The Bill for Wood Smoke
Written by -- Victor Steblin Prince George, B.C.
Tuesday, 03 March 2009
A letter to the editor ended with: “The next time you want to complain about my wood-burning stove, I will hand you my gas bill so you can pay it.”
In response, I will keep complaining about the smoke from wood stoves until more stop burning wood. I also truly apologize if some burners intend on increasing their output just to make trouble. Consider the bill to taxpayers for the damage of wood smoke, some of which are listed in the following.
The health costs of wood smoke have been roughly calculated in the U.S. at about $2 per kilogram of wood burned. A study from Vancouver in 2007 further estimates the health effects of wood smoke as $20,000 per heater per year.
Currently this is ultimately covered by the taxpayer and goes for medical services. If wood burners were taxed this cost directly, they would quickly switch to natural gas as natural gas is much cheaper and less dangerous.
Some costs are very difficult to put numbers on. What is the cost of fresh air? What is the cost of relieving asthma in a child other than moving out of the Bowl? What is the cost of feeling good about the air quality of Prince George? What is the cost of good relations with neighbors?
Burning wood is very expensive when one considers all the hidden costs to society. The ones who burn wood just transfer the health cost to others, much like drunk drivers transfer injury to others. And by many accounts, the results of wood smoke are worse than the results of drunk drivers.
Victor Steblin Prince George, B.C.
BSc Honours Math
MA Math Education from UBC
Currently teaching math in a Secondary School in Prince George, B.C.
Do you know that the smell of wood smoke is affecting your health?
Do you know that the smell of wood smoke is affecting your health?
By Brie Oishi
Last year I decided to do research as to the harmful effects of fireplace smoke emissions on people’s health. Through information provided by UBC and BC Lung Association I learned that fireplace smoke does contain more than 100 chemicals and numerous toxic substances which are linked to many diseases such as asthma, bronchial problems, and Lung diseases; including cancer. Also, thickening of the blood vessels that are a risk factor to stroke and heart attacks; it also increases the rate of ear infection and even short term exposure shows increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm).
A study on lab animals suggests that prolonged exposure to wood smoke may weaken the immune system; and I question; “is ‘that’ the reason for the multitude of allergy sufferers in our country?” If so, then many people are Allergy victims because of wood smoke exposure from neighboring fireplaces! It is my understanding that these toxic substances do penetrate dwellings even with windows closed, putting people at risk. Up to now, Metro Vancouver has not been successful in convincing the public of the harmful effects on people’s health from ”Wood Burning” and is still trying to educate them. A stove exchange program is in force.
It is understandable that this may be necessary for individuals who are dependent on wood as their only source of fuel, but in our highly populated Metro Vancouver area, where weather conditions are not exactly of a 5 star rating, I feel that it would be in the best interest of all living and breathing beings to simply ban the use of Wood Burning. Some authority will just have to take a stand on this issue and put their foot down, so to speak, and in my opinion Metro Vancouver would be the first choice to do that and of course our municipalities.
As I have been in contact with our federal and provincial Government on this issue, their reply was, that it falls under the jurisdiction of municipalities.
I am aware that toxins from wood burning are only part of the pollution problem, but it is that part which is easily cleared up."Wood burning fireplaces can easily be replaced by a Gas burning one."
Banning Wood Burning Fireplaces should not be looked upon as taking away someone’s privilege to enjoy a roaring fire, but to be considered as an improvement of our air quality. That is what all of us are wishing for, right?
Will you therefore “please” join me and seriously consider the positive effect a ban of Wood Burning Fireplaces will have on people’s health and call your municipality to ban those polluting devices. The life you save may be your own, or that of a loved one.
Sincerely, Brie Oishi,
Port Coquitlam, B.C.
By Brie Oishi
Last year I decided to do research as to the harmful effects of fireplace smoke emissions on people’s health. Through information provided by UBC and BC Lung Association I learned that fireplace smoke does contain more than 100 chemicals and numerous toxic substances which are linked to many diseases such as asthma, bronchial problems, and Lung diseases; including cancer. Also, thickening of the blood vessels that are a risk factor to stroke and heart attacks; it also increases the rate of ear infection and even short term exposure shows increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm).
A study on lab animals suggests that prolonged exposure to wood smoke may weaken the immune system; and I question; “is ‘that’ the reason for the multitude of allergy sufferers in our country?” If so, then many people are Allergy victims because of wood smoke exposure from neighboring fireplaces! It is my understanding that these toxic substances do penetrate dwellings even with windows closed, putting people at risk. Up to now, Metro Vancouver has not been successful in convincing the public of the harmful effects on people’s health from ”Wood Burning” and is still trying to educate them. A stove exchange program is in force.
It is understandable that this may be necessary for individuals who are dependent on wood as their only source of fuel, but in our highly populated Metro Vancouver area, where weather conditions are not exactly of a 5 star rating, I feel that it would be in the best interest of all living and breathing beings to simply ban the use of Wood Burning. Some authority will just have to take a stand on this issue and put their foot down, so to speak, and in my opinion Metro Vancouver would be the first choice to do that and of course our municipalities.
As I have been in contact with our federal and provincial Government on this issue, their reply was, that it falls under the jurisdiction of municipalities.
I am aware that toxins from wood burning are only part of the pollution problem, but it is that part which is easily cleared up."Wood burning fireplaces can easily be replaced by a Gas burning one."
Banning Wood Burning Fireplaces should not be looked upon as taking away someone’s privilege to enjoy a roaring fire, but to be considered as an improvement of our air quality. That is what all of us are wishing for, right?
Will you therefore “please” join me and seriously consider the positive effect a ban of Wood Burning Fireplaces will have on people’s health and call your municipality to ban those polluting devices. The life you save may be your own, or that of a loved one.
Sincerely, Brie Oishi,
Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Lung Association Disagrees With Claim
Lung Association Disagrees With Claim
March 16, 2009
On March 16, 2009, the Jamestown, New York, Post-Journal featured an article on proposed regulations for outdoor wood boilers.
The American Lung Association in New York openly refuted some people’s claims that outdoor wood boilers (OWBs) do not cause any health problems. They basically stated that outdoor wood boilers are wreaking havoc across New York, polluting the air and making breathing difficult for New Yorkers forced to breathe the smoke they produce.
The Lung Associate confirmed that wood smoke emissions contain components such as carbon monoxide, various irritant gases, and chemicals known or suspected to be carcinogens, such as dioxin. Burning wood in close proximity to residential housing, regardless of stack height, creates a corridor for dirty air. Any smoke is toxic smoke that your neighbors are forced to breathe.
Breathing wood smoke is smoking!
The health effects of wood smoke exposure include increased asthma attacks, coughing, wheezing, increased hospital admissions for lower respiratory infections, difficulty breathing, bronchitis and pneumonia. Population studies show that young children are most likely to be affected. Wood smoke is also linked to a variety of other health effects, including increased risk of emergency room visits for asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature deaths.
According to the American Lung Association's 2008 State of the Air report (www.alany.org), many United States counties and cities received failing grades for air quality with dangerously high levels of ozone. Add in the high level of particulate matter generated by outdoor wood smoke, and you have a recipe for dirty, dangerous air.
Simply said, the negative health consequences from outdoor wood boilers outweigh the money saved from heating with wood.
Excerpted from remarks by Michael Seilback, Vice President, Public Policy & Communications, American Lung Association in New York
March 16, 2009
On March 16, 2009, the Jamestown, New York, Post-Journal featured an article on proposed regulations for outdoor wood boilers.
The American Lung Association in New York openly refuted some people’s claims that outdoor wood boilers (OWBs) do not cause any health problems. They basically stated that outdoor wood boilers are wreaking havoc across New York, polluting the air and making breathing difficult for New Yorkers forced to breathe the smoke they produce.
The Lung Associate confirmed that wood smoke emissions contain components such as carbon monoxide, various irritant gases, and chemicals known or suspected to be carcinogens, such as dioxin. Burning wood in close proximity to residential housing, regardless of stack height, creates a corridor for dirty air. Any smoke is toxic smoke that your neighbors are forced to breathe.
Breathing wood smoke is smoking!
The health effects of wood smoke exposure include increased asthma attacks, coughing, wheezing, increased hospital admissions for lower respiratory infections, difficulty breathing, bronchitis and pneumonia. Population studies show that young children are most likely to be affected. Wood smoke is also linked to a variety of other health effects, including increased risk of emergency room visits for asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature deaths.
According to the American Lung Association's 2008 State of the Air report (www.alany.org), many United States counties and cities received failing grades for air quality with dangerously high levels of ozone. Add in the high level of particulate matter generated by outdoor wood smoke, and you have a recipe for dirty, dangerous air.
Simply said, the negative health consequences from outdoor wood boilers outweigh the money saved from heating with wood.
Excerpted from remarks by Michael Seilback, Vice President, Public Policy & Communications, American Lung Association in New York
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