Sugar cane burnings in parts of South Florida are spewing what’s been dubbed “black snow” in the air that makes it difficult for residents in the predominantly Black and Latino communities that surround the fields to breathe.
An NBC News report described the effects of the ash that is generated from the process of burning sugar cane. In an annual preharvest practice, sugar companies and farmers are legally allowed to set fire to their fields from October to May each year to leave only the cane, making it easier to yield after. The practice reportedly reduces transportation costs so that farmers can harvest and ship the cane without the leaves on the cane stalks.
Many of the burnings in Florida are clustered around the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee in the cities of Belle Glade and Pahokee, which are located in Palm Beach County, and the city of Clewiston in Hendry County. These areas are populated by majority Black and Latino communities, with many residents living in poverty. They have been voicing complaints for decades about the ash raining down on their cars, and yards, and even making its way through their home ventilation systems to end up in laundry units.
Florida State University researchers conducted a study last year that examined the effects of the ashfall on air quality and what circumstantial health detriments could arise from the burnings. Researchers discovered that one to six people die each year due to exposure to fine particles in sugar cane smoke.
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Part of the findings also read that those “unhealthful particles” can be inhaled deep into the lungs and are connected to health issues like asthma, lung cancer, and cardiovascular issues. Researchers also discovered that…
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