The Tribune

By Dr Monique Thompson

This week’s article brings the enlightenment of the toll that the burning landfill takes on human, environmental and the country’s economic health to an end. I wish I was reporting that the burning landfill itself had come to an end, but unfortunately we are not there as yet, nor is the political will. But let me not digress on that note.

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was used as a pesticide until it was banned in 1965. Other industrial uses include use in the production of rubber, aluminium, and dyes and in wood preservation. Exposure to hexachlorobenzene can occur when persons who are close to industrial sites inhale it when it is formed as a by-product. Like dioxins, HCB not only persists in the environment, but also bioaccumulates in living organisms. This means that it is stored in plants and animals, and when other animals eat those organisms, the toxins get into the bodies of the animals higher up in the food chain. HCB primarily leads to liver disease with discoloured skin lesions and ulcers, and sensitivity to light. HCB also has harmful effects in bone, and the thyroid and leads to hair loss. Pregnant mothers need be aware of this because HCB does have the ability to cross the placenta and get into the unborn child’s system. Animal studies show that HCB leads to increase death and prematurity of fetuses. For those animals that did survive, neurodevelopmental problems occurred. It is listed as a probable human carcinogen, and is very toxic to marine animals.

Particle pollution, or particulate matter (PM), is composed of very small solids or liquids that are in the air. Dust, dirt, smoke and soot are all examples of visible PM but there are others that cannot be seen with the naked eye. PM is broadly categorised into fine or coarse particles. Coarse particles are referred to as PM10, and finer particles are PM25. Inhaling both is harmful to health but breathing in PM25 is more harmful because their smaller size makes it easier for the particles to get deep into the lungs and sometimes even the blood. Children, elderly persons, and individuals with existing respiratory issues are more vulnerable to the damaging effects of PM, which lead to trouble breathing, asthma, heart disease, lung and eye irritation, and lung cancer.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that essentially turn into a gas very easily because of very low boiling points. There are many, many VOCs some which are natural and some that are man-made. Because the compounds in this category greatly vary, the impact on health also varies from being non-toxic, to causing cancer. Generally, the more immediate health effects reported after exposure include eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment.

In bringing this informational session on the burning at the landfill to a close, suffice it to say that the effort to resolve this problem needs to be intentional and greatly intensified. Not only are we slowly (or in some cases not-so-slowly) killing the residents in proximity to the landfill, and in the surrounding areas, but we are also needlessly damaging the environment. For a nation that is so dependent on tourism to drive the economy, and working on making Agriculture a significant industry in this nation (another action that is long overdue….), we truly need our environment to be at its absolute best. Resolving this issue of the landfill will be a great move forward in achieving a healthier environment.

• Dr Monique Thompson is the founder of and a physician at Cornerstone Healing Institute, an integrative and holistic medical clinic. Call 356-0083 or visit www.chibahamas.com for more information.