By Robert Asseily,
Special to Ya Libnan
Beyond the irreparable damage done in dividing the democratic nation of Lebanon, the severe health hazards of burning tires may ultimately be the worst result of "Black Tuesday".
Despite the insistence of the ringleaders of the chaotic protest that plagued Lebanon this week that they did no physical harm to their country or it's citizens, medical experts strongly disagree.
The thick, black smog engulfed Beirut and other parts of Lebanon on Tuesday, exposing the majority of the Lebanese population to a toxic gas commonly known to cause cancer and birth defects.
Just as Israel destroyed Lebanon's marine life during the July-August war in 2006, the "opposition" are finishing off the rest of Lebanon's eco-system.
It is common knowledge that burning tires in the open is extremely harmful to human health and the natural environment. The fumes emitted are packed with the many toxic chemicals that tires contain (including volatile organic compounds such as benzene, metals such as lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo(a)pyrene, and synthetic rubber components such as butadiene and styrene).
The rubber in tires contains 25% extender oils derived from benzene, 25% styrene, a derivative of benzene, and 25% 1,3 butadiene. Both benzene and 1,3 butadiene are suspected human carcinogens. When tires are burned, these chemicals are released.
The term carcinogen refers to any form of substance which is an agent in the promotion or direct involvement in the facilitation of cancer.
Tires are a consumer product not designed for burning. The incineration of tires emits toxic heavy metals including mercury, lead, chromium, beryllium, cadmium and arsenic. A 1997 Environmental Protection Agency report on burning tires for fuel found that a paper mill that burned tires as just 2% of its fuel had:
- 20% increase in mercury emissions
- 179% increase in hexavalent chromium emissions
- 20% increase in benzene emissions
Burning tires releases large amounts of the metal zinc, leading to increases in fine particulate matter related to respiratory and cardiac disease.
Burning tires also releases dioxin, which was recognized by EPA in 1985 as the most potent human made carcinogen known. Dioxin does not break down in the environment but builds up in the food chain, concentrating in meat and dairy products.
Dioxins affect the immune system, fertility, and the unborn child.
Sources: Wikipedia, Greenpeace, Google Research
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