“Smoke from leaves is poison”: a chemist told why a fire in the country is dangerous

What do we breathe?

When the raw leaves smolder, they release a thick veil of tiny particles of soot, carbon monoxide and a whole bunch of toxic compounds. All this flies into the lungs not only to the one who stands by the fire, but also to the neighbors. The smallest particles are especially dangerous - they do not settle for hours, but hang in the air. Penetrating deep into the respiratory tract, they irritate tissues and accumulate in the body. And carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin stronger than oxygen, and the blood carries oxygen to the organs worse.

When is it particularly harmful?

In windless weather. The smoke does not dissipate, but spreads around the site and neighboring territories, accumulating in the lowlands. Even a small fire becomes a serious source of pollution. And if plastic, chemical residues or road dust get into a pile of leaves, toxins are released even more.

Compost instead of fire

Burning leaves, you not only poison the air, but also lose valuable organic fertilizer. Healthy foliage is better sent to compost. To make it qualitative, the leaves are crushed and mixed with other plant residues. In a few months, there will be a nutrient mass for beds.

The leaves can also be used as mulch. Just distribute them in an even layer under trees and shrubs - they will retain moisture and gradually rot, nourishing the roots.

What to do with sick leaves?

If the leaves have signs of diseases or pests, it is better not to put them in compost. With conventional composting, the temperature inside the heap rarely rises so much that pathogens die. The infection may persist and return to the beds. Such foliage is collected separately and taken to specially designated places.

Fines

“In many regions, burning foliage is strictly prohibited. Administrative fines are provided for violation, the amounts depend on local regulations, lawyer Oleg Vorontsov recalls.

So before you start a fire, check the local rules. Compost and mulch are free and useful alternatives. And health is more expensive.