Smoke nuisance in Paramaribo: risk of lung cancer and lung diseases

PARAMARIBO – Smoke nuisance in Paramaribo and surrounding areas caused by recurring waste fires is more than an unpleasant smell. Smoke can directly cause coughing, shortness of breath and asthma attacks. Long-term exposure to air pollution also increases the risks of chronic lung diseases and lung cancer. How large those additional risks are for nearby residents cannot be reliably determined without local air measurements and exposure data.

The fires at Ornamibo and Charlesburg are placing pressure on the living environment. Key News previously reported that a fire broke out again at Charlesburg and smoke drifted towards the Academisch Ziekenhuis Paramaribo. The editorial team also described how the continuing fires strain the fire brigade’s limited capacity. This situation raises questions about the consequences of repeated exposure.

What is in smoke from mixed waste?

When household waste, plastic, wood and other materials burn together, a varying mixture of particles and gases is produced. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), open waste burning can release, among other things, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins. Which substances are actually released depends on the waste and the combustion conditions.

A sharp, chemical smell does not reveal which substances are present or how high the concentrations are. Air with a less strong odour can also contain harmful particles. The legal status of a landfill site does not in itself provide protection: what matters are the fire, the emissions, wind direction and how much smoke a person inhales. Waste separation can keep hazardous waste streams separate, but does not make open burning safe.

Smoke nuisance: short-term complaints

The US health agency CDC describes symptoms from smoke exposure such as irritated eyes, a sore throat, headaches, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. The information concerns wildfire smoke; smoke from waste fires may also contain other pollutants. People with asthma or COPD may experience a worsening of their condition. Children, older people, pregnant women and people with heart or lung diseases deserve additional protection.

Particulate matter can penetrate deep into the lungs. The World Health Organization (WHO) links both short-term and long-term exposure to particulate matter to illness and death from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The consequences are therefore not limited to the airways. Especially for people who are already ill, a period of smoke can pose an additional burden.

Lung cancer: proven danger, no local prediction

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies outdoor air pollution and particulate matter in it as carcinogenic to humans. There is sufficient scientific evidence that exposure can cause lung cancer. The agency also found an increasing risk at higher exposure levels. This makes long-term air pollution a serious public health issue, including for people who do not smoke.

This classification does not mean that everyone who inhales smoke will develop lung cancer. Nor does it prove that an individual waste fire caused a specific case of illness. Individual risk is related, among other things, to the duration and intensity of exposure and other risk factors. International knowledge supports prevention, but does not provide a percentage for residents of Charlesburg, Ornamibo or other affected neighbourhoods.

Dioxins also require attention. According to the WHO, these persistent substances can be produced by uncontrolled waste burning and accumulate in the food chain. More than 90 percent of human exposure occurs through food. Some dioxins are carcinogenic. However, this does not mean that elevated levels in air or food have been demonstrated in Paramaribo; targeted research is needed for that.

What if the smoke nuisance continues for years?

If residents remain exposed to elevated air pollution over a long period, a greater disease burden can be expected based on international knowledge. The WHO links outdoor air pollution to, among other things, COPD, respiratory infections, heart disease, strokes and lung cancer. COPD is a chronic condition involving persistent respiratory complaints and restricted airflow, which can impair daily functioning.

For Paramaribo, this means a possible future scenario of more people with long-term respiratory problems, more exacerbations of existing lung diseases and additional healthcare needs. How many additional consultations, hospital admissions or cancer diagnoses would follow is unknown. A concrete prediction requires long-term air measurements, information on living and working conditions, and reliable disease data. Without those data, an exact number of patients would create false certainty.

Protection begins with less exposure

Residents can limit their exposure by staying indoors when there is smoke, closing windows and doors, and postponing strenuous outdoor activity. A suitable air purifier can reduce the amount of particles indoors. If the home remains smoky or becomes dangerously hot, seek a cooler place with cleaner air. Follow any instructions from local authorities.

A properly fitting N95 mask can reduce the amount of particulate matter inhaled. It does not protect against gases and vapours, CDC/NIOSH stresses. A cloth or loose face mask does not provide reliable protection against fine smoke particles. Severe shortness of breath or chest pain requires immediate medical assistance. People with existing respiratory complaints should follow their treatment plans and contact their doctor if their condition worsens.

For a useful local picture, air measurements should be linked to the times when fires are burning and to wind direction. This can distinguish between a short smoke peak and repeated exposure over days or weeks. Recording respiratory complaints at general practitioners and hospitals can then help identify patterns, without automatically attributing every case of illness to a landfill fire. Schools, healthcare institutions and employers also need timely information to adjust activities. Such measures do not replace addressing the fire sources, but can shorten the period during which people inhale smoke without protection and bring vulnerable residents to the attention of aid workers sooner.

Structural protection requires preventing and combating waste fires, safe waste processing and public air-quality information. Measurements must clarify where and when residents experience the greatest exposure. Medical knowledge provides sufficient reason to limit emissions; waiting for demonstrably additional lung cancer diagnoses would mean prevention begins only after potentially avoidable harm has occurred.

Image: AI illustration of a fictional patient on a ventilator. Not a photo of an actual patient or a confirmed admission due to smoke nuisance.