Burning Issues

Trash and brush burning: an underappreciated mechanism of thermal injury in a rural community.

Several earlier studies have reported that open burning of leaves or brush can produce large amounts of air pollution and worsen asthma (Medical Journal of Australia June 3, 2002;176:535-538 and Chest May 1992;101:1236-1239).

Open burning of trash, brush and leaves is also a major hazard for burn injury. A study of
hospital burns admissions at one Iowa Hospital found that 20% were due to trash/brush/leaf fires. Open burning of trash/brush/leaves was responsible for 12 burn deaths in 12 years or 1 death per year.

- L Wibbenmeyer et al. Trash and brush burning: an underappreciated mechanism of
thermal injury in a rural community. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation March/ April
2003;24:85-89.


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