The Wood Smoke Activist
August Newsletter
Educating the world about the health and climate impacts of wood smoke and combustion aerosols.
Editor: Shirley Brandie ...s.brandie@sympatico.ca
Co-Editor: Julie Mellum... info@takebacktheair.com
8/1/2009
See---http://woodburnersmoke.net/
A Plea to Canadian Councilors
Please consider banning wood burning in city limits. Citizens who burn solid fuels in any form including pellets or the best seasoned wood still produce unacceptable amounts of smoke. The best available sources of heat in order are activity, more layers of clothes, electricity, and natural gas. Burning wood is way down the list of acceptable sources of heat. Research shows that burning wood is 25% of the air quality problem in Prince George and is worst during the cold weather inversions of winter.
Wood is plainly out of date and unacceptable. Take a referendum about burning wood in our city and I am sure that the majority will agree to ban wood. So why do so many politicians have a blind heart on this issue? Maybe they are not convinced of the dangers to health. Are wood burners more aggressive by nature and to be feared? Are citizens who butt out and care for others to be ignored? Is smoke ignored because the effects on health are long term? Are there more pressing issues than a little bit of smoke?
There are many sources where one can learn about the dangers of wood smoke. There are many sites on the internet with stories of abuse. Just because many of us do not live right beside an abusive wood burner does not mean that we should not care. For Prince George I have written over 100 letters on air quality and often they just seem to get a few wood burners upset.
Please check out www.pachapg.ca in the Opinion section. The main issue for Prince George that affects our global reputation is air quality. We should ban wood burning to set an example.
Vic Steblin
BSc Honours Math, MA Math Education from UBC
Currently teaching math in a secondary school in Prince George, B.C.
Note....Please contact the editors above to receive the complete August 2009 Newsletter.
Canadians are fighting also to breathe air free of wood smoke!!!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Canadians are fighting also to breathe air free of wood smoke!!!
Posted July 17, 2009
I live in St.Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada and have been fighting with my town to put a ban on all bonfires and fires of any kind.
I have what the doctors call allergic rhinitis and extreme sensitivity to environmental pollutants. When exposed to smoke I develop a chronic cough, nasal congestion, migraine headache, weak voice and swollen larynx which makes breathing extremely difficult. I have been advised to avoid any smoke , if not serious consequences such as respiratory distress and allergic reaction will occur. There are no medications or other options to help me in this matter.
The doctors told me after a whole year with no voice and being in severe pain in high school (12 years ago) what was wrong and to avoid smoke at all cost and I would be fine. At this moment in time my larynx have been swollen and I have had a severe sore throat. I have been like this for 7 days now. I have had meetings with the town, an interview with the local paper and CTV NEWS Atlantic.
The town says they are trying to help me on this matter but their way of helping is just to let the fires continue. There is a by-law in affect that says people can have bonfires as long as they use clean wood and a fire pit and as long as it does not cause a Hazard to a persons.
They basically told me on Monday at the town meeting I had with them that even though it is causing a Hazard to me there is nothing they can do.
I have been fighting this battle for 7-8 years. My husband and I grew up here and it wasn't until got married and built our house in the community that the burning of bonfires began. The only place it used to be was at the campground now it is in everyone's back yard.
We also, like you Mr. Kusmit, have a major problem with the smoke from chimneys coming into our home. Our house is only 8 years old and is totally sealed properly and the smoke still floats around the house in the yard. We have an air exchanger and have been forced to close it off in the winter and most of the spring, summer and fall. I felt like I was reading part of my own story while reading Mr. Kusmit's story (see previous Breathe Healthy Air web site postings) about the smoke at the doors. Sometimes the smoke is so thick outside our home it looks like a house is on fire.
Even in New Brunswick, Canada it seems to be hard to get anything done to help those of us with Severe allergies or what not. I am a very healthy person and I am never sick until the smoke hits me.
I hope all of you and I also can somehow win this battle whether we are in Canada or the USA. This really needs to end.
Thank You,
St.Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada
Posted July 17, 2009
I live in St.Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada and have been fighting with my town to put a ban on all bonfires and fires of any kind.
I have what the doctors call allergic rhinitis and extreme sensitivity to environmental pollutants. When exposed to smoke I develop a chronic cough, nasal congestion, migraine headache, weak voice and swollen larynx which makes breathing extremely difficult. I have been advised to avoid any smoke , if not serious consequences such as respiratory distress and allergic reaction will occur. There are no medications or other options to help me in this matter.
The doctors told me after a whole year with no voice and being in severe pain in high school (12 years ago) what was wrong and to avoid smoke at all cost and I would be fine. At this moment in time my larynx have been swollen and I have had a severe sore throat. I have been like this for 7 days now. I have had meetings with the town, an interview with the local paper and CTV NEWS Atlantic.
The town says they are trying to help me on this matter but their way of helping is just to let the fires continue. There is a by-law in affect that says people can have bonfires as long as they use clean wood and a fire pit and as long as it does not cause a Hazard to a persons.
They basically told me on Monday at the town meeting I had with them that even though it is causing a Hazard to me there is nothing they can do.
I have been fighting this battle for 7-8 years. My husband and I grew up here and it wasn't until got married and built our house in the community that the burning of bonfires began. The only place it used to be was at the campground now it is in everyone's back yard.
We also, like you Mr. Kusmit, have a major problem with the smoke from chimneys coming into our home. Our house is only 8 years old and is totally sealed properly and the smoke still floats around the house in the yard. We have an air exchanger and have been forced to close it off in the winter and most of the spring, summer and fall. I felt like I was reading part of my own story while reading Mr. Kusmit's story (see previous Breathe Healthy Air web site postings) about the smoke at the doors. Sometimes the smoke is so thick outside our home it looks like a house is on fire.
Even in New Brunswick, Canada it seems to be hard to get anything done to help those of us with Severe allergies or what not. I am a very healthy person and I am never sick until the smoke hits me.
I hope all of you and I also can somehow win this battle whether we are in Canada or the USA. This really needs to end.
Thank You,
St.Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada
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