Would energy council address smoke issue?
Written by Cathy Baiton
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Friday, August 27 2010
Regarding the energy-environmental council proposed in the Aug. 7 guest column, it may be helpful to have some concrete examples of specific issues and ideas the group would hope to advance for our community. As the column indicates, this council would desire complete independence in promoting its perspective, reinforced by what it would deem the best information.
If granted the privilege and public trust of a council like this, would it be fully receptive to information and suggestions from all citizens? As I’ve written before, one problem deserving attention is air pollution from the use of wood for heating and cooking, and wood-burning fire pit emissions. What sort of position or advocacy might the proposed council seek to provide on this issue?
Internationally, a movement supported by concerned citizens as well as environmentalists, researchers, scientists and physicians is opposing biomass burning on an industrial scale, and the use of wood as a residential energy source. Some experts are challenging the claim that wood burning is carbon-neutral, and science confirms what a lot of people have discovered through experience: the combustion of wood — even in new, “certified” wood stoves — is considerably more polluting, and far less kind to human lungs, than cleaner energy alternatives.
At times my children have coughed in their beds at night, while toxic second-hand wood smoke, from which our current bylaws offer no protection, seeped into their rooms. Should people really have to tolerate any needless wood smoke in our urban environment, where everyone is sharing the air? I think cleaner and more socially compassionate energy options can and should be encouraged, with the most polluting and harmful practices best left behind. Would the existence of an energy-environmental council help to ensure clean, smoke-free air for better community health?
Perhaps our local officials may become willing to provide informed and caring leadership on the wood smoke problem. It may help if more residents voice concerns about the importance of fresh, clean air.
Whether or not a council like the one proposed will be formed over the long term, wood smoke pollution is affecting parts of our city now. With outdoor wood burning occurring often in some neighbourhoods, and another season of harmful wood stove and wood fireplace emissions on the way, I’m sure many share my hope that positive change on this specific energy and environmental issue can come soon.
Cathy Baiton
Lethbridge
From:Lethbridge Herald
Box 670 T1J 3Z7
504 - 7th Street South
Lethbridge, Alberta
Canada
Ban Wood Burning Fire Pits! Calgary, Alberta
Friday, August 27, 2010
Firepits writ large
By Heather Berestiansky, Calgary Herald August 27, 2010
Re: "B. C. wildfire haze stirs health fears in Alberta," Aug. 20.
The smoke from the B.C. fires has shown to all Calgarians why those of us who are sensitive to wood smoke want to see firepits outlawed. With healthy people feeling the effects of the smoke, imagine what it is like if you suffer from asthma, or other respiratory conditions. We live in a dense urban environment and wood-burning firepits should not be allowed, especially when clean burning alternatives such as propane or natural gas fire pits exist.
Heather Berestiansky, Calgary
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
By Heather Berestiansky, Calgary Herald August 27, 2010
Re: "B. C. wildfire haze stirs health fears in Alberta," Aug. 20.
The smoke from the B.C. fires has shown to all Calgarians why those of us who are sensitive to wood smoke want to see firepits outlawed. With healthy people feeling the effects of the smoke, imagine what it is like if you suffer from asthma, or other respiratory conditions. We live in a dense urban environment and wood-burning firepits should not be allowed, especially when clean burning alternatives such as propane or natural gas fire pits exist.
Heather Berestiansky, Calgary
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Coalition Against Wood Burning
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Coalition Against Wood Burning
(***This site is a work in progress as there is so much more to add!***)
New organization helping us to fight woodsmoke.
The International Coalition Against Wood Burning
Some excerpts from this new website are:
A site dedicated to ending wood burning and the health and environmental effects it causes.
------
THE ONLY WISE BURNING IS NO BURNING
Much has been published by wood burning appliance makers and forestry that might lead one to believe that wood burning is safe. Not so!
There is no such thing as 'good' smoke. All smoke carries particulate matter that can be drawn deep into the lungs to cause severe damage. If you can smell smoke then you are inhaling these particulates and the damage has begun. You cannot escape the wood smoke that makes its way into your home through ventilation systems and even minute spaces in doors and windows. No air cleaner will clear the air and make it safe to breathe.
We all need to work on this important issue and we need to do it now!
------
Wood smoke pollution and your health
For those that think that doctors are lax in speaking out on the wood smoke issue and its harmful effects on our health and environment, here are 3 prominent doctors who tell it like it is.
Please pass this on to your municipalities and governmental agencies, many of which have no idea of the seriousness of living next to someone who burns and releases the toxins into our air.
With gratitude to:
Dr. Jim Markos, medical lung specialist (Australian Lung Foundation)
Dr. Sverre Vedal of the University of Washington
Dr. Michael Aizen from the Australian Medical Association
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaxSgglRpLY
------
Effects of Wood Smoke
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons are produced in abundance when you burn wood.
"They are primarily formed by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels such as wood, coal, diesel, fat, or tobacco. Tar also contains PAHs. Since human civilization relies so heavily on combustion, PAHs are inevitably linked to our energy production. In this sense, PAH can be thought of as marker molecules as their abundance can be directly proportional to combustion processes in the region and therefore directly related to air quality. Different types of combustion yield different distributions of PAHs."� Wikipedia�
The EPA estimates that the lifetime cancer risk from wood stove smoke is twelve times greater than that from an equal volume of second hand tobacco smoke. (The Health Effects of Wood Smoke, Washington State Department of Ecology)
"Burning two cords of wood produces the same amount of mutagenic particles as: Driving 13 gasoline powered cars 10,000 miles each at 20 miles/gallon. These figures indicate that the worst contribution that an individual is likely to make to the mutagenicity of the air is using a wood stove for heating, followed by driving a diesel car." ( Dr. Joellen Lewtas, Contribution of Source Emissions of the Mutagenicity of Ambient Urban Air Particles, U.S. EPA, #91-131.6, 1991 )
-----
This site is a gathering place for people around the world to come together to help clear our planet of wood smoke pollution.
To join us, send a comment or suggestion, please send an email to Shirley.
E-mail---s.brandie@sympatico.ca---for more information.
http://CoalitionAgainstWoodBurning.com
-----
Webmaster comment: Congrats on your new website and we welcome your organization.
(***This site is a work in progress as there is so much more to add!***)
New organization helping us to fight woodsmoke.
The International Coalition Against Wood Burning
Some excerpts from this new website are:
A site dedicated to ending wood burning and the health and environmental effects it causes.
------
THE ONLY WISE BURNING IS NO BURNING
Much has been published by wood burning appliance makers and forestry that might lead one to believe that wood burning is safe. Not so!
There is no such thing as 'good' smoke. All smoke carries particulate matter that can be drawn deep into the lungs to cause severe damage. If you can smell smoke then you are inhaling these particulates and the damage has begun. You cannot escape the wood smoke that makes its way into your home through ventilation systems and even minute spaces in doors and windows. No air cleaner will clear the air and make it safe to breathe.
We all need to work on this important issue and we need to do it now!
------
Wood smoke pollution and your health
For those that think that doctors are lax in speaking out on the wood smoke issue and its harmful effects on our health and environment, here are 3 prominent doctors who tell it like it is.
Please pass this on to your municipalities and governmental agencies, many of which have no idea of the seriousness of living next to someone who burns and releases the toxins into our air.
With gratitude to:
Dr. Jim Markos, medical lung specialist (Australian Lung Foundation)
Dr. Sverre Vedal of the University of Washington
Dr. Michael Aizen from the Australian Medical Association
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaxSgglRpLY
------
Effects of Wood Smoke
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons are produced in abundance when you burn wood.
"They are primarily formed by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels such as wood, coal, diesel, fat, or tobacco. Tar also contains PAHs. Since human civilization relies so heavily on combustion, PAHs are inevitably linked to our energy production. In this sense, PAH can be thought of as marker molecules as their abundance can be directly proportional to combustion processes in the region and therefore directly related to air quality. Different types of combustion yield different distributions of PAHs."� Wikipedia�
The EPA estimates that the lifetime cancer risk from wood stove smoke is twelve times greater than that from an equal volume of second hand tobacco smoke. (The Health Effects of Wood Smoke, Washington State Department of Ecology)
"Burning two cords of wood produces the same amount of mutagenic particles as: Driving 13 gasoline powered cars 10,000 miles each at 20 miles/gallon. These figures indicate that the worst contribution that an individual is likely to make to the mutagenicity of the air is using a wood stove for heating, followed by driving a diesel car." ( Dr. Joellen Lewtas, Contribution of Source Emissions of the Mutagenicity of Ambient Urban Air Particles, U.S. EPA, #91-131.6, 1991 )
-----
This site is a gathering place for people around the world to come together to help clear our planet of wood smoke pollution.
To join us, send a comment or suggestion, please send an email to Shirley.
E-mail---s.brandie@sympatico.ca---for more information.
http://CoalitionAgainstWoodBurning.com
-----
Webmaster comment: Congrats on your new website and we welcome your organization.
No room for apathy this summer--Canada
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Letter to the Editor
July 28, 2010
Philly.com website
CottageCountryNow.ca 1 week ago
No room for apathy this summer
Victims of woodsmoke pollution continue being assaulted from the toxic acrid woodsmoke filled air that permeates many communities.
Outdoor open-air burns are still permitted in urban areas in our nation. People continue becoming ill and thousands die each year in Canada from woodsmoke related illness. Asthma, COPD, cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, cancer and other diseases have been linked with woodsmoke pollution.
Woodsmoke is a deadly silent killer. There is no longer room for apathy.
There is no longer room for the disregard and disrespect that is shown to the victims of woodsmoke pollution. Our health units, mayors, fire departments, council members and elected leaders are not acknowledging the pleas and petitions for help.
Woodsmoke pollution is a Canadian crisis that is affecting the life and health of every person in each city. Outdoor open-air burns must be banned in all Canadian urban areas. Our government is neglecting this ongoing, life threatening health crisis.
No longer is there room for apathy. This toxic woodsmoke pollution issue must be addressed in each community. We become sicker each day from being assaulted by outdoor open-air burns.
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from woodstoves, woodburning fireplaces and outdoor woodboilers when inhaled goes deeply into the lungs causing irreparable damage.
People are suffering. Our children live daily using asthma inhalers that provide them with easier breathing, while our officials and leaders show blatant disrespect and disregard to those demanding a ban on all outdoor open air burns.
The time has come and it is long overdue. We must see changes take place in our communities. We must see a ban on all outdoor open-air burns. Our health boards, elected leaders and governments must become accountable for their lack of action. In each Canadian province the outcry from the victims of woodsmoke pollution remains the same. Ban woodsmoke.
Ban it before we become even sicker and our families suffer even more.
People are dying in Canada from woodsmoke-related illness. People are dying worldwide from woodsmoke pollution.
Do not sit back apathetic and allow woodsmoke to destroy your life and health any longer. Demand change in your community. Do not accept woodburning as something you must live with. Our leaders can take action and ban all woodsmoke.
There no longer is room for apathy, but there is room for action. Take action in your community. Make becoming informed about woodsmoke your number one priority.
Your life and breath depend on it.
See the following Esteemed Websites for further information: Breathe healthy air http://breathehealthyair.blogspot.com Clean Air Revival http://burningissues.org/ Canadian Clean Air Alliance http://www.canadiancleanairalliance.ca Freedom of Air http://www.myspace.com/freedomofair
There is no room for apathy.
Linda Baker Beaudin
Cornwall
Webmaster: All Canadians should raise their voices and hearts and join others that want a ban on woodsmoke in Canada. Contacting this writer is a great way to begin.
Linda Baker Beaudin, Founder
Air is Precious
P O Box 22049
1236 Brookdale Avenue
Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
K6J 4P8
airisprecious@gmail.com
July 28, 2010
Philly.com website
CottageCountryNow.ca 1 week ago
No room for apathy this summer
Victims of woodsmoke pollution continue being assaulted from the toxic acrid woodsmoke filled air that permeates many communities.
Outdoor open-air burns are still permitted in urban areas in our nation. People continue becoming ill and thousands die each year in Canada from woodsmoke related illness. Asthma, COPD, cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, cancer and other diseases have been linked with woodsmoke pollution.
Woodsmoke is a deadly silent killer. There is no longer room for apathy.
There is no longer room for the disregard and disrespect that is shown to the victims of woodsmoke pollution. Our health units, mayors, fire departments, council members and elected leaders are not acknowledging the pleas and petitions for help.
Woodsmoke pollution is a Canadian crisis that is affecting the life and health of every person in each city. Outdoor open-air burns must be banned in all Canadian urban areas. Our government is neglecting this ongoing, life threatening health crisis.
No longer is there room for apathy. This toxic woodsmoke pollution issue must be addressed in each community. We become sicker each day from being assaulted by outdoor open-air burns.
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from woodstoves, woodburning fireplaces and outdoor woodboilers when inhaled goes deeply into the lungs causing irreparable damage.
People are suffering. Our children live daily using asthma inhalers that provide them with easier breathing, while our officials and leaders show blatant disrespect and disregard to those demanding a ban on all outdoor open air burns.
The time has come and it is long overdue. We must see changes take place in our communities. We must see a ban on all outdoor open-air burns. Our health boards, elected leaders and governments must become accountable for their lack of action. In each Canadian province the outcry from the victims of woodsmoke pollution remains the same. Ban woodsmoke.
Ban it before we become even sicker and our families suffer even more.
People are dying in Canada from woodsmoke-related illness. People are dying worldwide from woodsmoke pollution.
Do not sit back apathetic and allow woodsmoke to destroy your life and health any longer. Demand change in your community. Do not accept woodburning as something you must live with. Our leaders can take action and ban all woodsmoke.
There no longer is room for apathy, but there is room for action. Take action in your community. Make becoming informed about woodsmoke your number one priority.
Your life and breath depend on it.
See the following Esteemed Websites for further information: Breathe healthy air http://breathehealthyair.blogspot.com Clean Air Revival http://burningissues.org/ Canadian Clean Air Alliance http://www.canadiancleanairalliance.ca Freedom of Air http://www.myspace.com/freedomofair
There is no room for apathy.
Linda Baker Beaudin
Cornwall
Webmaster: All Canadians should raise their voices and hearts and join others that want a ban on woodsmoke in Canada. Contacting this writer is a great way to begin.
Linda Baker Beaudin, Founder
Air is Precious
P O Box 22049
1236 Brookdale Avenue
Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
K6J 4P8
airisprecious@gmail.com
Woodsmoke victims caught in bureaucratic nightmare-Canada
Woodsmoke victims caught in bureaucratic nightmare
Published on August 4th, 2010 in The Western Star
A Province on the East Coast of Canada
Dear editor: Trapped in clouds of heavy plumes of tainted acrid smelling woodsmoke and in a bureaucratic system wrapped in red tape and apathy, the Victims of Woodsmoke Pollution are left to cope with a nightmare in their lives all alone and with no help in sight.
While millions of Canadians are suffering from woodsmoke health-related issues, the Canadian government, elected leaders and municipalities have rebuffed their pleas for immediate or any action to ban woodsmoke.
Woodsmoke pollution has become a Canadian crisis of monumental proportion. The victims of woodsmoke are physically suffering from asthma, COPD, cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, cancer and other woodsmoke-related diseases. Their quality of life has been diminished. They are receiving no help from their government.
Government has been informed and alerted by victims across the entire nation about this woodsmoke crisis and have done nothing.
Ongoing communication with many levels of government only send the suffering Victims of Woodsmoke Pollution in a circle of desperation without one single iota of help or hope.
They are left with weakened immune systems and an ongoing assault of health concerns and thoughts of their impending demise. One by one the Victims of Woodsmoke Pollution topple into the abyss, neglected by their government.
Too many continue to suffer health-related issues from breathing the toxic chemicals in woodsmoke. Woodsmoke victims will remain vigilant and determined to see that one day the citizens of Canada will have the right and common decency to breathe healthy air, woodsmoke-free. Urban areas must be protected from all woodsmoke pollution. We are protected from tobacco smoke, yet woodsmoke is even worse for our health than tobacco smoke. Both cause suffering, illness and death.
The proximity of our homes and lungs are in the direct line of woodsmoke from neighbours’ woodsmoke. Woodsmoke pollution comes from woodburning fire places, woodburning stoves, and all outdoor open air burns. There no longer exists a need to pollute, saturate, and smother lives in toxic woodsmoke, hazed-filled clouds. Many cleaner methods of heating are available within urban areas.
Our bureaucratic process has failed us. Our life hangs on the balance of impending doom and more continued suffering until our government takes action to ban all outdoor open air burns across our nation and until regulations are implemented to phase out the use of woodburning stoves and woodburning fireplaces in all urban areas. No exceptions.
Will the Victims of Woodsmoke Pollution continue to be lost and forgotten in this bureaucratic nightmare wrapped in red tape or will our government awaken to the suffering and needs of our nation and ban all outdoor open air burns?
Linda Baker Beaudin, Cornwall, Ont.
Webmaster comment: To All Canadians
Please contact and join with this dynamic writer and supporter of wood burning bans in Canada.
Linda Baker Beaudin
Founder, Air is Precious
P O Box 22049
1236 Brookdale Avenue
Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
K6J 4P8
airisprecious@gmail.com
Published on August 4th, 2010 in The Western Star
A Province on the East Coast of Canada
Dear editor: Trapped in clouds of heavy plumes of tainted acrid smelling woodsmoke and in a bureaucratic system wrapped in red tape and apathy, the Victims of Woodsmoke Pollution are left to cope with a nightmare in their lives all alone and with no help in sight.
While millions of Canadians are suffering from woodsmoke health-related issues, the Canadian government, elected leaders and municipalities have rebuffed their pleas for immediate or any action to ban woodsmoke.
Woodsmoke pollution has become a Canadian crisis of monumental proportion. The victims of woodsmoke are physically suffering from asthma, COPD, cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, cancer and other woodsmoke-related diseases. Their quality of life has been diminished. They are receiving no help from their government.
Government has been informed and alerted by victims across the entire nation about this woodsmoke crisis and have done nothing.
Ongoing communication with many levels of government only send the suffering Victims of Woodsmoke Pollution in a circle of desperation without one single iota of help or hope.
They are left with weakened immune systems and an ongoing assault of health concerns and thoughts of their impending demise. One by one the Victims of Woodsmoke Pollution topple into the abyss, neglected by their government.
Too many continue to suffer health-related issues from breathing the toxic chemicals in woodsmoke. Woodsmoke victims will remain vigilant and determined to see that one day the citizens of Canada will have the right and common decency to breathe healthy air, woodsmoke-free. Urban areas must be protected from all woodsmoke pollution. We are protected from tobacco smoke, yet woodsmoke is even worse for our health than tobacco smoke. Both cause suffering, illness and death.
The proximity of our homes and lungs are in the direct line of woodsmoke from neighbours’ woodsmoke. Woodsmoke pollution comes from woodburning fire places, woodburning stoves, and all outdoor open air burns. There no longer exists a need to pollute, saturate, and smother lives in toxic woodsmoke, hazed-filled clouds. Many cleaner methods of heating are available within urban areas.
Our bureaucratic process has failed us. Our life hangs on the balance of impending doom and more continued suffering until our government takes action to ban all outdoor open air burns across our nation and until regulations are implemented to phase out the use of woodburning stoves and woodburning fireplaces in all urban areas. No exceptions.
Will the Victims of Woodsmoke Pollution continue to be lost and forgotten in this bureaucratic nightmare wrapped in red tape or will our government awaken to the suffering and needs of our nation and ban all outdoor open air burns?
Linda Baker Beaudin, Cornwall, Ont.
Webmaster comment: To All Canadians
Please contact and join with this dynamic writer and supporter of wood burning bans in Canada.
Linda Baker Beaudin
Founder, Air is Precious
P O Box 22049
1236 Brookdale Avenue
Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
K6J 4P8
airisprecious@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)