By Thea Neal
Dec. 1, 2009
Salvaged cars aren’t the only ones producing dangerous byproducts. A simple spark at an accident can turn cars into environmental health hazards.
Burning cars often emit dangerous toxic gases, said Bill Peters, owner of East Lansing Automotive Center. “So many toxins are released, especially cyanide gas. You do not want that cyanide gas coming from the burning of the plastics inside the car.”
It’s for this reason firefighters and emergency crews don air-fed respirators, which filter out the almond-smelling gas, providing clean breathing air. Cyanide gas can cause convulsions, vomiting and a slower heart rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carbon monoxide emissions and burning Styrofoam from the dashboard and plastics from inside the car can also cause severe respiratory problems.
And while fiery flames seem the most dangerous, it’s smoke that really worries firefighters. Anita Sukis, safety training officer at the East Lansing, Mich., Fire Department, said firefighters, even donning masks, must keep a distance from the burning car after the flames cease.
“As far as the aftermath of gases, a lot of time the vehicles will put off gas even after the flames stop,” she said.
Sukis said firefighters’ respirators pump 45 minutes worth of clean air into their masks, giving them time to evaluate the car’s burning status. She advises people without masks to keep their distance when encountering a burning car.
“You really don’t want to breathe in those gases,” she said.
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