Health Impacts of Tire Burning

By

Emily Kierstead, United Church Clergy, Former Elementary School Teacher

Lydia Sorflaten, BSc, Foods and Nutrition and Health teacher.

Fred Blois, President Woodmaster Tools.

CEMENT KILNS ARE NOT BUILT TO BURN TIRES

“CEMENT KILNS ARE NOT DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED, OPERATED, OR INTENDED TO

BE USED AS SCRAP TIRE INCINERATORS.” DR. NEIL CARMON, PHD CHEMISTRY

1.

Some Concerns re Tire Incineration from the Dal Study

-

'Particulates: Possibility of some increase in particulates. Impact depends on the size

distribution of the particulates.‘

Table 19: Likely health impacts from emissions if tire burning permitted (Cook and Kemm, 2004).

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF TIRES AS ANALTERNATIVE FUEL

Michael J. Pegg, PhD, et al.

Fine Particulate- harmful for two reasons:

1. Fine Particulate enters the lungs and interferes with breathing.

2. Fine Particulates carry toxic substances on the surface like a

sponge.

Toxic Emissions and Health Hazards from Tire Incineration in Lafarge Cement Kilns, Neil J. Carman, Ph.D.

Fine particles, laden with toxins, deliver metals and pollutants directly into the blood stream.

855.615 tonnesNA - M08 PM - Total Particulate Matter 76.010 tonnesNA - M09 PM10 - Particulate Matter <= 10

Data as of October 27, 20062005 Facility & Substance InformationLAFARGE CANADA INC.NPRI ID: 4317Brookfield Cement Plant

Toxic Air Emissions: Particulate Matter PM10, PM2.5, Ultrafines

1. Combustion particles are microscopic in size and penetrate into deep lung tissues, like the alveolar sacs where toxins from the particles can access the bloodstream.

2. Carry carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens and toxins like benzene, PAHs, VOCs, dioxins, dibenzofurans, metals, and others.

‘Dioxin/Furan emission data have the widest range in

reported values and hence the greatest potential for

uncertainty.’

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF TIRES AS ANALTERNATIVE FUEL. Page 37.Michael J. Pegg, PhD, et al. Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University. April 20, 2007.

Dal Review Red Flags Dioxins and Furans

‘Different dioxin and furan compounds vary by several orders of magnitude in their ability to cause adverse health effects in laboratory animals. The most toxic of the chlorinated dioxin and furan molecules in laboratory animals is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD known as Agent Orange).’

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF TIRES AS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL. APPENDIX A: Dioxin and Furan Emission Limits

• Dioxins are persistant and are chemically stabile for

decades

Toxic Emissions and Health Hazards from Tire Incineration in Lafarge Cement Kilns, Neil J. Carman, Ph.D.

Dioxin Facts• Dioxins and furans are the most toxic

chemicals known to science• Dioxins cause infertility, learning

disabilities, endometriosis, birth defects, sexual reproductive disorders, damage to the immune system, cancer and more.

Tire Chemistry: Metals in Whole Tires

• Metals in steel-belted tires: do not burn in the cement kiln but due to hot temperatures metals tend to vaporize more and be released as metallic gaseous and particulate matter into the ambient air.

• Metals include Zinc, Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Chromium VI, others