An Environmental Impact Assessment of the Open Burning of Scrap Tires

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the environmental impact assessment of actual field measurements of the open burning of scrap tires and the level of health risk associated with such activities. The quality and quantity of polluted ambient air including smoke, gases, heavy metals, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s) on the surrounding environment and its potential impact on human health were evaluated. The results showed that the mean concentrations of Particulate Matter (PM10) for a full day burning (24 h) period was 280 μg m-3, which is seven times higher than the blank samples concentration obtained from the ambient air at the same location prior to the open burning of scrap tires. The results greatly exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum allowable limits standards for PM10 concentration. The summation of the total means all PAH’s compounds reached a concentration of 2918 μg m-3, indicating high levels of PAH’s concentration in the surrounding environment. Sulfur dioxide emission from the open burning of scrap tires exceeded the EPA standards by three fold which causes major concerns for human health and air pollution in the study area.