Smoking Sugar is Harmful!!!

 By: Jorge Sanchez

A worker is monitoring the burning of a sugar cane field located in San Benito, Texas. (Source: MYSA https://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/commentary/article/Burning-of-sugar-cane-fields-linked-to-health-13709918.php)

We all love to discover sugar within our fruits, vegetables, and food products to supply ourselves with energy, and ensure that beautiful sweet taste on our palate. The United States relies on Florida to produce a majority of its sugar for the country, and it has dedicated regions filled with sugarcane fields that extend to dozens of acres. Though, the process of harvesting this sugarcane may prove harmful to the residents that live nearby these regions. The harvesting process starts with prescribed fires that burns away leaves and flowers that fertilize the soil, which makes it easier for sugar refinement and replanting the fields later in time. Unfortunately, the issue lies with the burning fields causing high amounts of particle pollution like smoke and ashes, which spreads into the surrounding cities. The residents in these cities breathe in these particles, which is linked to lung and other cancers, cardiopulmonary disease such as ischemic heart disease, and premature death (Nowell et al., 2022). A simple solution would be to stop burning the sugar cane fields, except we would have to discover a different method to pick out the leaves and flowers, and find a new solution to fertilize the soil. Burning the sugar cane fields saves time, reduces the amount of labor needed for sugar refinement, and prepares the soil for future replanting. The current harvesting method helps with selling the sugar in a timely manner. Thus, an alternative method might not be cost effective as burning the sugarcane, and doesn't deny the possibility of causing other issues that may also be harmful for humans and the environment. 

Original Article: 

Nowell H, Wirks C, Martin M, Donkelaar R, Martin R, Uejio C, Holmes C. 2022. “Impacts of sugarcane fires on air quality and Public Health in south Florida.” Environmental Health Perspectives. 130(8).  https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp9957.