Other cities taking action against wood smoke

OTHER CITIES TAKING ACTION AGAINST WOOD SMOKE

Saturday, 08 January 2011

Letter to the Editor
Lethbridge Herald
Alberta, Canada

Mr. Pushor (Nov. 24) and Mr. Forster (Dec. 18), have criticized the idea that the city should ensure everyone's right to breathe fresh, wood smoke-free air, in and around their own homes. But as Robert Smith's Dec. 4 letter points out, "It is a public health issue, just like smoking."

Dr. Mark Miller of Chico, Calif., in a news article on residential wood smoke, suggests that people should care about air quality, "because this is what a community does. They consider the health of everyone." ("Doctor knows firsthand the effects of smoke on lungs," www.centerforhealthreporting.org)

Numerous government, health, and air-quality organizations, including the Lung Association, explain that wood smoke contains harmful pollutants like fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins and furans, formaldehyde and acrolein. Even with air filters and closed windows, it can make the air seriously unhealthy, in the backyards, living rooms, and children's bedrooms, of nearby tobacco smoke-free homes.

An Internet search can also explain why some places have begun taking action. In the Wood Burning section of its official website, the City of Fort Collins, Colo., informs citizens: "The city recommends that you avoid using your fireplace or wood stove to protect the health of yourself and your neighbors." The city of Elmira, New York, is an example of places that protect the health and safety of residents, by prohibiting fire pits that are wood burning.

Residents of some California counties were asked to avoid burning wood this past Christmas, in order "to give the gift of clean air." ("Please don't burn wood this weekend, Bay Area air quality officials advise," www.mercurynews.com)

In 2009, Montreal banned new installations of wood stoves. I'd like to suggest that a bylaw like this could be, along with a ban on the recreational pollution of outdoor burning, an achievable way for our own city to prevent added smoke emissions, while aiming further to provide equally full protection, for all Lethbridge residents.

Hampstead, Que., set a high standard in 2008, with a strong bylaw banning wood-burning appliances. The town's mayor, William Steinberg, has expressed confidence that other communities will follow Hampstead's lead. ("Hampstead ban a burning issue--and a good call," www.themonitor.ca)

I remain hopeful that Lethbridge will become a leader on this issue, too.

Cathy Baiton
Lethbridge

Breathe At Your Own Risk!--Letter to the Editor

Breathe At Your Own Risk!

Letter to the Editor
London Free Press Website
369 York Street, P.O. Box 2280
London, Ontario N6A 4G1
Posted November 19, 2010

Breathe At Your Own Risk!

It surrounds us. It is a life necessity. We cannot survive without it. AIR! Yet, the message being sent by our Canadian Government is to Breathe at your own risk!

Small Particulate pollution (PM2.5) is destroying our health, quality of life and fragile environment. People suffer and die from the toxic effects of Woodsmoke Pollution. Canada is a burning Nation. Today a most needed bill C-311 was killed by the Harper Government. Once again the message being delivered by the Conservative Government is that the health and well being of Canadians falls into the abyss. Sadly, we become the canary in the cage being subjected to breathing more cancer causing chemicals each day.

The facts are alarming. The statistics shocking! In October, 2010, a statement was issued from environment ministers "Air Pollution has a huge impact on the environment, human health and the economy" said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Environment and Conservation, and CCME president.

A study released in 2008 calculated that the costs of illness caused by air pollution (exceeded) $8 billion (annually in Canada). "CCMC is the primary minister-led intergovernmental forum for collective action on environmental issues of national and international concern." The development of the major elements will begin in 2011. Implementation to improve air quality standards will begin in 2013. Meanwhile we become ill, suffer and die from particulate pollution in Canada.

Woodburning stoves, Woodburning fireplaces, pellet stoves, pellet plants, Biomass plants, all Woodburning devices, and all outdoor open air burning contribute to the toxic polluted air Canadians are breathing. All Woodburning must be banned, if not we continue to breathe at our own risk.

Scientific and medical evidence support the claim that Particulate Pollution and Woodsmoke Pollution are causing grave harm to our health and environment.

According to pediatrician, Dr. William Sammons, USA, biomass burning emits the most toxic chemicals known to science, including deadly dioxin, mercury, fine particulate matter and others. "These emissions cause asthma, heart disease, diabetes and other illness in children as well as adults, and should never qualify as the "cleanest" technology under our Clean Air Act," Dr. Sammons said. Over 77,000 doctors, the American Lung Association, Massachusetts Medical Society, North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians and others oppose burning biomass on health grounds.

Renowned global scientists and medical doctors concur and support the fact that biomass burning is contributing to our global warming. Biomass burning is a leading contributor to millions dying from the toxic cancer causing chemicals found in Woodsmoke.

It is long overdue that the Canadian Government becomes fully accountable for the mass suffering of millions of deaths each year from Woodsmoke related diseases, due to air quality and particulate pollution. Sadly the lack of efforts in leading our country toward cleaner air has become as toxic as the air we breathe.

We in Canada should not have to.....Breathe At Our Own Risk.

Written by....Linda Baker Beaudin, Air Is Precious, Cornwall, Ontario K6J 4P8

No room for apathy this summer--Canada

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

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

Neglecting air pollution could cripple health care-Canada

Neglecting air pollution could cripple health care
May 19, 2010
Alberta, Canada

The neglect of air quality in our cities and the consequent cost of treating pollution-related diseases could cripple our already strained health care system.

In a health and environmentally-conscious world it is unusual to find cities, such as those in Alberta, that have not adopted a single effective clean air initiative.

Remarkably, in Alberta urban air quality monitoring does not identify the source of air pollutants and several studies have shown that residents are most concerned about industrial pollution. In reality, the most dangerous sources of pollution are closer to home - the fumes from vehicles or a neighbour’s wood burning stove or fireplace.

Indoor air quality studies in the U.S. and Europe have also identified high levels of cancer-causing compounds in homes with a wood burning stove or fireplace.

To date, the most dangerously polluted places in the province are campgrounds where smoke levels have been monitored at levels that can cause pollution-related sickness severe enough to require hospitalization or even cause death from smoke inhalation.

To create a healthier society, the Europeans have adopted a variety of measures to reduce vehicle pollution. The most significant are emission testing programs to ensure that emission-reduction features are actually working. When these tests were done in Red Deer, enough vehicles had the emission reduction features removed or neglected to double the level of vehicle pollution. This neglect impacts public health, placing an unnecessary burden on the health care system.

In Britain, deaths caused by fireplace smoke, particularly the deaths of 4,000 Londoners in only five days in 1952, were the catalyst for their smoke-free cities program. However, politicians were also aware that the cost of treating the diseases caused by wood and coal smoke would severely strain their recently-introduced “free” health care system. Paying homeowners to convert from burning dirty fuels to clean natural gas was expensive but the costs were soon recovered in terms of reduced health care costs.

In the United States, with Universal Health Care on the horizon, the cost of treating the smoke diseases has come into sharper focus. In the San Francisco Bay area alone, with only 10% of the homes burning wood, to some degree, the cost of treating the smoke diseases is estimated at one billion dollars annually. Breaking down the statistics even further, one fireplace burning wood for one evening costs the health care system $40.

There are similar concerns, around the world. Taking Christchurch, New Zealand as an example, each low emission wood or coal burning appliance is estimated to cost the health care system $2,700 annually.

It is essential to be pro-active, as once fouled by wood smoke no North American city has cleaned up the air and it will take a future generation that cares for the environment for these cities to become healthy places in which to live. Unfortunately, with researchers crying wolf over finding traces of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals almost everywhere, concerns about wood smoke, the oldest known cause of cancer, lung and heart disease, are often regarded as just another baseless health scare. Wood, like tobacco, is a cellulose based plant material and for an overview of the health implications of breathing wood smoke one only has to read the health warnings on cigarette packages, or log on to www.burningissues.com.

For a healthier urban environment that will reduce the strain on the health care system, all Alberta’s cities have ever needed to do is to borrow ideas from the world’s more environmentally conscious urban centres. Addressing pollution caused by vehicles and residential wood-burning needs to be a priority.

The worst route any city can take is to rely on Canada’s new Urban Environment Health Index, which measures only a few simple chemicals in widely separated locations........ but that is another issue.

Alan Smith

Red Deer

Alan Smith is a former member of the Urban Environment Study Group of the Environment Council of Alberta, Canada.

Credit to..Red Deer Express website
http://www.reddeerexpress.com/article/20100519/EXP0904/305199994/-1/EXP/neglecting-air-pollution-could-cripple-health-care

Let’s speak up for right to breathe clean air-Canada

Let’s speak up for right to breathe clean air
Written by Cathy Baiton

"Lethbridge Herald" web site
Lethbridge, Alberta Canada

Thursday, 20 May 2010

Discussion about second-hand smoke in Alberta has been renewed amid a proposal to make shared outdoor spaces smoke-free, and a new local bylaw would ban smoking in or near city parks. But while it’s good that smoking has declined overall, smoke from residential wood burning has unfortunately become more common.

No less harmful than cigarette smoke, it’s also a form of air pollution that our city and province both need to start restricting. No jurisdiction can become mainly smoke-free if it allows non-essential wood-burning to go on, putting the health of those on the receiving end of drifting smoke at risk.

Recently, I heard from someone whose household has suffered from unwelcome wood smoke in the air, especially when frequent conditions like fog or cool, still air hold the pollution closer to the ground. They’ve had ongoing allergic responses and even episodes of respiratory distress because of the smoke that often comes into their own house.

To help preserve air quality and protect people from second-hand wood smoke, some places have made wood-burning fire pits illegal within municipal limits and also placed restrictions or bans on wood-burning appliances.

In our own city, although most public areas are now tobacco smoke-free, people in wood-burning neighbourhoods cannot avoid wood smoke right at home, if it’s travelling into their backyard or children’s outdoor play spaces, or seeping inside through furnace vents and even closed windows.

I’m sure many residents would consider the removal of unnecessary wood smoke pollution an essential part of helping to create a cleaner and greener Lethbridge — for the present and for future generations. Hopefully, we can look forward to living in a city and perhaps even a province where residents won’t have to breathe unwanted residential wood smoke, wherever they live, work, or are active outside.
It’s possible that if enough concerned citizens speak up for the right to breathe smoke-free air, it could help make a difference, for our health and for the air that belongs to all of us.


From: http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/194340/150/

Canadian Clean Air Alliance-website

Canadian Clean Air Alliance

Who are we?

We are Canadians that have come together to fight for the right to
breathe clean air in our house, yard and neighbourhoods.
We are against residential wood smoke and odour from all wood burning appliances - stoves, fireplaces, furnaces and all outdoor burning. We are against all wood burning pollution!

Mission Statement

Our intention is to educate the public about the grave health hazards to human life and the severe effects that wood burning has on global warming. We strive to protect Canadians from the health hazards, pollution, nuisance and interruption to normal daily life from all residential wood burning smoke and odour both indoors and outside.

We are the voice that will stand up for Canadians and work towards getting bylaws and bans in place to protect all of us from this grave health hazard.
"A voice in the dark is never heard until someone listens"

http://www.canadiancleanairalliance.ca/index.html

Visit this great website!

The Ideal Community

UNLESS otherwise noted, these letters are to be considered unedited. The opinions expressed in the letters and comments are those of the writers and not of The London Free Press.

The Ideal Community..almost. Some of us think about the community we live in and wonder if it is the ideal community, the best community, to raise our families and live our daily lives with safety, security, peace of mind, and has a healthy environment.

The ideal community could be an urban setting: the excitement of the city, museums, fine dining, shopping, and the night life. For others, it may be smaller communities, with quaint book shops, old cobblestone streets, exquisitely crafted churches, and a place where they actually know you by name, not a number.

But, in many communities, small or large, we do not have the safety and security of a healthy environment. Many of us live where we are assaulted by toxic emissions of deadly woodsmoke. Usually it is from an open burning. It could be from your neighbour next door who is using their outdoor wood burning fireplace or fire pit. What we do know is that woodsmoke is destroying the quality of our life. Deadly particulate matter (PM2.5) finds it ways into our homes and into our lungs attacking each of us and harming Everything around us. Our ideal community has become less than ideal. Woodsmoke is deadly and destructive.

There is only one way to bring about change. That is to ban woodsmoke in every community across Canada.

Never would you want to settle for anything less in your own community, nor would you place your children in harm's way, so why would you allow this danger from woodsmoke to take place? Take a stand now! Not only must our municipalities start to make this change, but so must we. We have a voice and our collective voices must be heard. End woodsmoke from destroying our community.

Air is Precious-New Canadian Coalition to fight wood smoke

Air is Precious

Note...This is a new coalition (August,2009) fighting wood smoke in Canada.

Contact....

airisprecious@gmail.com

Air is Precious
975 Brookdale Avenue
P.O. Box 22049
Cornwall, Ontario
K6J 4P5

MISSION STATEMENT: To end Woodsmoke in our communities and thus ensure we each have the right to breathe healthy air.


All I want to do is my very best to represent you and others fighting for the human right and common decency to breathe air without wood smoke. Air is Precious sincerely hopes, and I hope, what we can do here will at some point touch someone and make them realize and understand what a toxic issue this woodsmoke is to all.

None of us know how much time we have here on Earth, and I feel that is why it is so important to do our best each hour, to be kind, to show we care, to reach out to others, and want to try our very best in life. Those suffering from wood smoke need our help...now.

I only know one way to write and that is from my heart, from my honesty. I only want my efforts (with your help) to help save many from the ills of wood smoke. Sometimes a person can call from their own experiences to write, and then do. There is a different kind of connection with others. I know what wood smoke can do to a person, a family, a neighborhood.

From our small dining area, I look out to a nice patio area, all trees, flowers..calming. There are water fountains with that soothing sound, and in the fall it is simply breathtaking to see the carpet of yellow leaves. Because we are so closed in, that part has developed a micro climate of its own, so things stay greener longer. When all the leaves fall, it is truly so pretty, and I don't take them up. Not till the last, then compost them. In the winter we have Christmas lights all over in the back. Again, it is a pretty spot to look. It is very easy for me to write there. Sadly though, I also see the wood smoke there. What an odd mix...beauty, sky, trees. Then this killer plume of smoke drifts down.

I know this may not end for a long time (this end to woodsmoke), but I also know if I (and you) do not fight, then how will it ever stop? If I do not fight, then why should others do all the work for me. One day, I know in my heart, this unnecessary, unneeded, and unwanted wood smoke will end. Then people will be able to live their lives no longer in fear of wood smoke, but be able to breathe healthy air.

I will have the humble honour of saying one day, I knew these people, these other crusaders. I stood and did battle along side them. They gave me strength on bad days. They stood for goodness, courage, wisdom, and conviction. They saved the life of your child, your future grandchildren...and perhaps even themselves. They, of course, are you and me working to reach our goal of a wood smoke free environment.

I hope we are successful to reach our goal before I leave this Earth. But, if not, I will know that you joined and fought beside me, and battled to end woodsmoke in our communities. By doing so, we will ensure everybody has the human right and common decency to breathe air without wood smoke...and because the Air is Precious.


Contact....

airisprecious@gmail.com

Air is Precious
975 Brookdale Avenue
P.O. Box 22049
Cornwall, Ontario
K6J 4P5

A Plea to Canadian Councilors-Ban wood burning

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.