Sugar Burning Cutting through the haze State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, Sierra Club presents...

Source: USGS sofia.usgs.gov/projects/evapotrans/photos/burning_sugar_cane_fields_west_of_enr.jpg Burning season in Palm Beach County.

They burn 300,000+ of their 440,000 acres every year for half a year (Oct-Apr); 60 burn permits a day

January 18, 2014, courtesy of Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch

Sugar burning contributes significantly to air pollution Source:

Sugarcane burning emissions affect public health particularly in children and the elderly.

Elevated particulate matter concentrations can contribute to decreased lung function (i.e., coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks), as well as cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer. Health issues related to smoke Source:

In 2010, researchers from the University of Florida measured toxins from pre-harvest sugar cane burning. They detected hazardous air pollutants the EPA is required to regulate, including naphthalene, formaldehyde, benzene and styrene. These toxins can cause impacts ranging from drowsiness and headaches to neurological and liver damage. Source: Palm Beach County Studies

Common pollutants released include: ●aerosols ●gaseous compounds such as VOCs, nitrogen and sulfur oxides (NOx and SOx) ●carbonyls, and greenhouse gases like CO, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) ● semi-volatile compounds like PAHs and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/PCDFs) What’s in Big Sugar’s smoke? Source:

Many of the organic compounds (i.e., PAHs, carbonyls and VOCs) that are produced have known or suspected toxic and carcinogenic effects and are classified as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). Hazardous Air Pollutants Source:

Brazilian studies ●A 2007 Brazilian study found an 11.6 percent increase in asthma hospitalizations in the nearby city of Araraquara during sugar burning. It concluded, “the cities where sugar cane is harvested pay a high toll in terms of public health.” 1 ●A 2012 Brazilian study found reduced lung functions during the burning season in residents and workers of the nearby town of Mendonça

●A 2006 Brazilian study compared inhalable particles collected to hospital admissions for almost one year in the city of Piracicaba from April 1997 to March ●It found a 24 percent increase in child and elderly respiratory hospital admissions and concluded that burning causes damage to the respiratory system. Brazilian studies (cont.) Source

Sugar Burning in Palm Beach County Sugar burning Residents

Who’s behind the burning?

Why do they burn? ●Generates more profit by not having to transport the “trash” to a facility ●Maximizes rate of harvest

World’s #1 sugar producer (world’s largest exporter) 734 million metric tons produced 9th largest producer (3rd largest exporter) 25.1 million metric tons produced 8th largest producer 26.6 million metric tons produced 80 percent of sugar in largest growing state of São Paulo is green harvested. Growers agreed to reach 100% green harvesting in flat areas by this year, hilly areas by percent is green harvested.Widespread burning. No federal government ban on sugar burning. Minor regulations by state. Sugarcane produced in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Hawaii. Ethanol, power plantsPower plants, biodegradable products Other top producers: 2. India, 3.Thailand, 4. China, 5. Pakistan, 6. Mexico & 7. Philippines. Comparing three countries: Brazil, Australia and the USA

With modern machinery, all parts of the sugar plant can be cut and carted away John Deere sugar cane harvesters

Florida’s sugar companies can use green harvesting like Brazil and Australia

Why can’t the US be as progressive as Brazil and Australia? Burning Question #1

Why should Palm Beach County residents bear the brunt of sugar burning pollution? Burning Question #2

Campaign to Stop Sugar Field Burning We will build a community of residents who demand that the sugar industry use alternative means of harvesting. Instead of burning, growers can recycle the “trash” into paper and cardboard, use it as mulch, burn it as biomass, or use it to create biofuels.

Julia Hathaway, Sierra Club Northlake Blvd., Suite 215 Palm Beach Gardens, FL Telephone: Please contact: