Dr. Mohammad Zaman knows it’s a touchy subject, but he’s not alone in his sentiment.
A growing number of people and communities are recognizing the dangers of leaf burning, and are taking steps to curb or ban it.
Zaman, an immunologist and allergist with the Hannibal Regional Medical Group, and many others advocate composting and mulching alternatives to the fall ritual of burning nature’s trash.
Leaf smoke contains carbon monoxide, harmful particle matter and several cancer-causing chemicals.
“It’s a very toxic mix,” Zaman said. “It is a public health hazard and people should be aware of it.”
Unlike factory emissions, leaf smoke can cause more problems because it is heavier and stays close to the ground for longer periods.
Zaman admits the practice is a fall tradition that would be hard to break.
“We grew up with it,” he said. “It’s a typical smell of fall. If you get sick, you don’t think it’s leaf burning.”
Research has shown that bans work. Before it eliminated leaf burning, hospital admissions for asthma and other respiratory illnesses in Des Moines, Iowa, doubled in October compared with other months. After the ban took effect, the October admissions numbers returned to normal.
Quincy, Ill., banned leaf burning almost a decade ago. The city offers curbside yard waste pickup through Dec. 24 and has a year-round drop-off site on Radio Road.
“We had some controversy when we first went to it, but most people favor it now,” said Gary Sparks, the city’s director of administrative services and a former alderman. “Most people now find it to be a non-issue.”
Hannibal doesn’t ban leaf burning, but does regulate it. The city also has a yard waste site on Seventh Street.
Many other Missouri and Illinois communities have enacted restrictions, such limiting the number of hours or days when burning is allowed.
Zaman said he knows composting is an “expensive proposition” for many cities, but said the health costs far exceed the bill for alternatives.
“If you go in the hospital for one day, it’s a thousand bucks,” he said. “If you end up in intensive care with breathing difficulty, it can be much more.”
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Dr. Mohammad Zaman knows it’s a touchy subject, but he’s not alone in his sentiment.
A growing number of people and communities are recognizing the dangers of leaf burning, and are taking steps to curb or ban it.
Zaman, an immunologist and allergist with the Hannibal Regional Medical Group, and many others advocate composting and mulching alternatives to the fall ritual of burning nature’s trash.
Leaf smoke contains carbon monoxide, harmful particle matter and several cancer-causing chemicals.
“It’s a very toxic mix,” Zaman said. “It is a public health hazard and people should be aware of it.”
Unlike factory emissions, leaf smoke can cause more problems because it is heavier and stays close to the ground for longer periods.
Zaman admits the practice is a fall tradition that would be hard to break.
“We grew up with it,” he said. “It’s a typical smell of fall. If you get sick, you don’t think it’s leaf burning.”
Research has shown that bans work. Before it eliminated leaf burning, hospital admissions for asthma and other respiratory illnesses in Des Moines, Iowa, doubled in October compared with other months. After the ban took effect, the October admissions numbers returned to normal.
Quincy, Ill., banned leaf burning almost a decade ago. The city offers curbside yard waste pickup through Dec. 24 and has a year-round drop-off site on Radio Road.
“We had some controversy when we first went to it, but most people favor it now,” said Gary Sparks, the city’s director of administrative services and a former alderman. “Most people now find it to be a non-issue.”
Hannibal doesn’t ban leaf burning, but does regulate it. The city also has a yard waste site on Seventh Street.
Many other Missouri and Illinois communities have enacted restrictions, such limiting the number of hours or days when burning is allowed.
Zaman said he knows composting is an “expensive proposition” for many cities, but said the health costs far exceed the bill for alternatives.
“If you go in the hospital for one day, it’s a thousand bucks,” he said. “If you end up in intensive care with breathing difficulty, it can be much more.”
