Dear Editor,

Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Marion Bullock-DuCasse is incorrect in saying that the Riverton dump smoke will have no lasting effects. The fire has a number of effects on the materials being burned, it vaporises some of the plastics and partially burns some of these vaporised plastics producing a huge variety of materials. PVC alone yields hydrochoric acid, Benzene and unsaturated hydrocarbons, it pyrolyses woody or food trash producing tars. As we know from smokers, such tars can be carcinogenic over time. As for the particulates 10 micrometres and smaller, the US EPA states, “these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects”.

There is a huge body of scholarly research freely available on the smoke from “trash fires”and their health effects which include decreased lung function, neurological disorders, cancers and heart attacks. So I don’t know how Dr Bullock-DuCasse came by her opinion.

Howard Chin, PE

Member

Jamaica Institution of Engineers

hmc14@cwjamaica.com