Every autumn in Armenia the same picture repeats — yards and fields fill with fires. Leaves, manure, household trash, sometimes even plastic and tires go into the flames. For many this seems like a tradition, “we’ve always done it this way”. In reality, it’s a disaster that poisons everyone around.
Why autumn smoke is dangerous
When leaves and manure burn, the air fills with carbon monoxide, dioxins, and fine particles that easily penetrate the lungs. If plastic or rubber is added, the toxicity multiplies, and we breathe in carcinogens.
For people this means headaches, coughing, worsening asthma, allergies, and higher risk of chronic lung and heart diseases.
For animals the consequences are just as severe: dogs and cats breathe the same air, but their respiratory systems are more vulnerable. Smoke irritates mucous membranes, causes choking, can lead to bronchitis or even pulmonary edema. For birds and wildlife, smoke means panic and death.
What to do instead
- Use fallen leaves for compost — a natural fertilizer.
- Manure should feed the soil, not the fire.
- Household waste must be collected or removed, not burned under windows.
At “Shunn u Katun” we see every day how animals suffer because people act “out of habit”. Smoke is not just an unpleasant smell, it’s poison. It kills slowly but surely — our pets, ourselves, and our children.
Stop hiding behind tradition. Stop poisoning the air. Autumn bonfires must become a thing of the past — or we ourselves will destroy our future.