Letter to the Editor-Wood Burning

The Belleville Intelligencer

Wood Burning
Posted By Shirley Brandie
Amherstburg, Ontario

Posted 15 hours ago

Wood Smoke .. The Silent Killer

It’s that time of year when the air turns crisp, the leaves are falling and thoughts turn to the approaching winter months. It’s also the time of year that some people dread, knowing that the foul stench of wood smoke is about to invade their homes and lives.

Poor air quality and pollution is a serious problem that requires the cooperation and effort of every Canadian. Just one important contributor to air pollution is often ignored. Residential wood burning produces fine particles and gases that contain a multitude of toxic substances and carcinogens.

Wood smoke is chemically active in the body 40 times longer than tobacco smoke and is 12 times more likely to cause cancer than the same amount of tobacco smoke, according to J. Lewis-USEPA.

Fireplaces are ineffective in heating a home, and only a few hours of wood burning in a single home can drastically raise fine particle concentrations in dozens of surrounding homes throughout the neighbourhood. None of us are protected from this toxic smoke.

Burning wood and allowing it to foul the air of your neighbours is a rude and unnecessary assault on the senses of your neighbours. It causes many people, especially the young, the elderly and those with respiratory problems to be put in great physical danger.

There is no need in this modern era to behave as if living in the wild, wild West, when it was a necessity. Burning wood is a costly and filthy affront to all that are invaded by it. Exposure to the smoke is extremely uncomfortable and causes burning eyes, dry and sore throat, irritation of the nasal passages, cardiovascular system damage, causes some types of cancer and brain damage, headaches, and allergic reactions, among other symptoms.

When smoke is prevalent in the area, people cannot open their windows for fresh air, because there is none. They cannot enjoy their own property due to the stench. Everyone should be able to relax in their own homes without the fear that they are being contaminated by toxic smoke. It is an environmental right of all people.

Please do all you can to prevent environmental and health problems for everyone today and for future generations. Please don’t burn. Let’s make this the most environmentally safe season for all!