Burning household waste in containers may produce higher levels of dioxins and furans than those emitted by municipal waste incinerators catering to thousands of people. A report to this effect was carried in the February issue of Environmental Science and Technology . The two cause immune dysfunction, cancer, developmental abnormalities and hormonal changes in laboratory animals and are a cause of concern to human health. Scientists from the us Environmental Protection Agency (epa) and the New York State department of Health found that, under test conditions, more polychlorinated compounds were emitted from trash burnt in barrels. Burning household waste is open containers is banned in most regions of the United States.