Illegal burning of garbage around the world is triggering air pollution more than official figures acknowledge.
According to a study by the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), more than 40% of the world’s garbage is disposed of through uncontrolled combustion that emits gases and particles that affect human health and climate change.
Carbon monoxide and mercury are among the most abundant and harmful substances produced by fires. These pollutants are linked to various serious medical conditions and diseases.
Likewise, the researchers estimate that emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the most abundant greenhouse gas produced by human activity, in this case from the burning of garbage and industrial incinerators, are not taken into account in the statistics that they are sent to environmental agencies, so no action is taken against them.
According to NCAR scientist Christine Wiedinmyer, lead author of the new study, “the global air pollution figures are lowered because no one accounts for the burning of garbage that takes place outdoors.
This uncontrolled way of disposing of waste is the biggest source of pollutants , and should receive more attention from the authorities ”. The burning of garbage is a global phenomenon, but it is especially prevalent in developing countries that have fewer appropriate waste disposal facilities, such as landfills and incinerators.
The amount of trash burned in remote towns and overcrowded megacities is on the rise, as consumption grows in emerging nations. Plastic and electronic materials are indiscriminately combined with organic products, such as food and wood.
Wiedinmyer became interested in the impact of burning rubbish on a trip to Ghana, where he found that many villages were engulfed in smoke. Now he hopes his investigation will serve to draw the attention of the authorities and prompt them to take action.
