Open burning, danger to health

Open burning is the burning of any matter, where smoke is released directly into the ambient air without passing through an adequate stack or flue which is a big cause of acute respiratory tract diseases, according to a Pediatric Respirologist– by Lorraine Josiane Manishatse

Open burning at Mubone public dump ©Iwacu

Wherever you go to Bujumbura City Council and everywhere in the country in general, you find cases of open burning in public areas like schools, hospitals, churches, and markets…

According to Francois Ndikumwenayo, a Pediatric Respirologist, smoke from various kinds of grass, plastics, sachets, oil, car tyres, batteries, glass materials … causes pollution. It is not only that smoke which is the source of air pollution, but also there is a type of smoke released by factories, industries and diesel vehicles. That released smoke affects immediately our respiration because we inhale it.“People may have respiratory tract diseases such as asthma, rhino sinusitis….when they are exposed to polluted air,” he explains.
The exposure of a patient suffering from a chronic respiratory disease to air pollution may worsen it.

The view is shared by Mrs. M K, suffering from chronic asthma, met at CMCK hospital who indicates that she often gets crisis because of smoke.
“This morning when I have left home going to work, the groom of my neighbor was burning household waste, suddenly, I felt sick and this is the reason why I am here for treatment,” she regrets. Dr Ndikumwenayo continues that a long exposure of children to smoke may result in acute respiratory disease like pneumonia or acute bronchitis and serious deterioration of breathing apparatus.

In the same way, Mireille Mizero, Assistant Lecturer at the University of Burundi, Expert in Environmental Sciences, Prevention and Pollution Remediation, points out that open burning is more and more hazardous because smoke from burned materials can even cause cancer.
“I think that people from Buterere Commune where there is a public dump will get serious problems caused by smoke due to the frequent burned rubbish” she states.For Dr Ndikumwenayo, it is worth implementing hygienic and professional treatment of solid waste and garbage. There should also be a good control of diesel engine vehicles.
According to Mizero, we must always prevent open burning because it is harmful to human beings’ health and environment.

Legend: Open burning at Mubone public dump.