VISUAL
SPOKEN
Council members, mayor Jenks and Mr. Butz:
Thank you for this opportunity to address you on the negative impacts of "burnout contests."
Rolla holds a burnout contest each year in June during Summerfest.
In a burnout contest, contestants spin the wheels of their vehicles, deliberately creating as much smoke and noise as possible. Typically the smoke wafts over the spectators, some of whom sit approximately 50 feet from the contest. Those within 1000 feet of the burnout contest may also be subjected to excessive smoke and noise.
Smoke from burning tires is known to cause respiratory problems, particularly among the very young, the old and those already suffering from respiratory ailments.
At this time, you are considering a "smoke-free" ordinance that places strict limitations on outdoor smoking.
I would encourage you to also consider banning or limiting other outdoor smoke-generating activities: in particular, burnout contests, which have no place in a community which cares about the health of its residents.
In this slide, you see six photos of the June, 2009 "Burnout Contest" in downtown Rolla.
In this slide, a truck is deliberately burning its tires creating smoke that will waft over the spectators and others who happen to be in the neighborhood.
Here we see spectators waiting to watch the Burnout Contest, some approximately 50 feet from the burnout.
Note the red circle around the face of a child who appears to be about one year old.
Here is a closeup of the child.
And here we see smoke from the burning tire wafting over the child and other spectators.
And here we see more spectators, including some young children, waiting on the 10th street bridge for a breath of burnt tire.
And here we see smoke wafting toward the spectators on the 10th street bridge.
And here we see smoke completely obscuring the view from the 10th street bridge
In 2006, the Public Health Department of British Columbia, Canada issued a health advisory on the negative health impacts of burnout contests.
Health Impacts of
Tire Burnout Contests
Increased exposure to smoke and road dust can occur for those who are
close to the event. Many are likely to develop mild to moderate airway
irritation. Sensitive individuals such as those suffering from respiratory
illnesses like asthma and chronic bronchitis can experience more severe
respiratory distress. Because of those negative health impacts, we think
it is advisable to:
In this advisory, the Public Health Department declared that because of negative health impacts, burnout contests should be held at least 1000 feet away from other human dwellings or activities; and that spectators should be actively advised about the noise and smoke exposure and that sensitive individuals may develop symptoms.
At Rolla's Summerfest burnout contest, spectators watch from around 50 feet from the contest and (to my knowledge) there is no attempt to advise spectators of the potential negative impacts to their health.
To sum up:
You are considering a "smoke-free" ordinance that places strict limitations on outdoor smoking.
I would encourage you to also consider banning or limiting other outdoor smoke-generating activities: in particular, burnout contests. Burnout contests can subject people at distances of 1000 feet to excessive smoke and noise which can cause negative health impacts, particularly to those who are young, old, or already suffering from respiratory ailments.
Thank you for this opportunity to present to you the negative health impacts of burnout contests.