Publication Date
1-1-2024
Keywords
harmful effects, Brick Kiln communities, South Asia region
Volume
2024
Abstract
Across South Asia, brick kilns pose significant health challenges, socioeconomic disparities, and environmental degradation due to hazardous air quality and exploitative labor practices. The poor infrastructure of kiln sites contributes to dangerous working and living conditions for laborers and their families, which remain unregulated due to the sector’s informal nature. These kilns emit substantial amounts of pollutants, including particulate matter and carbon dioxide, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and premature deaths. Furthermore, indoor air pollution from burning solid fuels exacerbates health risks, particularly for women and children. Poverty and low wages persist among kiln workers, with many trapped in debt-bonded labor and facing exploitation. Initiatives like GoodWeave and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) aim to address these issues by promoting transparency in supply chains, modernizing kiln technology, and providing financial support for sustainable practices. While progress has been made in reducing emissions and improving working conditions, challenges remain, including the potential displacement of manual labor by automated technologies and the need for comprehensive social safety nets.
Recommended Citation
Ball, Cambrie
(2024)
"The Harmful Effects of Living in Brick Kiln Communities in the South Asia Region,"
Ballard Brief: Vol. 2024:
Iss.
1, Article 10.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/ballardbrief/vol2024/iss1/10