Let us Burn car tyres in Tema: the benefits are great?

Do we have eyes but cannot see, or we are a people who just cannot be bothered? At the Ashiaman end of the Motto way, do you want us to believe that no one seems to notice the horrible environmental pollution and lethal act taking place or no leader, be it local, municipal or political cannot see the environmental carnage taking place at one of the busiest traffic points in Ghana?

Tema and its environs is already heavily polluted, but now, because of ignorance and better still the ' I don't care' attitude, indiscipline and the selfishness of the few in the name of poverty the masses will have to suffer. The burning of used vehicle tyres and refrigerators parts are exposing everyone to harmful chemical into the atmosphere which will affect those who do not even live in the environs of Tema whether they like it or not. Whiles the staffs at the toll booths are busy collecting cash the burning of tyres goes on vehemently and relentlessly and no one seems to bother, they are so ignorant. Those who are recycling these tyres set them ablaze during the night move away and come back to collect whatever they need from the ashes. Do we always have to wait for someone to die before we take action, can we not as people for once pre-empt, prevent and avoid? If you knew the consequences of burning tyres you will shiver at the sight and avoid Tema and its environs.

Burning tires releases a toxic mix of hundreds of pollutants. We are all at risk; it also releases a tremendous number of small particles that settle deep in the lungs. Breast milk is contaminated by the organic pollutants from burning tyres; these will be transferred to innocent babies. Children, foetuses, nursing babies, elderly, asthmatics, and immune suppressed individuals are all much more vulnerable to the pollutants released from burning tyres. Small particulates released by burning tires worsen asthma and may contribute to heart disease. The particles have been found to cause excess mortality and hospitalizations for heart disease and cancer by the American Academy of Paediatrics Committee on Environmental Health. Tyres are not designed to be burned as a fuel and contain hazardous ingredients (the rubber in tires contains 25% extender oils derived from benzene, 25% styrene, a derivative of benzene, and 25% 1,3 butadiene. - both benzene and 1,3 butadiene are suspected human carcinogens). Tire-derived fuel (TDF) also contains remnants of wire that is difficult to totally remove when tires are processed for fuel.

These are but a few consequences of burning tires. If we were ignorant, let us be no more, if we did not know now we know, let us be good custodians of our environment, the Environmental Agency and the leaders in our communities should act now; or they will all die slowly but painfully. Whatever decisions we make today on burning tyres will affect everyone, even our unborn children.