A NONGOVERNMENT organization on Wednesday warned the public against the burning of used tires and trash during the New Year celebration to prevent toxic pollutants from endangering the public health, climate and environment. “Burning up worn tires on New Year’s Eve and setting firecracker wrappings, used boga [PVC cannons], plastics and other discards on fire after the festivities are unhealthy as well as unlawful,” said Manny Calonzo, president of the EcoWaste Coalition.
The EcoWaste Coalition appealed for public vigilance against open burning as the whole nation gears up to welcome 2010 saying that it is “unhealthy because it releases toxic pollutants that could cause shortness of breath and headaches, infuriate the eyes, throat and skin, cause lung irritation and congestion, and trigger cancers and other life-threatening health issues.”
Calonzo said that the most notorious among these pollutants are dioxins, a proven human carcinogen quoting the International Agency for Research on Cancer that could cause cancers and other serious disorders in the reproductive, developmental, immune and nervous systems.
“We would like to remind the public that used tires become a toxic waste when they are set in flames,” Calonzo added.
Besides dioxins, burning tires also releases a toxic soup of pollutants including lead, mercury and other heavy metals, carbon monoxide, solvents, numerous products of incomplete combustion and other chemicals of concerns, he said.
He further said that “to minimize the risk from health and environmental contaminants as well as encourage recycling for resource conservation,” the lawmakers should consider it necessary to make open burning unlawful.
Calonzo also said that two major environmental laws—the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Clean Air Act, which prohibit open burning of trash and penalize violators with a fine of P300 to P1,000, or imprisonment of one to 15 days, or both.
Moreover, the group warned the public that toxic byproducts from open burning can contaminate the food supply as toxins are transported via air and water and deposited onto leafy plants that are consumed by farm animals or ingested by fish and other aquatic organisms.
The EcoWaste Coalition urged the public to shun firecrackers and fireworks and thwart pollution from the illegal burning of tires and holiday trash for safer and climate-friendly New Year celebrations. –IRA KAREN APANAY, Manila Times
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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