Blue poison in the warmth of fire

For generations, warming ourselves by a small fire made of straw or dry leaves has been a familiar winter habit. Today, that simple practice has turned into a silent death trap. In many places, people now burn plastic, polythene, rubber, or old tires instead of natural fuel. We enjoy the warmth, but we fail to notice how poisonous our bodies are becoming.
When plastic or rubber burns, it releases deadly gases such as dioxins, furans and sulfur dioxide. These toxic gases mix with the air and enter our bloodstream directly through breathing. People sitting near such fires are not just warming themselves, they are inhaling poison. The immediate effects include breathing trouble, coughing and burning eyes. Over time, this toxic exposure reduces lung capacity and can lead to deadly diseases like cancer.
The danger is even greater inside family spaces. Children have weaker immune systems than adults. Toxic smoke causes lasting damage to their small lungs. Many children suffer severe pneumonia or bronchitis due to this exposure. Older people struggle with breathing problems. Smoke from burning rubber can sharply increase asthma attacks and heart risks. Pregnant women are also at serious risk. Exposure to toxic smoke can harm the physical and mental development of unborn babies. This practice threatens not only the present generation but also the future.
Beyond health risks, accidents are another major danger. When plastic or synthetic materials burn, they melt and drip like liquid fire. If this hot substance falls on someone's skin, it burns deep into the flesh. Plastic burns are far more dangerous than burns from wood. They heal slowly and can even cause permanent disability. Children often wander close to fires while playing. One careless moment can bring lifelong sorrow to an entire family. For short-term comfort, we are pushing our loved ones towards long-term suffering.
The damage does not end there. Burning toxic waste pollutes the soil with harmful chemicals. The land loses its natural strength, microorganisms die and plants fail to grow. This is a silent but lasting destruction. We may leave after warming ourselves, but the poison remains in nature for years.

Ibrahim Khalil (Shobuj)
Student
Patuakhali Science and Technology University
ug2108037@lla.pstu.ac.bd