BURNING LEAVES SPARKS PROBLEMS
            A brief windstorm dots the yard with a few leaves from here and there. Soon more leaves will follow and the task of managing them begins. For many of us, the smell of burning leaves brings back pleasant memories of autumns past. We seldom considered at the time that burning leaves were a threat to our health and our environment.
            We saw the smoke, obviously air pollution, but as it dispersed into the atmosphere it seemed to disappear.  Now we know that whatever we see as smoke as it leaves the fire remains in the atmosphere for an extended period of time. The moist leaves tend to burn slowly and release particulates – fine bits of dust, soot, and other solid materials. These particulates do not confine themselves close to the pile of burning leaves but only spread until we cannot detect them with our eyes.  Depending on weather conditions, the unseen particulates can affect air quality many miles from the site where they originate.
            On average, 1 ton of leaves will produce 38 pounds of fine particulate matter, 26 pounds of hydrocarbons, and 112 pounds of carbon monoxide. The particulates of leaf smoke can reach deep into lung tissue and irritate the nose and throat of healthy adults. More serious problems result for children under ten, adults over sixty-five and persons with respiratory ailments including asthma, heart disease, or allergies.
            “Leaf smoke may also contain hazardous chemicals such as carbon monoxide, which can bind with hemoglobin in the bloodstream and reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood and lungs,” reports an article on the website: http//:environment.about.com. “Another noxious chemical commonly present in leaf smoke is benzo(a)pyrene, which has been shown to cause cancer in animals and is believed to be a major factor in lung cancer caused cigarette smoke.”
            Multiple fires in any one area can concentrate the air pollutants. Certain weather conditions can allow the pollutants to remain close to the ground in greater density. The ashes left from leaf burning can be carried by run-off to pollute a nearby stream or lake.
            What can you do with leaves? Recycling is the best option. Leaves make good compost that can then be used as a fertilizer and soil conditioner. Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension can give you good directions for composting. Many websites have instructions also – just google “composting.”  
            “As to using leaves as mulch for your lawn, it is just a simple matter of mowing right over the leaves with the lawnmower and leaving them there. As with leaves used for garden mulch, this will provide many benefits, including weed suppression, moisture conservation, and moderation of soil temperature.” (about.com)
            Rather than creating problems with leaves, you can solve problems with them.

Della Moen, Earth Team Volunteer, NRCS/Stephenson Soil and Water Conservation District, an equal opportunity provider and employer, 9/8/10 (for publication on 09/11/10 in the Journal-Standard, Freeport, Illinois) Della can be reached at info@stephensonswcd.org