Residents living in the path of the smoke plume from the burning George Town landfill have said they feared for their health.
The wind blew smoke from the landfill across the Esterley Tibbetts Highway and on to the West Bay Road area, where residents on Friday, 17 April complained of irritation from air pollution, despite firefighters working to bring the blaze under control.
The continued closure of part of the highway through most of the morning also contributed to a rush hour traffic delay on West Bay Road and Eastern Avenue.
Oniecy Blandford, who lives on Watler’s Road, said the smoke was thick in the area at 4pm on Thursday and also hung in the air early on Friday.
Blandford added, “There has been a lot of traffic as well because of the highway closure.
“I don’t have any breathing problems like asthma, but it’s still very unpleasant.”
She was speaking as the Health Services Authority said its Bay Town House therapy services department on West Bay Road had closed on Friday because of the smoke.
The authority said the decision was taken because “the health and safety of our patients is our top priority”.
It added the department, which provides physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, would be open on Saturday as usual and that those who had missed Friday appointments would be rescheduled.
Betty Ann Mobley, who lives on West Bay Road, said she had not gone outside since the fire spread smoke over the area because of fears about the toxicity of the cloud.
Mobley added, “I am a bit concerned about it. It’s very toxic.”
She said, “I really don’t want to go outside. I need to go to Bodden Town, but I’m trying not to come outside because of the smoke.”
Mobley added that the wind had blown smoke over the area at about 6am on Friday.
She said, “When we woke, it was coming this way, and we could smell it in the house. We haven’t been outside. We did open the back door, the French door, and it was very smoky outside.”
Gabriela Banegas, on duty at the desk at the Esso gas station at the junction of Eastern Avenue and West Bay Road, said staff were wearing face masks as a precaution.
She added, “The staff are going outside to pump gas and the doors are opened all the time.
“This morning when I came to work at 4.30am, the smoke was all over. It was very strong – you could feel the smoke in your throat. It was really, really bad.”
Banegas said she was also worried about what toxic material might be carried in the plume.
She added, “The mask is to protect myself. It’s toxic. You never know what’s been going on up there at the dump.
“People throw a lot of things in the garbage bin and all that that is in the air right now.”
Banegas explained the wind direction constantly shifted, so the area could be clear, but about 15 minutes later blanketed in a smoke haze again.
She added, “The traffic was also really bad. This morning around 8am to 9.30am, police had to stand at the traffic lights and control the traffic to make it easier.”
Mara Abregas, who works in security at the under-construction Grand Hyatt Resort site on West Bay Road, said at about 10am on Friday, “I have found it tough to breathe. It’s not just me, it’s some of the workers, especially those who were working at the top of the building.”
But she added the smoke had eased off since the early morning and had cleared a lot by 10am.
Abregas, who was also wearing a mask, added she lived in the Lakeside apartments, directly right across the Esterley Tibbetts Highway from the blaze.
She said, “It’s too much there. It’s coming inside the house and really it’s not easy to breathe.”
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Individuals can potentially sue the Cayman Islands Government for health damages related to recurring open-air dump fires at the George Town landfill.
Residents and community members have frequently raised concerns about toxic fumes, respiratory issues, and long-term health risks, with public calls for accountability. Precedent exists in the region for a legal action.
Given the widespread impact, community members have discussed the POTENTIAL FOR CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS..
Beyond IMMEDIATE inhalation risks, toxic soot and ash settle on soil, homes, and play areas, creating LONG-TERM EXPOSURE RISKS. These particles contain heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium) and PCBs, which are carcinogens. People, particularly children, can breathe in or ingest this contaminated dust weeks after a fire, creating a chronic health hazard rather than just an acute one.
Long-term exposure to the “cocktail” of noxious gases (dioxins, furans, hydrogen cyanide) from dump fires can lead to chronic respiratory issues, including the onset of childhood asthma, reduced lung function, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
The fires contribute to heavy metal contamination of the surrounding soil and ground surface, which can bioaccumulate in the local ecosystem.
Without thorough decontamination of public and private property, toxic residue remains on playgrounds and rooftops, allowing prolonged exposure long after the fire is extinguished.
Lack of professional level cleanup causes toxic soot, heavy metals, and VOCs to persist in neighborhoods, while inadequate monitoring prevents quantification of risks.
As of 2021, NO SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT EXISTED on the island to measure the specific toxic cocktail from dump fires, meaning the full toxicity levels have never been professionally documented.
Recurring toxic events and the proximity to a major fire hazard can lead to chronic stress and mental health issues among nearby residents.
The fires pose a persistent, severe threat to the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing heart or respiratory conditions.
It’s remarkable, after so many years of dealing with fires at the landfill, be it trash, garbage or tires, that the authorities still haven’t realized their contribution to lung cancer, asthma, neurological damage, COPD, and cardiovascular diseases. Landfill fire fumes are highly toxic due to the presence of harmful chemicals such as dioxins, furans, VOCs, benzene and heavy metals. Fine particles from burning plastics and debris can enter the lungs and bloodstream. The toxicity of the smoke depends on the composition of the waste stream; the more plastic, the higher the toxicity. So, what are you going to do about this awful decades long problem. The people have a right to clean, unpolluted air.
Yep, you’re absolutely right! 💯
Need to sue. This is crazy and the politicians behind it need to be sued.
IF THE LEGISLATORS ARE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY A LAWSUIT, WHAT CHANGE WILL BE MADE. ZERO. ACT NOW BEFORE YOU AREN’T HERE TO SUE