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LEA Advisory #46 - Evaluation of Employee Health Risk from Open Tire Burning Page 1 of 8 No. #46 November 6, 1997 Publication No. 232-97-019 Evaluation of Employee Health Risk from Open Tire Burning To All Local Enforcement Agencies Site-Specific Health and Safety Report Purpose The Board recognizes that there are times when an employee, in performing field duties, may inadvertently be exposed to potentially hazardous environments associated with tire burning. It is Board policy to provide a safe and healthful working environment for all of its employees. LEAs and staff working within the Permitting and Enforcement Division may provide technical assistance in response to a tire fire. The intent of this document is to provide guidance to prevent and or protect them from unsafe conditions. To predict the exact conditions, emissions, and potential exposure to open burning of tires is extremely difficult due to variability of site conditions. This document is a compilation of available information through literature review, known tire fire data, and other available information. Introduction It has been estimated that over 29.5 million tires are generated each year in California, of which 21 million are considered waste tires. Only about one-half of one percent by weight of the total municipal solid waste stream consists of tires. However, their shape, size, and physical and chemical properties present an unusually challenging disposal problem. In the past few years, many landfills have refused to accept tires because they present not only a disposal problem (statute prohibited the disposal of whole tires after 1993 in permitted solid waste disposal sites) but health-related problems. Facilities disposing of tires have increased their fees, resulting in the creation of tire stockpiles and illegal dumps. When improperly managed, these stockpiles present a significant risk to the environment and public health. The risks arise from the potential for fires and the potential to become a breeding ground for insects, especially mosquitoes. Tires are highly combustible. Even when densely piled, there can be enough oxygen supply for combustion. Tire fires are most often started by arson, and generate a large amount of heat, which makes them extremely difficult to extinguish. Some tire fires have continued to burn for months. An example is the Rhinehart tire fire in Winchester, Virginia, which burned for nearly nine months. This uncontrolled burning of tire piles produces smoke and toxic air pollutants, including benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The intense heat leads to the generation of pyrolytic oil that mixes with extinguishing material, contaminating surrounding soils, surface waters, and groundwater.' General Information Tires are a mixture of vulcanized or cross-linked polymers, carbon black, dispersing oil, sulfur, http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/pe/advisory/46/46.htm 8/11/98