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REVIEW ARTICLE

Implications of leaf burning for adverse respiratory conditions and release of fine particulates and air pollutants

Luke Theodore Curtis*
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1 Department of Public Health, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States of America
EER 2024, 1(1), 4040 https://doi.org/10.36922/eer.4040
Submitted: 25 June 2024 | Accepted: 8 October 2024 | Published: 5 November 2024
© 2024 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

The residential burning of leaves, brush, grass, and other forms of vegetation are major and underappreciated source of particulates smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, and many other air pollutants including carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons such as benzo(a)pyrene. Residential leaf burning has been linked to significantly poorer urban/suburban air quality, respiratory morbidity and mortality, serious burn injuries to people, and property damage. Other forms of biomass burning such as wildfires, wood burning, peatland wildfires, and the deliberate burning of woodlands and agricultural fields produce large amounts of air pollutants, which are somewhat similar in composition to those released from leaf burning. Leaf burning has been linked to significantly higher rates of asthma and other respiratory problems. Exposure to wildfire smoke has been linked to significantly higher rates of cancer, infections, and a wide range of health conditions including respiratory, cardiovascular, psychiatric, and reproductive problems. Leaf burning and other forms of biomass burning produce significant quantities of dark particulates that accelerate global warming. Leaf burning also presents serious risk of burn injuries to humans, wildlife, and buildings. A number of U.S. states and European Countries have imposed total state or national bans on leaf burning. In fact, many communities offer free or inexpensive community leaf pickup and composting services. Leaf composting offers many advantages over leaf burning; for instance, leaf compost is a valuable product useful for growing plants. In conclusion, homeowners, communities, and nations should compost leaves, brush, and grass clippings rather than burning them.

Keywords
Leaf burning
Wildfires
Wood burning
Biomass burning
Asthma
Leaf composting
PM2.5
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The author declares that he has no competing interests.
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