The Group of Firefighters of the Canary Islands Workers’ Commissions (CCOO) has warned this Monday that in the fire at the Arona composting plant, which is still active, “toxic substances” are released, which is why they call it “reckless” since public institutions “it is said that it has no consequences for the health of the population.”
They also “regret” that the personnel fighting the fire have been observed with “serious deficiencies” in their equipment, which represents a “serious risk” to their health, CCOO points out in a note.
The union considers that the authorities and people who deny the emission of toxic substances in fires put the population at risk “by not providing adequate information, potentially exposing citizens to substances harmful to health.”
Thus, they remember that composts are organic matter, with a percentage of agricultural and plant waste and it is “well demonstrated” that vegetation fires release emissions and smoke with toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic products.
Apart from soot particles, which are a “recognized” carcinogen, the burning organic matter from the Arona composting plant in Tenerife emits substances such as benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein and ammonia, among many other gases, vapors, particles and microparticles, they point out.
According to the union, carcinogenic substances can cause fatal diseases even if they develop a long time after the moment of exposure, “and as the regulations indicate, there is no amount that can be stated that cannot cause damage to health.” .
The organization points out that “benzene is known to be carcinogenic and can cause genetic defects, as well as organ damage after prolonged or repeated exposure, in the same way, it can cause serious eye irritation and skin irritation depending on the concentration.”
They also point out that “formaldehyde is carcinogenic and a sensitizing agent, toxic in contact with the skin and, if inhaled, can cause burns, as well as allergic reactions” while acrolein “can be fatal in case of inhalation and toxic in contact.” with the skin, which can cause skin and eye burns.
Furthermore, the union emphasizes that the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) is inevitable in the incomplete combustion of any organic compound containing carbon, it is toxic for human reproduction “and can harm the fetus.”
Along these lines, he emphasizes that “it is toxic if inhaled and can harm certain organs depending on exposure.”
Regarding the lack of equipment for firefighters, CCOO points out that not adopting prevention measures through organizational measures and the necessary personal protective equipment “represents a serious non-compliance in labor matters, knowing how dangerous it is to act without adopting preventive measures.”
