no safe level of exposure to smoke particulate. Everybody is at risk. The most vulnerable are young children, the elderly, and people with lung and heart disease. She said there are provincial Open Burning Smoke Control Regulations already in effect and an Open Air Burning bylaw has already been adopted for the fire protection areas of Kaleden, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Tulameen and Willowbrook. She added the Air Quality Management Plan, which includes recommendations for all munic-ipalities in the region, could be adopted as early as this summer.
A network of municipalities across the province, headed by the B.C. Lung Association, is now sharing information about air pollution and working toward cleaner air solutions. The Osoyoos landfill has already made a step forward to minimize air pollution by chipping clean wood and yard waste rather than burning it.
Improvements to air quality require public support. I would encourage citizens to document and photograph incidents of poor air quality practices and to forward the information to government agencies such as Interior Health, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the RDOS and the Town, Johnson said.
To report poor burning practices, call 1-877-952-7277.
