A number of residents in Kabul complain that more people are using low-quality fuel materials, especially plastic, to heat their homes. They say the unpleasant smell and smoke from burning plastic are disturbing and have even made them sick. These residents stress that some people knowingly use plastic because of poverty, while others do so out of a lack of awareness about its dangers. According to them, the Taliban have paid no attention to this issue and have not adopted any effective measures to control it.
These residents tell the Hasht-e Subh Daily that they are urging people to use healthier methods to keep their homes warm so they can protect their health during the cold season while also staying warm. They also emphasize the need for online campaigns to raise public awareness about the dangers of burning tires and plastic.
Nastaran, a resident of Kote-Sangi in Kabul, says their neighbors use plastic to heat their homes, and the smell and smoke from it are extremely disturbing. She adds that the Taliban exercise no oversight and show no concern for this environmental crisis.
Nastaran adds, “There are many homes around us where, because of poverty, families send their children to the Kabul River to collect plastic, and at night they use it to heat their homes. This is extremely dangerous, and the smoke is very disturbing. With the start of the cold season, the people of Kabul are practically breathing poison.”
This Kabul resident urges people to make smoke filters a mandatory part of their homes to protect themselves and their children from harmful fumes. She continues, “Kabul has a very large population, and every high-rise building houses at least 15 to 20 families. Every home uses a heater and burns whatever is available. The use of filters should be encouraged among the people, and even purified coal should be available in the market because the air quality is extremely poor. I know people are poor, but if they become seriously ill, they also will not be able to afford medical treatment.”
Ahmad Zia, another Kabul resident, also complains about air pollution and the dumping or burning of plastic in the city, which he attributes to insufficient oversight by the environmental department under Taliban control. He says, “Unfortunately, in Afghanistan, there are no specific standards for waste management. People either dump plastic waste along the roads or burn it. The smoke from burning plastic is extremely harmful to health and the environment, but people do not pay attention. Especially in Kabul, with its large population, smoke from waste and plastic is one of the main causes of air pollution and illnesses. Moreover, families and even the municipality burn plastic waste, and the resulting smoke is toxic and concerning.”
Sayed Samir, another resident of Kabul, says using plastic and waste materials for heating has been common in Kabul for decades and continues due to people’s indifference.
Samir adds, “If we look back and say this is only a habit, that would be unfair. Part of it is habit, but the main reason for using plastic is people’s poverty and economic hardship. Another challenge in Afghanistan is the lack of wide access to natural-gas pipelines. Gas is not supplied to homes, and people do not have gas-based heating systems. In these circumstances, wood, coal, and other expensive fuels are beyond the reach of many families, forcing them to burn plastic and whatever else they have. This is dangerous both to health and to the environment.”
Khan Agha, a Kabul resident, says the Taliban should provide solar systems, gas pipelines, or other heating facilities to address this crisis. He adds, “During winter, air pollution in Kabul is extremely severe, and burning fossil materials and plastic causes thousands of viral diseases and increases deaths, especially among the elderly and those with respiratory problems. Families with weak economic conditions are forced to use these fuels, while the price of medicine has also increased, making treatment very costly. On the other hand, if they do not use these materials, other fuel prices are extremely high, and stable electricity is also unavailable.”
Meanwhile, several doctors warn that using plastic and low-quality fuels can cause dangerous illnesses, including lung diseases, nervous-system disorders, reproductive-system damage, harm to other vital organs, and cancer.
Bismillah Ghafari, a doctor, adds, “Plastic smoke contains compounds called dioxins and furans, which are among the strongest carcinogens. These substances act on aryl-hydrocarbon receptors and activate genes involved in cellular toxicity, chronic inflammation, and carcinogenesis. Additionally, plastic smoke contains polycyclic hydrocarbons, which are genotoxic and affect DNA, causing genetic mutations and initiating neoplasia processes that lead to cancer.”
This problem is not limited to public health. The smoke from burning plastic also causes serious environmental damage. Several environmental experts say plastic contains the final residues of tar and cannot be broken down by bacteria.
Kazim Homayoun, an environmental expert, says, “Plastic residues are made from tar extracted from deep underground. Bacteria cannot break them down. The widespread use of plastic not only creates waste and blocks drainage channels, but also affects the appearance of the city. When plastic is burned, highly dangerous chemical compounds are released that can harm humans, animals, plants, microorganisms, and even non-living environments. These compounds include dioxins, which are among the most toxic chemicals. Research shows that burning them can turn a city into a toxic environment.”
Sayed Mohammad Sulaimankhil, another environmental expert, says, “Plastic is one of the main agents of environmental degradation and harms humans, animals, and all living organisms. For example, burning plastic releases carbon dioxide gas, which is harmful and deadly for all living beings and can lead to global warming and damage to the ozone layer.”
Multiple reports have previously been published about air pollution in Kabul, and the capital of Afghanistan has been described as one of the most polluted capitals in the world. With the arrival of winter, these challenges intensify, and according to Kabul residents, the Taliban pay no attention to this situation. Moreover, most residential buildings use substandard heating systems, which further worsen air pollution.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
کابل زیر دود پلاستیک؛ مردم بین گرما و سلامت خود انتخابی ندارند
