The toxic fumes from a landfill fire on April 15 loom over Philipsburg. Photo courtesy Nature Foundation / Robert Cijntje
St. Maarten News – A survey by the Nature Foundation among 500 respondents has confirmed what everybody knows and nobody wants to talk about: the fires on the dump in Philipsburg affect people in all districts. “All districts of St. Maarten have been affected by the smoke caused by the landfill fires,” the foundation said in a press statement.
The survey found that 35 percent of the respondents frequently experience negative effects through the year and 50 percent complained about trouble with breathing due to the smoke from the landfill fires.
Almost three quarters (73 percent) said that they experienced burning in their eyes, nose or throat during dump fires and 50 percent had burning or watering eyes from the toxic fumes.
Nature Foundation survey shows: Forty percent seek medical assistance after dump fires
