The “Sunshine State” of Florida is booming, but along with this population growth comes more trash, and with more trash comes more incinerators supplying power. Burning garbage for electricity while it might appear a great sustainable solution, the residents of many Florida towns are now beginning to worry about the health consequences of living near and breathing the toxic smoke of incinerators.
The fires are both burning garbage and in some cases, emission control, removing predominantly nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter from the smoke plumes. These substances have been linked to serious health issues such as asthma, cancer, and lung damage, but corporations that continue to see the incineration as a viable option mainly because of their cost efficiency.
Despite government regulations, which require incinerators to be tested for environmental compliance, local residents of communities such as Cutler Bay, Florida, and others, are complaining about the health effects from the smoke. Many have reported respiratory illnesses and other ailments that they attribute to the toxic smoke. It is true that the pollutants have been found to be below the levels deemed acceptable by the government, but they are still present.
Residents have also raised the question as to why homes must be built within close proximity to these incinerators, and why the overall governmental regulations do not take into account local weather patterns that may make levels unhealthier than expected.
The fight against the incinerators is still ongoing, and residents hope that they will eventually make enough noise that the state of Florida will come to understand their plight, and make changes that ensure the safety of their citizens. This appears to be a fight that will go on for a long time, and could eventually lead to a dramatic change in the way Florida produces electricity.
It is clear that while the population continues to grow and more trash is being generated, Floridians will have to stand up for their health and their rights in order to keep their air clean. This fight is far from over, and it is up to all of us to support our fellow citizens in their fight for a healthy, safe environment for all.
The “Sunshine State” of Florida is booming, but along with this population growth comes more trash, and with more trash comes more incinerators supplying power. Burning garbage for electricity while it might appear a great sustainable solution, the residents of many Florida towns are now beginning to worry about the health consequences of living near and breathing the toxic smoke of incinerators.
The fires are both burning garbage and in some cases, emission control, removing predominantly nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter from the smoke plumes. These substances have been linked to serious health issues such as asthma, cancer, and lung damage, but corporations that continue to see the incineration as a viable option mainly because of their cost efficiency.
Despite government regulations, which require incinerators to be tested for environmental compliance, local residents of communities such as Cutler Bay, Florida, and others, are complaining about the health effects from the smoke. Many have reported respiratory illnesses and other ailments that they attribute to the toxic smoke. It is true that the pollutants have been found to be below the levels deemed acceptable by the government, but they are still present.
Residents have also raised the question as to why homes must be built within close proximity to these incinerators, and why the overall governmental regulations do not take into account local weather patterns that may make levels unhealthier than expected.
The fight against the incinerators is still ongoing, and residents hope that they will eventually make enough noise that the state of Florida will come to understand their plight, and make changes that ensure the safety of their citizens. This appears to be a fight that will go on for a long time, and could eventually lead to a dramatic change in the way Florida produces electricity.
It is clear that while the population continues to grow and more trash is being generated, Floridians will have to stand up for their health and their rights in order to keep their air clean. This fight is far from over, and it is up to all of us to support our fellow citizens in their fight for a healthy, safe environment for all.
