FORUM…BURNINGISSUES.ORG
Bodhi
Joined: 15 Oct 2006
Posts: 218
Location: Orlando, Florida
http://burningissues.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7
I am writing concerning a problem that seems to be getting worse each year. The problem is air pollution. I am speaking of the type of pollution that comes from the new inexpensive status toy. The backyard fire pit. Now even in the summer months, it is almost impossible to open the windows. No matter which way the wind blows, someone is burning their recreational fire. I have come to believe that the only recreational value in this device is for the one burning the wood. Everyone else suffers and gags... so much for consideration of the neighbors. What’s that I hear? "…but its legal." I have a right to burn this wood in my back yard." Maybe so, but driving a car is legal too, do you have the right to drive over people with your car? I find it stunning that so many adults act so childish and inconsiderate.
I challenge the wood burners to answer these questions:
1) when your fire pit is burning, do you leave the windows of your home open?
2) when there is a wind, which side of the pit do you sit on?
Now, I could be wrong but my guess is that you do not leave the windows of YOUR home open as your pit is smoking and burning. I would also bet that you sit in a position where you are not in the direct path of the smoke/fumes and other byproducts of YOUR fire.
Herein lies the problem... try to follow this logic:
your neighbor, who is getting smoked out by YOUR recreational fire cannot move his house out of the path of YOUR smoke. You on the other hand can just get up and move your chair away from the smoke and stink.
I challenge you wood burners to sit in the smoke and stink of YOUR fire instead of moving your chair to the fresh air side. I also challenge you to leave your home windows open while you burn your pit. In the long run, you will drive down the value of your own neighborhood. Try to sell your house then. Who wants to live in a suburb of adult children that smells like a war zone?
~Bodhi
http://burningissues.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7
Global Warming-Guest Essay
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Elk Grove Times---Pioneer Press Publications
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Guest Essay: Timely symposium starts today
(http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/news/forum/607867,pp-climateessay-101807-s1.article)
October 18, 2007
By ELIZABETH BANKOFF
It is time. It is time to tackle the increasingly urgent problem of global warming. This problem poses an extremely serious threat to the environment, health and economy of our nation and world. The most recent scientific studies show that global warming is a reality and is already causing environmental changes that will have a variety of significant impacts on our lives.
The issue of global warming or climate change has been gaining attention for a good while. Media coverage in the past year has resulted in a dramatic increase in public awareness. As with many 'hot' topics, while there is a growing interest in this critical problem among the citizenry, uncertainty and confusion remain. What is it? How serious of a problem is it? How is it being addressed at the different levels of government? What are the consequences of a wait-and-see approach? Can we combat global warming without serious consequences to our economy? What can concerned citizens do in their own neighborhoods and homes?
In the summer of 2006, the Wilmette League of Women Voters made a commitment to help inform citizens about global warming.
Our Climate Matters, a four-day symposium on global warming, is the culmination of that commitment. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Wilmette, with the Glenview Park District and the leagues of Winnetka, Northfield, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Glenview, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Park Ridge and Deerfield, Our Climate Matters commences today and runs through Sunday evening at the new Glenview Park District facilities in The Glen.
What began as an idea has evolved into a wide array of programs -- each focusing on a different aspect of this complex problem. Offerings include prominent speakers, as well as panels, forums and workshops in which scientists, business people, economists, legislators and other policy makers, architects, and citizens will discuss and share information and consider possible solutions.
A "Green" film festival, a presentation of the Chicago Cool Globes exhibit as well as an evening of "Cool Jazz" add a change of pace.
For a complete program schedule, visit the Web site, www.OurClimateMatters.org. All programs are free and open to the public.
James Madison once declared, "A people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power that knowledge gives".
Our hope is that Our Climate Matters will stimulate, educate and foster serious discussion on this critical issue. Ultimately, in our wonderful democracy, it is the will of the people that affects change.
Let the serious conversation begin!
Elizabeth Bankoff, a member of the League of Women Voters of Wilmette, is coordinator of Our Climate Matters.
Note---This article was posted because Wood Smoke affects global warming. For additional information see....
http://burningissues.org/car-www/science/Climate/index.html
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Guest Essay: Timely symposium starts today
(http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/news/forum/607867,pp-climateessay-101807-s1.article)
October 18, 2007
By ELIZABETH BANKOFF
It is time. It is time to tackle the increasingly urgent problem of global warming. This problem poses an extremely serious threat to the environment, health and economy of our nation and world. The most recent scientific studies show that global warming is a reality and is already causing environmental changes that will have a variety of significant impacts on our lives.
The issue of global warming or climate change has been gaining attention for a good while. Media coverage in the past year has resulted in a dramatic increase in public awareness. As with many 'hot' topics, while there is a growing interest in this critical problem among the citizenry, uncertainty and confusion remain. What is it? How serious of a problem is it? How is it being addressed at the different levels of government? What are the consequences of a wait-and-see approach? Can we combat global warming without serious consequences to our economy? What can concerned citizens do in their own neighborhoods and homes?
In the summer of 2006, the Wilmette League of Women Voters made a commitment to help inform citizens about global warming.
Our Climate Matters, a four-day symposium on global warming, is the culmination of that commitment. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Wilmette, with the Glenview Park District and the leagues of Winnetka, Northfield, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Glenview, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Park Ridge and Deerfield, Our Climate Matters commences today and runs through Sunday evening at the new Glenview Park District facilities in The Glen.
What began as an idea has evolved into a wide array of programs -- each focusing on a different aspect of this complex problem. Offerings include prominent speakers, as well as panels, forums and workshops in which scientists, business people, economists, legislators and other policy makers, architects, and citizens will discuss and share information and consider possible solutions.
A "Green" film festival, a presentation of the Chicago Cool Globes exhibit as well as an evening of "Cool Jazz" add a change of pace.
For a complete program schedule, visit the Web site, www.OurClimateMatters.org. All programs are free and open to the public.
James Madison once declared, "A people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power that knowledge gives".
Our hope is that Our Climate Matters will stimulate, educate and foster serious discussion on this critical issue. Ultimately, in our wonderful democracy, it is the will of the people that affects change.
Let the serious conversation begin!
Elizabeth Bankoff, a member of the League of Women Voters of Wilmette, is coordinator of Our Climate Matters.
Note---This article was posted because Wood Smoke affects global warming. For additional information see....
http://burningissues.org/car-www/science/Climate/index.html
Outdoor Fire Pits and Fireplaces: More Second-Hand Smoke
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Science - Outdoor Fire pits and Fireplaces
Special Report: Outdoor Fire Pits and Fireplaces: More Second-Hand Smoke
"http://burningissues.org"
Outdoor fire pits and fireplaces are a growing pollution source all over the United States. They are popular and inexpensive items at many retail stores. What is not inexpensive is the cost of wood smoke pollution: every pound of wood burned costs society $2.00 in health expense (Hall-Fairley). We are receiving more and more reports from victims all over the country and even in such an unexpected places as Key West, Florida.
There is no safe place or time of year that vulnerable people can avoid this deadly pollution. These open fire pits expose the owners and their guests to even more pollution than a fireplace or tobacco smoke. (Each fire will emit close to one pound of smoke pollution, with 90% being in the deadly smaller than one micron range.)
There have been all kinds of excuses made to justify wood heat that have obscured the facts that as many as 30,000 Americans could prematurely die each year from wood smoke inhalation and that "wood smoke could produce similar effects on p53, phospho-p53, and MDM2 protein expression in the human genes as tobacco. It is important to consider wood smoke exposure as a possible risk factor for the development of lung cancer in nonsmoker subjects (Barclay-Delgado)."
What we know about the dangers of tobacco smoke well applies to wood smoke. Wood smoke is chemically active in the body 40 times longer than tobacco smoke (Pryor). It is 12 times more carcinogenic than tobacco smoke (Lewtas) and lowers the body's defense mechanisms for fighting off infections. Just one hour of exposure can lower immune defense 25 to 40 percent (Zelikoff). (See burningissues.org for Fact Sheets, Wood Smoke/Tobacco Comparison charts and other backup material.)
In underdeveloped countries it is recognized that outdoor fires significantly shorten the average human life span. It seems foolish to consider wood fires as a lifestyle enhancement. Users of these devices are making an unfortunate health choice for the whole community. The perception is that these are perfectly legal and desirable lifestyle-enhancing devices.
There have been pure air rights, laws and edicts on the law books since very early times that protect people from smoke, vapors, odors and gases. Where is our common sense to step forward and educate the public about the dangers of wood smoke and ban gratuitous polluting devices?
The time to act is now. Educate your town council, your air district, your neighbors. Use the 35 megabytes of scientific information on our site for free by giving out the web site: "http://burningissues.org"
Special Report: Outdoor Fire Pits and Fireplaces: More Second-Hand Smoke
"http://burningissues.org"
Outdoor fire pits and fireplaces are a growing pollution source all over the United States. They are popular and inexpensive items at many retail stores. What is not inexpensive is the cost of wood smoke pollution: every pound of wood burned costs society $2.00 in health expense (Hall-Fairley). We are receiving more and more reports from victims all over the country and even in such an unexpected places as Key West, Florida.
There is no safe place or time of year that vulnerable people can avoid this deadly pollution. These open fire pits expose the owners and their guests to even more pollution than a fireplace or tobacco smoke. (Each fire will emit close to one pound of smoke pollution, with 90% being in the deadly smaller than one micron range.)
There have been all kinds of excuses made to justify wood heat that have obscured the facts that as many as 30,000 Americans could prematurely die each year from wood smoke inhalation and that "wood smoke could produce similar effects on p53, phospho-p53, and MDM2 protein expression in the human genes as tobacco. It is important to consider wood smoke exposure as a possible risk factor for the development of lung cancer in nonsmoker subjects (Barclay-Delgado)."
What we know about the dangers of tobacco smoke well applies to wood smoke. Wood smoke is chemically active in the body 40 times longer than tobacco smoke (Pryor). It is 12 times more carcinogenic than tobacco smoke (Lewtas) and lowers the body's defense mechanisms for fighting off infections. Just one hour of exposure can lower immune defense 25 to 40 percent (Zelikoff). (See burningissues.org for Fact Sheets, Wood Smoke/Tobacco Comparison charts and other backup material.)
In underdeveloped countries it is recognized that outdoor fires significantly shorten the average human life span. It seems foolish to consider wood fires as a lifestyle enhancement. Users of these devices are making an unfortunate health choice for the whole community. The perception is that these are perfectly legal and desirable lifestyle-enhancing devices.
There have been pure air rights, laws and edicts on the law books since very early times that protect people from smoke, vapors, odors and gases. Where is our common sense to step forward and educate the public about the dangers of wood smoke and ban gratuitous polluting devices?
The time to act is now. Educate your town council, your air district, your neighbors. Use the 35 megabytes of scientific information on our site for free by giving out the web site: "http://burningissues.org"
Chemicals in Wood Smoke Emissions-Letter
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Daily Herald
Paddock Publications
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Take a look at what we're breathing
Published: 10/13/2007 11:56 PM
Now, when taking a breath of air, suburban community residents have the following enter their (and their family's) lungs involuntarily due to emissions from wood-burning outside and inside fireplaces: benzene, normal alkanes, triterpenoids, dehydroabietic acid, isopimaric acid, lupenone, friedelin chlorinated dioxins, carbon monoxide, methane, aldehydes, formaldehyde, acrolein, propionaldehyde, butryaldehyde, acetaldehyde, furfural, substituted furans, benzene, alkyl benzenes, toluene, acetic acid, formic acid, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, methyl chloride, naphthalene, substituted napthalenes, oxygenated monoaromatics, guaiacol and derivatives, phenol and derivatives, syringol and derivatives, catechol and derivatives, particulate organic carbon, oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fluorene, phenamhrene, anthracene, methylanthracenes, fluoranthene , pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzofluoranthenes, benzo(e)pyrene, benzo(a)pyrene, perylene, ideno (1,2,3cd)pyrene, benz(ghi)perylene coronene, dibenzo(a,h)pyrene, retene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene , and trace elements: including sodium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon. If you want to breathe healthy air instead, let your elected officials know.
Join others that also want to save our air and our health at www.breathehealthyair.blogspot.com/. Don't be assaulted by unneeded and unnecessary wood-burning emissions!
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
E-mail address---breathe.healthy.air@gmail.com
Paddock Publications
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Take a look at what we're breathing
Published: 10/13/2007 11:56 PM
Now, when taking a breath of air, suburban community residents have the following enter their (and their family's) lungs involuntarily due to emissions from wood-burning outside and inside fireplaces: benzene, normal alkanes, triterpenoids, dehydroabietic acid, isopimaric acid, lupenone, friedelin chlorinated dioxins, carbon monoxide, methane, aldehydes, formaldehyde, acrolein, propionaldehyde, butryaldehyde, acetaldehyde, furfural, substituted furans, benzene, alkyl benzenes, toluene, acetic acid, formic acid, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, methyl chloride, naphthalene, substituted napthalenes, oxygenated monoaromatics, guaiacol and derivatives, phenol and derivatives, syringol and derivatives, catechol and derivatives, particulate organic carbon, oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fluorene, phenamhrene, anthracene, methylanthracenes, fluoranthene , pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzofluoranthenes, benzo(e)pyrene, benzo(a)pyrene, perylene, ideno (1,2,3cd)pyrene, benz(ghi)perylene coronene, dibenzo(a,h)pyrene, retene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene , and trace elements: including sodium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon. If you want to breathe healthy air instead, let your elected officials know.
Join others that also want to save our air and our health at www.breathehealthyair.blogspot.com/. Don't be assaulted by unneeded and unnecessary wood-burning emissions!
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
E-mail address---breathe.healthy.air@gmail.com
Forum Comment----Smoke lawsuit-Illinois
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Forum----www. burningissues.org
Joel
BurningIssues.org Forum Index -> Smoke Stories
I am a resident of Illinois, and to the masses here whether they are pro/con OWBs I am in current litigation with my neighbor and his OWB. Anyone who wishes to correspond with me feel free to send me a pm. My story is listed below:
To start I will give my background. I am an MPA, which for some if you don't know what that is, means that I received my education with a Masters Degree in Public Administration and policy analysis. I have worked with a U.S. Congressmen, and currently work with a city government. And before you all say "Oh you're one of them" I assure you I am not a typical bureaucrat. I do not live in the city I work in, but instead live in a rural community of about 900 in Southern Illinois.
Last October after my wife and I moved in our first home for some peaceful 8 months my neighbor decided to place a OWB (in which he installed) about 30-40 feet from my property and about 40-60 feet from my house itself. The OWB has become a horror to us penetrating our home with smoke on a daily basis. It has created smoke soot discoloration of my home, damaging the siding and my front door, it has killed some of the plant life on my property, and has made us have bouts with nausea on many occasions.
As a normal calm individual my wife and I approached our neighbor about our concerns. He refused to appropriately solve our problems (raising the stack above the roof, burning dry seasoned wood) and basically told us to go to hell. I in turn began my own investigation on this individual and dually contacted every person possible who would listen to me at the federal/state/county/local levels of government. The reason I began this investigation was that prior to returning to college and finishing my education I was a private investigator.
My investigation found that not only does he burn wood, but just so happens to work for a pallet business his father owns. Well you can only guess what he was burning in his OWB then.... I in turn recorded at least 30 mins of video of this OWB crossing property lines and took some 200 pictures of my home, his OWB, and showed the gradual damage being done to my residence.
The long treacherous journey of contacting all of these government entities led them to all advising me to get my own attorney. My neighbor of course has strong ties to our community being a firefighter and Jaycee, so "he is such a great individual." So you can almost guess the approach that my local government took on handling this issue. In other words being I have only lived in this community for a year or so, my rights really don't exist in their eyes.
This led me to hire what is probably one of the best Environmental Lawyers in Southern Illinois. After 8 months of asking my government leaders for support I have given up faith in the federalism and bureaucracy that is taking place. Everyone locally takes the NIMBY "Not in my Backyard" approach to my problem. My attorney is filing three counts based on nuisance protected under my state constitutional laws and tort laws. We are basically fighting for our "entitlement to quiet enjoyment" which I guarantee that all of you who have a similar problem as mine will have these case laws or state laws in your respective areas. It might take a little work on your end to find these laws, as I as an MPA have the experience to look for this type of law, or hire an environmental lawyer to do it for you.
In closing after seeing some comments about some people talking about others throughout the country who are taking legal action I am one. And I will be happy to share the results of what is going with my case. This is a current situation and I will not stop fighting this until the day comes that his OWB is out of the ground. Also I want it to be clear I do not have a problem with people refining OWBs and making them positive useful alternatives to heating their homes, but I do have a problem with individuals encroaching on others rights. I am an advocate for freedom of choice, if you want to choose to use an OWB, all power to you, but I do not agree with individualistic rights that take away the rights of others. If you have the rural setting and the means of nobody who minds around you who cares, I don't, it is your choice to expose yourself to the effects of OWBs. Just like if you want to drink, use drugs, smoke it is your body not mine.
And the quote you ask from my neighbor's OWB manufacturer? "It is recommended you do not place any of our products within your neighbor if it is less than 100 feet from the property line"
Joel
Check this out at---BurningIssues.org Forum Index -> Smoke Stories
Joel
BurningIssues.org Forum Index -> Smoke Stories
I am a resident of Illinois, and to the masses here whether they are pro/con OWBs I am in current litigation with my neighbor and his OWB. Anyone who wishes to correspond with me feel free to send me a pm. My story is listed below:
To start I will give my background. I am an MPA, which for some if you don't know what that is, means that I received my education with a Masters Degree in Public Administration and policy analysis. I have worked with a U.S. Congressmen, and currently work with a city government. And before you all say "Oh you're one of them" I assure you I am not a typical bureaucrat. I do not live in the city I work in, but instead live in a rural community of about 900 in Southern Illinois.
Last October after my wife and I moved in our first home for some peaceful 8 months my neighbor decided to place a OWB (in which he installed) about 30-40 feet from my property and about 40-60 feet from my house itself. The OWB has become a horror to us penetrating our home with smoke on a daily basis. It has created smoke soot discoloration of my home, damaging the siding and my front door, it has killed some of the plant life on my property, and has made us have bouts with nausea on many occasions.
As a normal calm individual my wife and I approached our neighbor about our concerns. He refused to appropriately solve our problems (raising the stack above the roof, burning dry seasoned wood) and basically told us to go to hell. I in turn began my own investigation on this individual and dually contacted every person possible who would listen to me at the federal/state/county/local levels of government. The reason I began this investigation was that prior to returning to college and finishing my education I was a private investigator.
My investigation found that not only does he burn wood, but just so happens to work for a pallet business his father owns. Well you can only guess what he was burning in his OWB then.... I in turn recorded at least 30 mins of video of this OWB crossing property lines and took some 200 pictures of my home, his OWB, and showed the gradual damage being done to my residence.
The long treacherous journey of contacting all of these government entities led them to all advising me to get my own attorney. My neighbor of course has strong ties to our community being a firefighter and Jaycee, so "he is such a great individual." So you can almost guess the approach that my local government took on handling this issue. In other words being I have only lived in this community for a year or so, my rights really don't exist in their eyes.
This led me to hire what is probably one of the best Environmental Lawyers in Southern Illinois. After 8 months of asking my government leaders for support I have given up faith in the federalism and bureaucracy that is taking place. Everyone locally takes the NIMBY "Not in my Backyard" approach to my problem. My attorney is filing three counts based on nuisance protected under my state constitutional laws and tort laws. We are basically fighting for our "entitlement to quiet enjoyment" which I guarantee that all of you who have a similar problem as mine will have these case laws or state laws in your respective areas. It might take a little work on your end to find these laws, as I as an MPA have the experience to look for this type of law, or hire an environmental lawyer to do it for you.
In closing after seeing some comments about some people talking about others throughout the country who are taking legal action I am one. And I will be happy to share the results of what is going with my case. This is a current situation and I will not stop fighting this until the day comes that his OWB is out of the ground. Also I want it to be clear I do not have a problem with people refining OWBs and making them positive useful alternatives to heating their homes, but I do have a problem with individuals encroaching on others rights. I am an advocate for freedom of choice, if you want to choose to use an OWB, all power to you, but I do not agree with individualistic rights that take away the rights of others. If you have the rural setting and the means of nobody who minds around you who cares, I don't, it is your choice to expose yourself to the effects of OWBs. Just like if you want to drink, use drugs, smoke it is your body not mine.
And the quote you ask from my neighbor's OWB manufacturer? "It is recommended you do not place any of our products within your neighbor if it is less than 100 feet from the property line"
Joel
Check this out at---BurningIssues.org Forum Index -> Smoke Stories
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