Burning leaves is hazardous to health

In the period of intensive leaf-fall, burning leaves is dangerous for population’s health. Noxious impurities emitted when the leaves are burnt, amass in the inferior stratum of the atmosphere – the zone of intense human activity, a statement of the State Hydro-Meteorological Service reports. According to the experts, in the days with moist air and fog, micro-particles of smoke interact with water vapors, forming oxidant smog, which is harmful especially for the respiratory system. A serious consequence of the incomplete burning of the leaves is the fact that cellulose form polycyclic combinations which are persistent organic pollutants (POP). The most dangerous impact is that of benzopyrene which can cause cancer. Ecologists also warn about the dangers provoked by the after-burning leaves smoke, as one of the main sources of environment pollution. According to the head of the Territorial Organization Chisinau of the Ecologist Movement of Moldova, Vladimir Garaba, about a thousand tonnes of leaves are evacuated from the capital each autumn. The leader of the Chisinau ecologists asserts that the evacuation of such a quantity of leafage could be the subject of a project or even several projects financed by the Ecological local and republican fund. Till now, the foliage was simply stocked in the “Purcel” mine. Local authorities claim, though, that they won’t be able to allocate money from the local budget for implementing such projects. The City Hall of the capital just announces that in the district offices a hot-line will be provided, so that citizens can report cases of burning leafage.