Don't romanticize smoke

Don't romanticize smoke



By Cathy Baiton



Edmonton Journal August 13, 2011





Re: "Scent of woodsmoke strikes primal chord; Backyard ovens lend themselves to casual outdoors entertaining," The Journal, Aug. 10.



This article romanticizes the smell of woodsmoke and praises the use of wood ovens. But wood-burning devices are part of a growing residential pollution problem across North America. Whether it is from a lit cigarette or any wood-burning appliance, all smoke is unhealthy to breathe.



Wood smoke in residential areas is a serious public health issue. The gases and fine particles in wood smoke pollute the air that children and others are breathing outside. As well, high levels of smoke pollution can enter nearby homes, even with doors and windows closed.



Most Albertans now support cigarette smoke bans in public places. Bans on equally harmful woodsmoke are also needed in Alberta municipalities.



Cathy Baiton, Lethbridge





© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

Shedding Light on Particulate Pollution

Shedding Light on Particulate Pollution A visit to any hospital will shed light on the dire effects on human health caused by particulate pollution (PM 2.5) that exists in every community. Residential Woodburning is a leading contributor to Woodsmoke-related illnesses.



Fire Pits, Fire Rings, Chimeneas, Wood fuelled cooking devices and all appliances that prepare or smoke food, Woodburning stoves, Woodburning fireplaces, and pellet stoves all pollute and harm the air. The negative impact of Woodburning is felt by all residents. Woodsmoke crosses all boundaries, sex, faith, colour and socio economic conditions.



The significant toll on human health from Woodsmoke polluted air is evident everywhere. Woodsmoke affects everyone, healthy or not. No one is immune to Woodsmoke's deadly impact on their health. No one.



We know that Tobacco smoking continues to destroy the health of people. Even non-smokers suffered and died from the constant exposure to second hand tobacco smoke. Prohibition of Tobacco smoking, education and awareness has saved millions of lives. Yet, the toxic repercussions still exist in hospitals across our Nation as we see people struggle for each breath they take, living on oxygen support, and other means of survival. For many it is not survival but barely existing.



Facts are that "As many as three million Canadians may have COPD and it is Canada's fourth leading cause of death. The Canadian Lung Association predicts that COPD will soon move to the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer." "The true impact of COPD is probably underestimated as it is not usually diagnosed until the disease is moderately advanced."



Scientific and medical evidence state that Woodsmoke pollution is even worse for our health than tobacco smoke.



Asthma, COPD, Cardiopulmonay, Cardiovascular, Stroke, SIDS, Cancer, Respiratory, and other illnesses are associated with Woodburning. The failing and many times irreversible health of those who suffer from lung disease such as Asthma and COPD reveal the damages occurred from not only Tobacco but community Woodsmoke and Woodburning pollution. COPD cannot be cured. It can be managed. Asthma can be controlled, yet people continue to die each year from these diseases.



Shedding light on Particulate Pollution means that our Mayors, city council members, elected leaders and others must take immediate pro-active action to prohibit the use of all Woodburning devices. It is time to end Woodsmoke in our towns and cities. Our environment, our breath, and our life depend on doing so.

The Wood Smoke Activist Network

The Wood Smoke Activist Network
June 2011 Newsletter
Educating the world about the health and climate impacts of wood smoke and combustion aerosols.
Editor: Shirley Brandie
Ontario Director of Canadian Clean Air Alliance http://canadiancleanairalliance.ca

Web site: http://WoodBurnerSmoke.net

Co-editor: Julie Mellum
Web site: Take Back the Air

Mission Statement
Our mission is to educate public officials, government and all citizens about wood smoke as a major form of hazardous air pollution that affects our health, use of our property, water, crops, livestock, the environment and climate change. We urge citizens everywhere to press for legislative changes to call wood smoke a public nuisance under state health codes and to ban all wood burning.”

Welcome!
We hope that this newsletter will give you the information and inspiration you need. Regain clean air to breathe and eliminate the wood burning that is affecting your health and your home environment. (http://WoodBurnerSmoke.net)

Please pass this issue on to others in need of help and suggest that they send an email to s.brandie@sympatico.ca to be added to the mailing list.


Webmaster----Check out this great organization for help, advice, and information on how to ban/end deadly woodsmoke in your community. You can also receive (via e-mail) a free monthly newsletter filled with great facts, successes, and assistance.

http://WoodBurnerSmoke.net
s.brandie@sympatico.ca

Mother Earth------Woodsmoke Poem

Mother Earth

She looks down upon the Earth in disbelief

Saddened by the horror and by the grief

Barren land and gritty sand

Instead of soil turned over by the hand of man

Forests stripped revealing hell

Burning fires and the lone church bell

Ring out against the haze filled sky

Children with Asthma and tears in their eye

Suffering from Woodsmoke polluting the Earth

Illness and death oh what a curse

Mankind and his desire to burn everywhere

On hillside, in cities and what do they care

But the innocent children still pay the price

With their health and suffering and yes with their life

Death from Woodsmoke is heartless, is cruel and relentless

It is horror, it is sadness, it is illness and senseless

Pain and the suffering of children can be found everywhere

It weighs heavy on parents who truly do care

But Woodsmoke continues to swallow up life

It shows no mercy to children, to husband or wife

Families grieve, families weep, families cry in despair

When will mankind stop burning wood and polluting the air?


Webmaster comment...The above beautiful and sincere poem was written by an individual that wishes to remain anonymous. Thank you for your submission.

January 2011

City Banning The Wrong Smoke

City Banning The Wrong Smoke
Letter to the Editor


Ladysmith Chronicle.com - Letters
341 1st Avenue, Ladysmith, B.C., V9G 1A3
1-250-245-2277

Published: October 25, 2010

Editor:

It was no surprise when the annual Cowichan Valley light up started last Friday. Following a notice sent to my phone, I watched as the sky slowly filled to its familiar haze. In fact, one of my neighbours celebrates the first day of light up by lighting his wet leaf pile to share the smoke with my children gallivanting in their own back yard.

As I hustle my children indoors on the lovely autumn day, I am struck by the fact that Duncan council has spent so much energy on this politically correct bylaw to try and ban cigarette smoking downtown, but are seemingly oblivious to the billowing of wood smoke.

I very easily keep my children away from cigarette smoke; however, I find it rather difficult to shelter them from the smog that all the open burning creates over our lovely valley.

I am sure it is much more politically correct to try and ban smoking. I have born witness to the wall anti-open burning campaigners come up against with the city.

It is a shame that the easy way seems to be taken when it comes to banning the correct light up.

A. Richards

North Cowichan

An Innocent Victim of a Fire Pit--Remembering Aliaa

An Innocent Victim of a Fire Pit

Remembering Aliaa

When we hear or read about a tragedy of a person violently dying, we are shocked and saddened. We ask why and how could this have happened. Could it have been prevented? Aliaa did not have to die so young, but, she did and did so horribly. Aliaa was the young girl that was so severely burned by her father’s action with an outdoor fire pit that she died.

When a child dies because of another person's habit to burn in a fire pit, we are left in absolute disbelief that this could even be possible. But, sadly it is possible because towns and elected officials have been apathetic, unwise, or indifferent not to Ban all outdoor open fires and Woodburning fire pits, fire pots, fireplaces and chimeneas, etc.

We must see this tragedy revealed for what it is—unneeded, unnecessary and preventable. This week in Lenox Township, Michigan, USA, a little 6 year old girl was seriously injured in a needless action with a fire pit. According to the Detroit newspapers, after suffering burns to 90 percent of her body, Aliaa Al-Shara died in the hospital.

This tragic death of Aliaa will be forever etched in our memory. What child should have to pay the price with their life because of being exposed to the grave dangers and use of fire pits, fire rings, bon fires, chimineas, outdoor fire places and all outdoor open air burning? Our cities must take immediate action to end all outdoor open air burning, no exceptions. Aliaa could be your daughter, granddaughter or a friend. The harsh reality is that people are reckless, and the need to burn overshadows the beauty and value of a human life.

Aliaa’s death should bring attention to the world that outdoor open air fires are not safe. They can be deadly weapons. They do grave harm to children. They do take life. They destroy entire families. Other children have suffered extensive and severe burns from fire pits and outdoor open air burning. Breathing Woodsmoke will harm and even kill you. Now is the time to demand that your city take action to BAN all outdoor open air burns. Your efforts will save many, many lives. Take action to make sure that never again will another child die from the use of a fire pit. Keep the memory of a 6 year old girl, Aliaa, alive.

Recently, in Boulder, Colorado, USA, the fire that destroyed 159 homes was started by an outdoor fire pit. How many more homes and lives must be destroyed by these and other outdoor Wood Burning devices of deaths before they are banned?

Aliaa’s life will not have been in vain if we Ban all Outdoor open burning in every city, community, village and town. We must all reach out and do everything possible to save the lives of other children. Do it for your children. Do it to honour and remember Aliaa.

By---Linda Baker Beaudin
Founder, Air is Precious
Cornwall, Ontario, Canada


Web master note---Aliaa Al-Shara's body was burned 90-100% per Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel. Aliaa died on Wednesday, September 22, 2010. This sad and unnecessary death happened in Lenox Township, Michigan, USA. Let's ban fire pits and all other outdoor wood burning. As stated in the letter above, let's do it to honour the memory of Aliaa.

Laws governing wood smoke emissions is long overdue

To the Members of the Connecticut Public Health Committee


Below is another case that has come to the attention of Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI). This man's name is William Kusmit and he is from Seymour, CT. This man, like many others, has tried to keep the smoke out of his home by putting plastic around his windows and doors. But he, as the others, have not realized that wood smoke particles are so small they cannot be kept them out - even in the newer tighter homes. Here is William Kusmit's case.

Nancy Alderman

To whom it may Concern,

I would like to take a moment of your time to share our experience with the problem of woodsmoke from our neighbor's chimney.

One day last year we noticed smoke all around our house with the smell of smoke getting into our home it was like being directly in front of a chimney.

I wrote to the building inspector to see if the neighbor's chimney met the building code.The building inspector left a note on my neighbors door which stated 'woodstove violation chimney height'.

My neighbor came banging on my door asking how I could 'turn him in'. I explained the problem we were having and how the smoke was even getting into our home and his response was that we should 'get new windows'. He later added 2 ft to the chimney to bring it up to code.

However, we continued to experience problems from the chimney exhaust so I asked my neighbor if he would add another 6 ft to this chimney and I would pay for it. He agreed to do this.

As I tried to deal with my neighbor and his smoke - the next thing I knew there was a police officer at my door telling me I could not tell my neighbor how to use his stove. The police officer told me harassment was against the law and if I talked to my neighbor again about the stove I would be arrested.

We continue to experience problems from being in contact with and breathing the exhaust from the chimney. This results in physical symptoms such as causing eyes to burn, congestion, and chest discomfort. The congestion and chest discomfort lasts for several days. I am also concerned about the long term health consequences of being exposed to this smoke.

Those of us with existing health problems are more susceptible to the effects of woodsmoke exposure, but the exhaust from this chimney is so strong no one would be able to tolerate this. I have coronary artery disease and my wife has Multiple Sclerosis.

We follow strict guidelines to try to maintain our health and then are exposed to the toxic elements of woodsmoke which adds to our health problems.

I believe the time for laws governing wood smoke emissions is long overdue. There are many people who are adversely affected by wood smoke. There is a great deal of evidence about the health risks of woodsmoke and we need laws to help people whose health is put in jeopardy because of being exposed to this woodsmoke pollution.

I have done what I can to try to keep the smoke out of the house such as putting plastic over the door going into the garage, sealing windows etc. but of course when we open the front door the smoke comes right into the house. My wife and I have had to wear masks when going from the house to the car because of the strong exhaust fumes.

I feel as though we are being poisoned by the smoke from my neighbors woodstove and there is nothing in Connecticut law to help us.

Thank You.
Sincerely,
William Kusmit
Seymour, CT
--
Nancy Alderman, President
Environment and Human Health, Inc.
1191 Ridge Road
North Haven, CT 06473
(phone) 203-248-6582
(fax) 203-288-7571
http://www.ehhi.org
http://ehhijournal.org/
+++++++++++

Web Master Comment.... Mr. Kusmit is correct. Even though wood smoke emissions violate property rights, harm the environment, are an assault and battery on your family, render your yard and property unlivable, and will physically make you very sick (and slowly kill you), the laws to protect Mr. Kusmit, us, and our families are so few and so weak, it is ironic and disappointing to know our elected officials are doing nothing to help. Connecticut elected officials (and let's also mention this applies to the rest of the U.S.A), the EPA (local and federal), Pollution Control Boards,and other governmental agencies that are suppose to protect us, have closed their eyes, covered their ears, remained mute, and have fallen into a vacuum on this urgent health issue.

The American Cancer Society and American Lung Association (and what about the Asthma and Allergy organizations?) also have been mute to address and/or support the banning of wood burning. Wood smoke causes cancer and is deadly to people with lung problems. Heck, even healthy people are affected by wood smoke. The above organizations silence and their non-action is an insult to all that have supported them in the past.

Please visit this great website for additional information..
http://burningissues.org/car-www/index.html

Montreal moves to snuff out wood stoves

Montreal moves to snuff out wood stoves
As air quality deteriorates, city proposes law banning installation of new wood stoves

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/02/04/mtl-wood-stove-ban-0204.html

CBC News

Smog hangs over Montreal on a January day.Smog hangs over Montreal on a January day. (CBC) Montreal is poised to pass one of the strictest laws in the country regarding wood stoves midway through a winter marked by record high levels of winter smog.

The City of Montreal wants to ban citizens from installing a wood stove in new and existing residential homes. Stoves that burn wood pellets will still be permitted.

Winter smog is becoming a major public health problem for Montreal, said Alan DeSousa, the city's executive committee member in charge of sustainable development.

So far this winter, the smog has been so bad that Environment Canada has issued 25 smog warnings, the most of any year on record. Public health authorities say chimney smoke makes up half of the air pollution during the winter in Montreal.

"The health of Montrealers is our priority," said DeSousa in a statement Wednesday.

"With more than 50,000 stoves on our territory, the city is taking action by adopting a law that will contribute to the reduction of the number of premature deaths … [caused by] the quality of air that we breathe."

The Montreal public health department estimates burning a wood stove for nine hours is the equivalent of driving a midsize car for a year, or about 18,000 kilometres of driving.

Proposed law contains exceptions.

While traditional wood stoves will be banned from being installed in new and existing homes, the stoves will be allowed for restaurants and other businesses that do food preparation requiring a wood oven.

The law does not require citizens to remove existing wood stoves, as is the case in the town of Hampstead, Que., which has given residents seven years to convert their stoves to gas or remove them entirely.

'With more than 50,000 stoves on our territory, the city is taking action.'­ Alan DeSousa, city councillor

However, DeSousa is encouraging residents to reconsider their choice of material they burn.

"I invite Montrealers to think about replacing their combustible wood stoves with devices that are less harmful to their health, that of their family and their neighbours," said DeSousa.

The City of Montreal is also calling on the provincial and federal governments to assist with tax rebates to help citizens cover the cost of replacing or converting old wood stoves.

The proposed law will make a first appearance before city council on Feb. 23.

The city will then hold public hearings on the issue.

The popularity of wood stoves spiked on the island of Montreal after the 1998 ice storm, which left some areas of the province without power for day

Trespassing wood smoke a threat to health, safety

Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel
02/19/2009

Trespassing wood smoke a threat to health, safety

Since the Morning Sentinel did not see fit to have a reporter at the Oakland Town Council meeting on Feb. 11, I thought I would share some thoughts regarding the unsatisfactory outcome of that meeting.

Some residents of Oakland are being made miserable by wood smoke discharged in a residential area. The council denied authority to deal with the nuisance circumstance.

The nuisance wood smoke is a real threat to the health and safety of the residents to the west of the old Cascade mill. Unfortunately, it has not been treated as such by the town council or agencies of state, namely the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health and Human Services.

I was most impressed by the quality and seriousness of testimony by residents, one whose family had to abandon their home and another who can't do simple yard work and once even thought her house was on fire and the American Lung Association representative present.

That a clear and present danger exists from this smoke trespass is inarguable. The council seemed impatient with testimony and, in my opinion, did not grasp the seriousness of the issue or the desperate need for help of those people directly affected by the smoke.

We are all placed in danger when the agencies of our elected government chartered to protect us fail to act when needed in a timely manner.

Jim Easton

Oakland

See one reader comments below....

cracklinRose
Feb 19, 2009 9:41 PM
I will never understand the mentality of some people. Wood smoke is a danger to human health & the environment. It is a proven fact. Yet, the answers posted to this letter appear to be written by people who just like to read a letter and then inject their inane responses. How about learning some true facts before showing yourselves to be complete idiots?

If you were forced from your home, as I was, I bet you'd be singing another tune!
http://woodburnersmoke.net Look under photos & videos and tell me that you would put up with it?

Trespass of smoke is against the law as our neighbor has found out. So, go ahead & do like him and you won't be telling anyone to leave town...it will likely be you, broke and heading to the poor house!

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