TOXIC smoke blew across the Rocquaine coast road when an old pontoon was burned on the beach, prompting a complaint to environmental health. But those in most danger were the group of friends doing the burning, it emerged yesterday.

The pontoon, which had been used during the regatta a fortnight earlier, had broken up in gale-force winds and washed ashore.

The group who owned it burned the large polystyrene blocks and the wind blew the smoke inland, prompting a complaint that the burning posed a health hazard.

‘An environmental health officer was called to investigate the open burning of polystyrene floats on the beach at Rocquaine on Saturday afternoon,’ said John Cook, director of environmental health and pollution regulation.

He said the people burning the polystyrene had been at risk from the pollutant.

‘Anyone standing close to the fire or in the dense smoke would have been at the greatest risk. Some of the gases produced could be absorbed through the lungs and at high levels of concentration could also damage the eyes and mucous membranes.’

He explained that burning polystyrene at bonfire temperatures depolymerized the substance.

‘It gives off styrene vapour together with carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and a mixture of other potentially toxic chemical products.

‘Dense black smoke and soot are also generated when such material is burnt in this uncontrolled manner.’

He said there would not be any long-term damage to the local area.

‘Vapours would be quickly dispersed and diluted with no measurable long-term effects, but partially burnt materials and soot deposits may remain present in the area.’

Mr Cook warned islanders against burning rubbish.

‘It is important to dispose of all waste materials responsibly to protect public health and the environment.

‘Open burning of waste virtually never represents the most responsible option and should not be undertaken as a rule.’

One of the group who owned the pontoon, who asked not to be named, said he did not realise burning polystyrene was bad for people’s health.

‘The pontoon just broke up on the beach and a few of us cleared it up over the weekend,’ he said.

‘It was timber and polystyrene and we burnt some of it.

‘I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to burn polystyrene. We just thought we were helping out.

‘It’s a shame that the pontoon broke up because it had been used in the Rocquaine Regatta for many years.

‘It was owned by a few of us who like to help out with the event.’

Environment minister David De Lisle was yesterday unavailable to comment.