Bhogi Bonfires: APPCB Warns Against Burning Toxic Waste
Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) Chairman and retired IAS officer Dr P. Krishnaiah has urged people to celebrate Bhogi in an eco-friendly manner, warning against burning hazardous waste in festival bonfires.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Dr Krishnaiah said that during winter, dust particles remain suspended in the air as smog, impacting public health. He said Bhogi bonfires and the burning of waste further worsen air pollution, leading to a sharp dip in air quality.
He cautioned that many people knowingly or unknowingly burn tyres, plastic items, flex banners, painted furniture and electronic waste during Bhogi. When these materials are set on fire, toxic pollutants such as dioxins, furans, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, lead, cadmium and mercury are released into the atmosphere.
“These emissions pose serious health risks to people across age groups,” he said, adding that they can trigger or worsen asthma, allergies and other respiratory disorders, besides causing eye irritation, throat itching and heart-related ailments. In the long term, he warned, prolonged exposure could increase the risk of cancer.
Dr Krishnaiah appealed to people to avoid burning plastic, rubber, e-waste or chemically coated materials, and advised them to use only dry leaves, firewood or agricultural residues for bonfires.
He also urged citizens not to burn household garbage on roads or public places, and instead hand it over to municipal sanitation workers and garbage collection vehicles.