According to a top environmentalist, ARSONISTS who torch tires on Bahrain's roads are exposing themselves and others to a potentially "deadly" cocktail of chemicals.
Bahrain gets through almost a million tires a year - with many of them burned in the streets. More than 800,000 tires a year are discarded in the country, just under one for every person living here, said Rehan Ahmed, a senior environment specialist at the
Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife.
He is now suggesting a recycling plant should be set up to process used tires safely - and take them out of the hands of fire-lighting youngsters. "Open burning of tires on roads is becoming common and a part of life," said Mr. Ahmed
"Burning tires is used to protest as it creates smoke, which catches the attention of public authorities, disrupts traffic and social life.
"Tires are voluminous, cheap and easily available from workshops and can be incinerated so easily.
"The question of environmental pollution and health impact of such activities has been raised several times, but a change in our behavior and an understanding of the pollution and health impacts is needed to eliminate this deadly habit," he added.
Mr. Ahmed said the illegal dumping of used tires was a major environmental pollution., as well as a continuous source of materials for arsonists.
But , he said there was little incentive to collect discarded tires since they were worthless without a recycling facility.
He warned people against breathing in the visible smoke plume coming from burning tires. He wants the people to be conscious about it.
Bahrain gets through almost a million tires a year - with many of them burned in the streets. More than 800,000 tires a year are discarded in the country, just under one for every person living here, said Rehan Ahmed, a senior environment specialist at the
Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife. He is now suggesting a recycling plant should be set up to process used tires safely - and take them out of the hands of fire-lighting youngsters. "Open burning of tires on roads is becoming common and a part of life," said Mr. Ahmed
"Burning tires is used to protest as it creates smoke, which catches the attention of public authorities, disrupts traffic and social life.
"Tires are voluminous, cheap and easily available from workshops and can be incinerated so easily.
"The question of environmental pollution and health impact of such activities has been raised several times, but a change in our behavior and an understanding of the pollution and health impacts is needed to eliminate this deadly habit," he added.Mr. Ahmed said the illegal dumping of used tires was a major environmental pollution., as well as a continuous source of materials for arsonists.
But , he said there was little incentive to collect discarded tires since they were worthless without a recycling facility.
He warned people against breathing in the visible smoke plume coming from burning tires. He wants the people to be conscious about it.
Tire burning creates dioxins and furans, among the most toxic chemicals around.
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