Another burning issue---wood smoke!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Topeka Capital-Journal,
Feb 1, 2001 by Capital-Journal

Another burning issue---wood smoke!

The problem of secondhand smoke in Topeka restaurants has been a hot topic lately. Wood smoke is the "other" secondhand smoke. Wood burning exposes you and your neighbors to combustion byproducts called smoke. It is hard to get away from; smoke seeps indoors even if you don't burn.

You know about the effects of cigarette smoke on your respiratory system. Delicate tissues that are infected, irritated and scarred can cause long trending health consequences.

Wood smoke contains many irritating gases and chemicals. The biggest danger, however, is particulate matter, which is so small that 30 particles fit on a single red blood cell.

Unlike a soft tobacco tar, the wood smoke particles can be solid, chemical coated pieces of wood. Once inside the lungs, these wooden daggers swell up in the moist atmosphere and can cause even more damage than a softer smoke.

We can, if necessary, avoid secondhand cigarette smoke by removing ourselves from the scene. This is not possible when the home is being invaded by someone else's wood burning byproduct.

If you have someone in you neighborhood heating their home with wood, I would encourage you to seek information about the hazard to your family's health. "Burning Issues, A Project of Clean Air Revival Inc." or (burningissues.org) on the Web is one source of information. Share this information with your neighbor. Then let your representative to the city council know your concerns.

--- WARREN DIETRICH, Topeka.