The Ministry of Environment makes a call to all the people and warns about the noxiousness of tire fires made on Easter night. Specialists note that cancerous chemical substances are emitted when burning tires and the declared goal of ‘purifying’ bonfires actually leads to the pollution of environment, IPN reports.

In the past, they used wood for the traditional Easter bonfires, but now they burn mainly tires. When tires are burned, 23 dangerous chemical substances are emitted, eight of which are cancerous. If the emitted smoke is inhaled, this can cause bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary poisoning or diseases of the nervous system. The dioxins accumulate in plants, animal tissues, fish and human tissue. Depending on the characteristics and direction of the wind, the harmful substances can be dispersed by air at distances of more than 160 km.

When a tonne of tires are burned, 270 kg of smoke and 450 kg of toxic gases are emitted in the atmosphere. Two of these substances – biphenyl and benzopyrene – are powerfully carcinogenic. The phenolic compounds from these toxic gases affect the functions of kidneys and cause the exacerbation of chronic gastrointestinal diseases.

The Ministry of Environment warns that in accordance with the legislation, the pollution of atmospheric air with gas emissions is punished with a fine of 800 to 1,200 lei in the case of private individuals and of 7,000 to 10,000 lei in the case of legal entities and with ban on performing particular activities during six months to a year.

The environment inspectors, together with police officers, will monitor how the environment legislation is obeyed and will impose fines.