• hydroptic@sopuli.xyz
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    8 months ago

    Hah, I wasn’t expecting this to make international news. I was sort of wondering what that smell was earlier in the day but it wasn’t too strong where I live so I just sort of forgot about it until I saw this headline.

    I’d bet it’s Russians burning trash in the dumps (either legal or illegal) around St. Petersburg. The dumb fucks have been warned for years that especially if the illegal dumps with gods know what in them ever caught fire (on purpose or not) it’d probably at the very least cause a horrible smell that might linger for even a month, and the smell definitely did resemble burning trash and car tires. At least apparently there’s nothing dangerous in the air, or so the Finnish Meteorological Institute claimed anyhow

    • RatBin@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Oh there is

      Dioxins are a group of chemically related compounds that persistently pollute the environment. Here are some key facts about dioxins: Toxicity: Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause a range of health issues. They can: Reproductive and Developmental Problems: Affect reproductive and developmental processes. Immune System Damage: Interfere with the immune system. Hormonal Disruption: Disrupt hormones. Cancer: Potentially lead to cancer. Sources: Dioxins are mainly by-products of industrial processes, but they can also result from natural events like volcanic eruptions and forest fires. Uncontrolled waste incinerators are significant contributors to environmental dioxin release. Food Chain Accumulation: Dioxins accumulate in the food chain, especially in fatty tissues of animals. Over 90% of human exposure occurs through food, including meat, dairy products, fish, and shellfish. Global Distribution: Although dioxin formation is local, their distribution is global. High levels are found in soils, sediments, and certain foods.