Thursday, May 05, 2011
Wood smoke is deadlier than tobacco smoke
We’re snuffing secondhand tobacco smoke in this country, while wood smoke, far more toxic and concentrated, has risen like the phoenix in its place. In most metro areas and neighborhoods where people live and breathe, wood burning has been condoned and promoted as fun, family-friendly, healthy to cook with, and good for the environment. Restaurant wood grills and back yard campfires churn out black carbon soot like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. But nothing could be farther from the truth.
Everything we know about tobacco smoke is true of wood smoke.
Wood smoke is comprised of miniscule particulates that are bundled with legions of the same hormone disrupting and cancer causing toxicants that are in tobacco smoke. They include lead, arsenic, mercury, formaldehyde, benzene, and dioxins, some of the most insidious chemicals known to man. They are also “bioaccumulative”, building up in the environment and human lungs over time, where they increasingly ravage our health and that of future generations.
A terrible public health hazard. While back yard campfires rage across America and the biomass industry pours trillions of daily pollutants into our air, more and more people are becoming chronically ill from wood smoke entering their lungs on a continuous basis. Wood smoke is a well- documented trigger for asthma attacks and premature death in people of all ages, as cited by the EPA and US Centers for Disease Control. Children, the elderly, and anyone with asthma, other lung diseases and heart disease are most at risk. Wood smoke is also implicated in cancer, reproductive birth defects, neurological diseases such as autism, and compromised immune systems, paving the way for other disorders.
Most states have inadequate regulations to help those who are chronically ill from wood smoke inhalation. There is nowhere people can go for help, although private lawsuits are on the rise.
Property rights, wood smoke and the ADA. The perils of wood smoke are not limited to health effects. Wood smoke violates most nuisance ordinances and the property rights of others to use and enjoy their property smoke free. Cities claim they cannot afford to enforce such ordinances, but it is time they pony up to their accessibility requirements, for one. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires cities to provide “access” to public spaces such as parks, streets and sidewalks to those with disabilities such as asthma. Public spaces should be free of severe respiratory irritants like wood smoke in order to accommodate this skyrocketing segment of the population. In a precedent-setting ADA case, an Iowa district court ordered the town of Mallard to ban outdoor wood burning, because the smoke prevented a child with severe asthma from accessing public spaces.
How to get involved. If you agree that wood smoke is the scourge of our cities and needs regulation, email info@takebacktheair.com or s.brandie@sympatico.ca and request to receive the monthly online Wood Smoke Activist Network newsletter for the US and Canada. We facilitate connections among people in various states for a larger “voice” toward wood smoke solutions in our local and national governments.
By Julie Mellum
Founder, Take Back the Air www.takebacktheair.com
Member, Clean Air Revival, www.burningissues.org
Co-Editor, The Wood Smoke Activist Network Newsletter s.brandie@sympatico.ca
Author’s “Bio”: Julie is a wood smoke activist in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with connections to others nation-wide who are also concerned with this emerging topic. A Realtor by trade, Julie has also researched wood smoke issues extensively for the past 10 years and founded Take Back the Air to help enlighten the public about the top most hazardous, yet vastly under-recognized air toxins in residential communities, starting in our own back yards.
Source: Blog for Clean Air
The official blog site for Clean Air Watch.
http://blogforcleanair.blogspot.com
Showing posts with label premature death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label premature death. Show all posts
Where there's smoke, there's trouble
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Where there's smoke, there's trouble
Excerpted from: Burlington County Times February 13, 2011
By: JO CIAVAGLIA
Where there is wood smoke, there is fire - as well as invisible toxins you could be inhaling.
A little soot exposure probably isn't harmful to most people, pulmonologists say, but a new Danish-led study suggests regular exposure could damage DNA.
Local doctors call the findings interesting, though the implications in the United States are unclear since wood-burning stoves and fireplaces are generally used only a few months of the year.
Short-term health effects of wood-smoke particles on people with airway problems are well-known, the doctors said, as are other potential health hazards such as carbon-monoxide gas buildup, which is also invisible and dangerous.
A decade ago, Dr. Ira Horowitz, a pulmonologist with Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, treated six patients whose respiratory illness was triggered by a major forest fire in Florida. A few drove through the area where the fire occurred, but others were bothered when winds carried the smoke hundreds of miles into South Jersey, Horowitz said.
"There is clearly a hazard with this," said Dr. Sandeep Dhand, chief pulmonologist at Holy Redeemer Medical Center in Abington, Pa. "It's a problem all around."
Wood-smoke particles are the fine powder containing mostly carbon, left after wood is burned.
Long-term exposure increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to equal that of a cigarette smoker, Dhand said. Recent medical literature has found that smoke from burning solid fuels like wood worsens respiratory diseases.
But since fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are used mostly during the fall and winter in most parts of the U.S., Dhand said wood-smoke particle exposure is more limited so it likely presents a lower lung cancer risk.
But some doctors said the latest study appearing last week in the American Chemical Society's journal, Chemical Research in Toxicology, raises new questions about potential long-term exposure. The study found the particles may cause negative health effects.
Considerable scientific evidence has linked inhaling fine particles of air pollution from car exhausts and coal-fired electric power plants and other sources to respiratory problems, cancer and heart disease, but little information exists about the same fine particles associated with burning wood.
In the study, scientists analyzed and compared airborne wood-smoke particles from the center of a Denmark village, where most residents used wood stoves, with a neighboring rural area with few wood stoves, as well as to pure wood-smoke particles collected from a wood stove.
Airborne particles in the village and pure wood-smoke particles tended to be the most potentially dangerous size - small enough to be inhaled into the deepest part of the lungs, where they could cause disease. Scientists also showed that the tiny particles damaged DNA when tested on human cells.
The scientists further found that wood-smoke particle matter contained higher levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which include "probable" human carcinogens. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are chemicals formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage or other substances, such as tobacco and charbroiled meat.
The wood-smoke particles were found to be as harmful as the small particles created by car exhaust and coal-burning plants, the study found.
About half of the world uses solid biomass fuels such as wood and coal for indoor heating and cooking. A number of studies have associated indoor solid fuel combustion with health problems, including low infant birth weight, and lung and eye problems in adults.
The American Lung Association warns that burning wood emits harmful toxins, such as dioxin, arsenic and formaldehyde, and fine particulates into the air that can worsen breathing problems and lead to heart and lung disease.
In 2008, the lung organization recommended replacing wood stoves manufactured before 1995 with ones certified by the Environmental Protection Agency that meet stricter emission standards. Modern wood stoves also burn off less particulate matter than older stoves.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching a representative with the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, the North American trade group for manufacturers, distributors and specialty retailers of all types of hearth appliances, fuels and accessories, including stoves and fireplace inserts.
But statistics on the group's website show a steady and, in some cases, dramatic decline in popularity of wood-burning equipment in the United States.
Shipments of fireplaces, free-standing wood stoves and inserts declined about 30 percent from a high of 795,767 in 1999 to 235,647 in 2009. Pellet stove and insert shipments showed a pattern of dramatic one-year increases and decreases over the last decade, but most recently experienced a 67 percent decrease between 2008 and 2009.
Air quality indoors can be worse than outdoors in the winter since people spend more time inside. Homes tend to be sealed up and, over time, pollutants can become concentrated, said Dr. Chris Christensen, a pulmonologist at Abington Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania. "Those conditions, where the airways are irritable on a good day, are made worse when it's indoors," Christensen said. "The idea that these could potentially be carcinogenic is something we never thought of being an issue. It's fascinating."
Currently there is no way to test for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wood-smoke particulate, so "it's a risk hanging out there," Christensen said. The potential long-term effects of hydrocarbons in wood-smoke particulate could possibly be the next asbestos situation, where the harmful health effects of exposure don't appear until decades later, Christensen said.
"I'm glad they are bringing attention to it," he added.
Source: The Wood Smoke Activist Network
April 2011 Newsletter
Web site: http://WoodBurnerSmoke.net
Excerpted from: Burlington County Times February 13, 2011
By: JO CIAVAGLIA
Where there is wood smoke, there is fire - as well as invisible toxins you could be inhaling.
A little soot exposure probably isn't harmful to most people, pulmonologists say, but a new Danish-led study suggests regular exposure could damage DNA.
Local doctors call the findings interesting, though the implications in the United States are unclear since wood-burning stoves and fireplaces are generally used only a few months of the year.
Short-term health effects of wood-smoke particles on people with airway problems are well-known, the doctors said, as are other potential health hazards such as carbon-monoxide gas buildup, which is also invisible and dangerous.
A decade ago, Dr. Ira Horowitz, a pulmonologist with Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, treated six patients whose respiratory illness was triggered by a major forest fire in Florida. A few drove through the area where the fire occurred, but others were bothered when winds carried the smoke hundreds of miles into South Jersey, Horowitz said.
"There is clearly a hazard with this," said Dr. Sandeep Dhand, chief pulmonologist at Holy Redeemer Medical Center in Abington, Pa. "It's a problem all around."
Wood-smoke particles are the fine powder containing mostly carbon, left after wood is burned.
Long-term exposure increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to equal that of a cigarette smoker, Dhand said. Recent medical literature has found that smoke from burning solid fuels like wood worsens respiratory diseases.
But since fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are used mostly during the fall and winter in most parts of the U.S., Dhand said wood-smoke particle exposure is more limited so it likely presents a lower lung cancer risk.
But some doctors said the latest study appearing last week in the American Chemical Society's journal, Chemical Research in Toxicology, raises new questions about potential long-term exposure. The study found the particles may cause negative health effects.
Considerable scientific evidence has linked inhaling fine particles of air pollution from car exhausts and coal-fired electric power plants and other sources to respiratory problems, cancer and heart disease, but little information exists about the same fine particles associated with burning wood.
In the study, scientists analyzed and compared airborne wood-smoke particles from the center of a Denmark village, where most residents used wood stoves, with a neighboring rural area with few wood stoves, as well as to pure wood-smoke particles collected from a wood stove.
Airborne particles in the village and pure wood-smoke particles tended to be the most potentially dangerous size - small enough to be inhaled into the deepest part of the lungs, where they could cause disease. Scientists also showed that the tiny particles damaged DNA when tested on human cells.
The scientists further found that wood-smoke particle matter contained higher levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which include "probable" human carcinogens. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are chemicals formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage or other substances, such as tobacco and charbroiled meat.
The wood-smoke particles were found to be as harmful as the small particles created by car exhaust and coal-burning plants, the study found.
About half of the world uses solid biomass fuels such as wood and coal for indoor heating and cooking. A number of studies have associated indoor solid fuel combustion with health problems, including low infant birth weight, and lung and eye problems in adults.
The American Lung Association warns that burning wood emits harmful toxins, such as dioxin, arsenic and formaldehyde, and fine particulates into the air that can worsen breathing problems and lead to heart and lung disease.
In 2008, the lung organization recommended replacing wood stoves manufactured before 1995 with ones certified by the Environmental Protection Agency that meet stricter emission standards. Modern wood stoves also burn off less particulate matter than older stoves.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching a representative with the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, the North American trade group for manufacturers, distributors and specialty retailers of all types of hearth appliances, fuels and accessories, including stoves and fireplace inserts.
But statistics on the group's website show a steady and, in some cases, dramatic decline in popularity of wood-burning equipment in the United States.
Shipments of fireplaces, free-standing wood stoves and inserts declined about 30 percent from a high of 795,767 in 1999 to 235,647 in 2009. Pellet stove and insert shipments showed a pattern of dramatic one-year increases and decreases over the last decade, but most recently experienced a 67 percent decrease between 2008 and 2009.
Air quality indoors can be worse than outdoors in the winter since people spend more time inside. Homes tend to be sealed up and, over time, pollutants can become concentrated, said Dr. Chris Christensen, a pulmonologist at Abington Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania. "Those conditions, where the airways are irritable on a good day, are made worse when it's indoors," Christensen said. "The idea that these could potentially be carcinogenic is something we never thought of being an issue. It's fascinating."
Currently there is no way to test for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wood-smoke particulate, so "it's a risk hanging out there," Christensen said. The potential long-term effects of hydrocarbons in wood-smoke particulate could possibly be the next asbestos situation, where the harmful health effects of exposure don't appear until decades later, Christensen said.
"I'm glad they are bringing attention to it," he added.
Source: The Wood Smoke Activist Network
April 2011 Newsletter
Web site: http://WoodBurnerSmoke.net
Wood Smoke and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Wood Smoke and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Wood smoke pollution is blanketing our nation with its caustic fumes, depriving citizens of their property rights to use and enjoy their property smoke-free. And it is not just a nuisance--it is a severe public health hazard. Asthma is epidemic and is the number one reason for school absenteeism. How can it be that while tobacco smoke is now banished from most bars and restaurants, nothing is being done about wood smoke? It is chemically similar to tobacco smoke, but is far more concentrated and travels farther. Yet despite indoor smoking bans, our public officials are not protecting public health. They are "selling out" to lobbyists from the wood burning industry, rather than upholding our basic right to breathe clean air.
Wood smoke is implicated not only in asthma attacks and heart attacks, but in premature death in people of all ages. It is especially harmful to children and those with heart or lung disease and other disabilities such as autism and diabetes. Wood smoke, in fact, when it interferes with the ability of citizens with disabilities to use public spaces, may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This civil rights legislation guarantees people with disabilities, such as asthma, "access" to public spaces, including city parks, streets and sidewalks. An Iowa District Court in 2003, in fact, ordered the town of Mallard to stop allowing wood burning, because wood smoke presented a "physical barrier" to a small child with severe asthma that prevented her from using public spaces.
Therefore it is up to us, who are the most bothered by wood smoke, to begin a bold new campaign based on why wood smoke violates ADA Guidelines. We must talk it up at every opportunity and let our city governments, mayors, state and national legislators, schools and local health departments know that:
1. Wood smoke presents a physical barrier to people with disabilities like asthma, because it prevents access to public spaces like city streets, parks and sidewalks.
2. That residential wood smoke from outdoor recreational fires, indoor fireplaces and restaurant wood grills are a substantial source of fine particle pollution, which is a health hazard for all citizens.
3. With increasing disabilities, especially in children, it is paramount that cities adopt ADA guidelines that remove wood smoke as a barrier to the use of public spaces by all citizens.
In addition, email the national "Access Board" about the need for eradicating wood smoke barriers for those with disabilities: http://www.access-board.gov/transit/)>http://www.access-board.gov/tran.
To join with others toward this goal, please contact info@takebacktheair.com.
Julie Mellum
President, Take Back the Air www.takebacktheair.com
Minneapolis, MN
Source: The Wood Smoke Activist
January 2011 Newsletter
web site: http://WoodBurnerSmoke.net
Wood smoke pollution is blanketing our nation with its caustic fumes, depriving citizens of their property rights to use and enjoy their property smoke-free. And it is not just a nuisance--it is a severe public health hazard. Asthma is epidemic and is the number one reason for school absenteeism. How can it be that while tobacco smoke is now banished from most bars and restaurants, nothing is being done about wood smoke? It is chemically similar to tobacco smoke, but is far more concentrated and travels farther. Yet despite indoor smoking bans, our public officials are not protecting public health. They are "selling out" to lobbyists from the wood burning industry, rather than upholding our basic right to breathe clean air.
Wood smoke is implicated not only in asthma attacks and heart attacks, but in premature death in people of all ages. It is especially harmful to children and those with heart or lung disease and other disabilities such as autism and diabetes. Wood smoke, in fact, when it interferes with the ability of citizens with disabilities to use public spaces, may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This civil rights legislation guarantees people with disabilities, such as asthma, "access" to public spaces, including city parks, streets and sidewalks. An Iowa District Court in 2003, in fact, ordered the town of Mallard to stop allowing wood burning, because wood smoke presented a "physical barrier" to a small child with severe asthma that prevented her from using public spaces.
Therefore it is up to us, who are the most bothered by wood smoke, to begin a bold new campaign based on why wood smoke violates ADA Guidelines. We must talk it up at every opportunity and let our city governments, mayors, state and national legislators, schools and local health departments know that:
1. Wood smoke presents a physical barrier to people with disabilities like asthma, because it prevents access to public spaces like city streets, parks and sidewalks.
2. That residential wood smoke from outdoor recreational fires, indoor fireplaces and restaurant wood grills are a substantial source of fine particle pollution, which is a health hazard for all citizens.
3. With increasing disabilities, especially in children, it is paramount that cities adopt ADA guidelines that remove wood smoke as a barrier to the use of public spaces by all citizens.
In addition, email the national "Access Board" about the need for eradicating wood smoke barriers for those with disabilities: http://www.access-board.gov/transit/)>http://www.access-board.gov/tran.
To join with others toward this goal, please contact info@takebacktheair.com.
Julie Mellum
President, Take Back the Air www.takebacktheair.com
Minneapolis, MN
Source: The Wood Smoke Activist
January 2011 Newsletter
web site: http://WoodBurnerSmoke.net
Black Rose......and an Obituary--R.I.P.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Black Rose......and an Obituary-R.I.P.
The Black Rose……International Symbol of Woodsmoke Destruction
The Black Rose, the International symbol of Woodsmoke Destruction will bring attention to the eyes of the world the visual realization of the deadly impact of the suffering, death and destruction that Woodsmoke Pollution has made on our planet.
The Black Rose represents millions of lives world-wide that have died from Woodsmoke-related diseases. Adopt the Black Rose as your International symbol of suffering from World-Wide Woodsmoke pollution.
The Black Rose symbolizes the endless hours of relentless suffering endured by those who live in areas with OWBs (Outdoor Woodboilers), Woodburning fireplaces, Woodburning stoves, pellet stoves, outdoor open air burning and all biomass burning.
The Black Rose represents the black smoke from garbage, debris, painted wood, and other toxic material/wood that is burned in fire pits, fire rings, chimeneas, outdoor fireplaces and all Woodburning devices. Sadly, this continues to be sanctioned, condoned and enabled by our leaders and government everywhere.
The Black Rose symbolizes the black tires, toxic Railroad ties, C&D (construction and debris) and other deadly toxic materials that are burned in incinerators in many communities as biomass.
The Black Rose represents the toxic black soot that is found on Woodburning chimneys and the Black Carbon Soot that is destroying our precious, fragile environment.
Asthma, COPD, Cancer, Stroke, SIDs, Cardiovascular, Cardiopulmonary, respiratory and other related diseases are associated with Woodsmoke.
Demand that proactive action be taken to prohibit all Woodburning in every community. Advocate for the right and common decency for every human to be able to breathe healthy air-Woodsmoke-free.
Do not remain silent about a deadly poison that is killing you….Woodsmoke. There is no room for leaders who show complacency, apathy, uncaring, disrespect or disregard about a deadly, toxic issue such as Woodsmoke when your life is being assaulted and threatened.
Send a Black Rose to your city board members, trustees, council members, mayors, representatives, congressmen and women, President, Prime Minister, elected leaders, members of parliament, government and all others who have neglected to fulfil their fiduciary duty to protect all citizens from the deadly effects of Woodsmoke, and who have not yet taken immediate action to prohibit all Woodburning in every city and community.
Send a Black Rose on your letterhead by way of a stamp and ink pad, photo copy, fresh rose, a photo, a painting, a tinted black rose, an artificial black rose. Send IT! Share the story of the Black Rose with others world-wide. Make the Black Rose become your story!
Demand that immediate proactive action be taken by all leaders to ban all outdoor open air burning in every community. Demand that regulations be implemented to phase out the use of all Woodburning devices and biomass burning in every community.
Remember that negligent leaders are a deadly threat to your life and health. Give a Black Rose to show your disapproval of their lack of action, concern, compassion, regard, decency and moral obligation to end Woodsmoke in our world.
By: Anonymous
OBITUARY: DEATH FROM WOODSMOKE
They tried and tried to end the Woodsmoke
It ruined their life and it made them choke
It made them sad and made them weary
It left them broken and left them teary
For those who don’t believe this crime
Help for millions never came on time
Their death resulted in neglect
From the many leaders and their disrespect
They lived their dash and they lived it well
Warning others about the Woodsmoke Hell
Of Woodsmoke and its destructive tale
It’s waiting for you and will impale
Your life on its plume and toxic trail
So heed their warning and heed their call
End Woodsmoke soon for one and all
If not, you’ll end up dead of course
With great sadness and remorse
R.I.P. Death By Woodsmoke!
By: Anonymous
The "living" Obituary, written by Anonymous who is suffering and dying due to woodsmoke, should be a wake-up call to all elected officials who sit quietly, apathetically, and take no action to end woodsmoke. Elected officials who are doing nothing to end poisonous, deadly woodsmoke are leaving a legacy of inaction they should be ashamed of because they could have ended woodsmoke pollution with legislation...but, they did not!
Also, all people that are suffering from woodsmoke in their neighborhood and home should take action too, and inform their local elected officials to ban woodsmoke. Unless you take action now, many loved ones will continue to become sick, and die from woodsmoke emissions.
The Black Rose……International Symbol of Woodsmoke Destruction
The Black Rose, the International symbol of Woodsmoke Destruction will bring attention to the eyes of the world the visual realization of the deadly impact of the suffering, death and destruction that Woodsmoke Pollution has made on our planet.
The Black Rose represents millions of lives world-wide that have died from Woodsmoke-related diseases. Adopt the Black Rose as your International symbol of suffering from World-Wide Woodsmoke pollution.
The Black Rose symbolizes the endless hours of relentless suffering endured by those who live in areas with OWBs (Outdoor Woodboilers), Woodburning fireplaces, Woodburning stoves, pellet stoves, outdoor open air burning and all biomass burning.
The Black Rose represents the black smoke from garbage, debris, painted wood, and other toxic material/wood that is burned in fire pits, fire rings, chimeneas, outdoor fireplaces and all Woodburning devices. Sadly, this continues to be sanctioned, condoned and enabled by our leaders and government everywhere.
The Black Rose symbolizes the black tires, toxic Railroad ties, C&D (construction and debris) and other deadly toxic materials that are burned in incinerators in many communities as biomass.
The Black Rose represents the toxic black soot that is found on Woodburning chimneys and the Black Carbon Soot that is destroying our precious, fragile environment.
Asthma, COPD, Cancer, Stroke, SIDs, Cardiovascular, Cardiopulmonary, respiratory and other related diseases are associated with Woodsmoke.
Demand that proactive action be taken to prohibit all Woodburning in every community. Advocate for the right and common decency for every human to be able to breathe healthy air-Woodsmoke-free.
Do not remain silent about a deadly poison that is killing you….Woodsmoke. There is no room for leaders who show complacency, apathy, uncaring, disrespect or disregard about a deadly, toxic issue such as Woodsmoke when your life is being assaulted and threatened.
Send a Black Rose to your city board members, trustees, council members, mayors, representatives, congressmen and women, President, Prime Minister, elected leaders, members of parliament, government and all others who have neglected to fulfil their fiduciary duty to protect all citizens from the deadly effects of Woodsmoke, and who have not yet taken immediate action to prohibit all Woodburning in every city and community.
Send a Black Rose on your letterhead by way of a stamp and ink pad, photo copy, fresh rose, a photo, a painting, a tinted black rose, an artificial black rose. Send IT! Share the story of the Black Rose with others world-wide. Make the Black Rose become your story!
Demand that immediate proactive action be taken by all leaders to ban all outdoor open air burning in every community. Demand that regulations be implemented to phase out the use of all Woodburning devices and biomass burning in every community.
Remember that negligent leaders are a deadly threat to your life and health. Give a Black Rose to show your disapproval of their lack of action, concern, compassion, regard, decency and moral obligation to end Woodsmoke in our world.
By: Anonymous
OBITUARY: DEATH FROM WOODSMOKE
They tried and tried to end the Woodsmoke
It ruined their life and it made them choke
It made them sad and made them weary
It left them broken and left them teary
For those who don’t believe this crime
Help for millions never came on time
Their death resulted in neglect
From the many leaders and their disrespect
They lived their dash and they lived it well
Warning others about the Woodsmoke Hell
Of Woodsmoke and its destructive tale
It’s waiting for you and will impale
Your life on its plume and toxic trail
So heed their warning and heed their call
End Woodsmoke soon for one and all
If not, you’ll end up dead of course
With great sadness and remorse
R.I.P. Death By Woodsmoke!
By: Anonymous
The "living" Obituary, written by Anonymous who is suffering and dying due to woodsmoke, should be a wake-up call to all elected officials who sit quietly, apathetically, and take no action to end woodsmoke. Elected officials who are doing nothing to end poisonous, deadly woodsmoke are leaving a legacy of inaction they should be ashamed of because they could have ended woodsmoke pollution with legislation...but, they did not!
Also, all people that are suffering from woodsmoke in their neighborhood and home should take action too, and inform their local elected officials to ban woodsmoke. Unless you take action now, many loved ones will continue to become sick, and die from woodsmoke emissions.
Fighting For Fresh Air
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Letter to the Editor
Tasmanian Times
1-31-11
Fighting For Fresh Air
Fighting for fresh air isn’t anything you would imagine millions would face each day in our Canadian communities. Yet, sadly that is what we do. Each day families face the toxic assault from Woodsmoke pollution in their community. Children and adults struggle daily to breathe air that is permeated and saturated with Woodsmoke emissions. The toxic cancer causing chemicals found in Woodsmoke are in the most minuscule of crevices in every home. You cannot keep Woodsmoke from entering your home. Millions suffer, many become ill and die from Woodsmoke.
In the past people also fought for their right and common decency to breathe healthy air-tobacco-smoke free. Proponents of the tobacco industry encouraged millions to smoke. The tragic results were that millions died. The legacy left behind were millions who suffered from Cancer, COPD and other tobacco related smoking diseases. We are greatly indebted to the caring souls who fought for the rights of others to see that tobacco smoking was prohibited in schools, restaurants, hospitals, planes, parks, playgrounds, and vehicles that had children in them and other venues. Millions of lives have been saved. But sadly, bans came too late for millions and millions who died.
A powerful quote from Mahatma Gandhi describes the strength it took for those who so valiantly fought for each of us to have the right to breathe air free of Tobacco smoke. “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win”. The wise words from Mahatma Gandhi are filled with truth, courage and inspiration. These words described what activists faced then fighting for Tobacco Bans and what people face now for Woodsmoke-free air to breathe and banning Woodsmoke.
World-renowned Scientists and Doctors concur that Woodsmoke Pollution is killing us and is linked to Asthma, Cancer, COPD, SIDS, Cardiovascular, Cardiopulmonary and other diseases. Those who know the daily struggle of trying to breathe Woodsmoke filled air know that we too are being ignored. We too are being ridiculed. We too are being attacked. But, what we know is that we too will win this battle, just as it was won with Tobacco smoke being banned everywhere.
Communities across Canada must become informed, educated and concerned about the grave danger of Toxic Woodsmoke Pollution. Our leaders must recognize that ridicule is borne from ignorance and intolerance. Our leaders must adopt by-laws to ban all outdoor open air burning in every Province. Regulations must be implemented to phase out the use of all Woodburning stoves, Woodburning fireplaces, OWBs (outdoor woodboilers) and pellet stoves. New home building codes must exclude all Woodburning devices.
Fighting for fresh air must become part of our past. Being able to breathe healthy air-Woodsmoke-free must become our future. Take action today to ban Woodsmoke. Speak up. Follow the wise words of Gandhi: We will be ignored…but not for long! We will be ridiculed…but not for long! We will be assaulted…but not for long! But then, we will win!
Linda Beaudin
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
Source:
Tasmanian Times.com
1-31-11
Tasmanian Times
1-31-11
Fighting For Fresh Air
Fighting for fresh air isn’t anything you would imagine millions would face each day in our Canadian communities. Yet, sadly that is what we do. Each day families face the toxic assault from Woodsmoke pollution in their community. Children and adults struggle daily to breathe air that is permeated and saturated with Woodsmoke emissions. The toxic cancer causing chemicals found in Woodsmoke are in the most minuscule of crevices in every home. You cannot keep Woodsmoke from entering your home. Millions suffer, many become ill and die from Woodsmoke.
In the past people also fought for their right and common decency to breathe healthy air-tobacco-smoke free. Proponents of the tobacco industry encouraged millions to smoke. The tragic results were that millions died. The legacy left behind were millions who suffered from Cancer, COPD and other tobacco related smoking diseases. We are greatly indebted to the caring souls who fought for the rights of others to see that tobacco smoking was prohibited in schools, restaurants, hospitals, planes, parks, playgrounds, and vehicles that had children in them and other venues. Millions of lives have been saved. But sadly, bans came too late for millions and millions who died.
A powerful quote from Mahatma Gandhi describes the strength it took for those who so valiantly fought for each of us to have the right to breathe air free of Tobacco smoke. “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win”. The wise words from Mahatma Gandhi are filled with truth, courage and inspiration. These words described what activists faced then fighting for Tobacco Bans and what people face now for Woodsmoke-free air to breathe and banning Woodsmoke.
World-renowned Scientists and Doctors concur that Woodsmoke Pollution is killing us and is linked to Asthma, Cancer, COPD, SIDS, Cardiovascular, Cardiopulmonary and other diseases. Those who know the daily struggle of trying to breathe Woodsmoke filled air know that we too are being ignored. We too are being ridiculed. We too are being attacked. But, what we know is that we too will win this battle, just as it was won with Tobacco smoke being banned everywhere.
Communities across Canada must become informed, educated and concerned about the grave danger of Toxic Woodsmoke Pollution. Our leaders must recognize that ridicule is borne from ignorance and intolerance. Our leaders must adopt by-laws to ban all outdoor open air burning in every Province. Regulations must be implemented to phase out the use of all Woodburning stoves, Woodburning fireplaces, OWBs (outdoor woodboilers) and pellet stoves. New home building codes must exclude all Woodburning devices.
Fighting for fresh air must become part of our past. Being able to breathe healthy air-Woodsmoke-free must become our future. Take action today to ban Woodsmoke. Speak up. Follow the wise words of Gandhi: We will be ignored…but not for long! We will be ridiculed…but not for long! We will be assaulted…but not for long! But then, we will win!
Linda Beaudin
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
Source:
Tasmanian Times.com
1-31-11
Hearts and Hearth....A Deadly Combination
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Hearts and Hearth....A Deadly Combination
Letters to the Editor
Simcoe Reformer
Hearts and Hearth are a deadly combination. As we acknowledge the importance of February as Heart Month, we are made aware of the role that our environment plays in our heart health. Scientists and Doctors world wide concur that Wood smoke pollution has a grave impact in relationship to our heart health. Wood burning stoves, Wood burning fireplaces, OWBS, pellet stoves, all outdoor open air burning and biomass burning are a threat to our heart.
Millions in Canada suffer from heart disease. Breathing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can very quickly affect the rhythm of our heart. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation “Short and long-term exposure to air pollution are estimated to have resulted in 21,000 premature deaths in Canada in 2008 as well as 11,000 hospital admissions.”
“Heart attacks, heart failure and stroke make up an estimated 42 to 69% of deaths and 60% of the hospital admissions linked to poor air quality.”
“When we breathe, we inhale air pollution particles that are carried to the lungs where, says Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher Dr. Stephan van Eeden, they induce inflammation in the lung tissues. This inflammation spills over into the bloodstream and inflames blood vessels, which allows cholesterol and other substances to easily build up, a condition known as atherosclerosis—one of the main causes of heart attacks and stroke”
Wood smoke emissions from residential chimneys and all Wood burning contribute to the polluted air that gravely affects our heart health making millions suffer, become ill and die from Wood smoke related heart disease. Everyone suffers from breathing Wood smoke
Make this February the month you become informed about the deadly toxins found in Wood smoke. Make this the month that you wisely take action to inform and educate others about the grave dangers that Wood smoke pollution plays in your community.
We only have one heart. Why allow Wood smoke Pollution to destroy its perfect performance? We should not. By prohibiting all Wood burning in our communities we can assure that we will live longer, have healthier hearts and enjoy a better quality of life.
Hearts and Hearth are a deadly combination. Protect your heart by breathing healthy air—Wood smoke-free. What better time to take action to ban all Wood smoke than the month of February…Heart Month.
By Linda Baker Beaudin
Air Is Precious
Source: Simcoe Reformer
50 Gilbertson Drive
Simcoe
N3Y 4L2
Webmaster: Ban all woodsmoke. Do that for yourself...and for your heart!
Letters to the Editor
Simcoe Reformer
Hearts and Hearth are a deadly combination. As we acknowledge the importance of February as Heart Month, we are made aware of the role that our environment plays in our heart health. Scientists and Doctors world wide concur that Wood smoke pollution has a grave impact in relationship to our heart health. Wood burning stoves, Wood burning fireplaces, OWBS, pellet stoves, all outdoor open air burning and biomass burning are a threat to our heart.
Millions in Canada suffer from heart disease. Breathing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can very quickly affect the rhythm of our heart. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation “Short and long-term exposure to air pollution are estimated to have resulted in 21,000 premature deaths in Canada in 2008 as well as 11,000 hospital admissions.”
“Heart attacks, heart failure and stroke make up an estimated 42 to 69% of deaths and 60% of the hospital admissions linked to poor air quality.”
“When we breathe, we inhale air pollution particles that are carried to the lungs where, says Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher Dr. Stephan van Eeden, they induce inflammation in the lung tissues. This inflammation spills over into the bloodstream and inflames blood vessels, which allows cholesterol and other substances to easily build up, a condition known as atherosclerosis—one of the main causes of heart attacks and stroke”
Wood smoke emissions from residential chimneys and all Wood burning contribute to the polluted air that gravely affects our heart health making millions suffer, become ill and die from Wood smoke related heart disease. Everyone suffers from breathing Wood smoke
Make this February the month you become informed about the deadly toxins found in Wood smoke. Make this the month that you wisely take action to inform and educate others about the grave dangers that Wood smoke pollution plays in your community.
We only have one heart. Why allow Wood smoke Pollution to destroy its perfect performance? We should not. By prohibiting all Wood burning in our communities we can assure that we will live longer, have healthier hearts and enjoy a better quality of life.
Hearts and Hearth are a deadly combination. Protect your heart by breathing healthy air—Wood smoke-free. What better time to take action to ban all Wood smoke than the month of February…Heart Month.
By Linda Baker Beaudin
Air Is Precious
Source: Simcoe Reformer
50 Gilbertson Drive
Simcoe
N3Y 4L2
Webmaster: Ban all woodsmoke. Do that for yourself...and for your heart!
Grief of Time Lost----Poem----Anonymous
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Grief of Time Lost
Heavy hearted and filled with toxic Woodsmoke
The small weakened child began to choke
The days grew long and the sky was grey
The weakened child could not play
He watched from inside looking out
He could not call, he could not shout
His lungs were filled with the heavy smoke
His lungs were filled as he began to choke
The darkened sky and the Mothers tears
Confirmed the worst of any Mothers fears
Her child was dying from smothering smoke
Her child had suffered from deadly Woodsmoke
It filled all the cities and it filled all the towns
It filled all the rooms and amused all the clowns
Who doubted and laughed and mocked and denied
The horror, the sorrow of all the sad cries
That echoed so deeply from mountain to vale
That left all the people dead in its trail
Of the deadly dark plumes and the toxins that filled
All the suffering and sorrow and all those it killed
Grief of time lost never again to be found
Not in life, not in death, not in tears, and not on the mound
Of the child that was buried on the sorrow filled day
Oh the child, sweet child that died in that May
And the trees bowed in reverence to pay their respect
For the child that died from the leaders neglect
But the Woodsmoke continued to cover the towns
The Woodsmoke brought death and sorrow and frowns
More children were buried and more parents did weep
They mourned in the daytime and they mourned in their sleep
But the Woodsmoke continued and the clowns they did dance
Till the Reverend came forth from his home in the Manse
And pleaded with leaders to end all the hell
So children could laugh and so children could yell
So children could play and love and live life
Free of suffering from Woodsmoke and all the strife
Oh think of the children and his eyes filled with tears
And he raged with anger and his soul filled with fear
If you do not stop this and end all of this smoke
More children will die and more children will choke
The clowns hung their heads and considered his thought
But we want the money and we can be bought
For a price and a slice of the cake or the pie
Then they turned their backs and avoided his eyes
And the raven stood silent and bluebird did weep
No Robin called and no sweet sparrow cheeped.
The rain fell from the sky like a soul in despair
And the Reverend was saddened by the smoke in the air
That had killed all the children and taken their life
While the clowns neglected Father, Child and wife
And the silence was deafening without the bird call
No children did skip, or play with a ball
Their bodies were weakened and filled with such pain
While the clowns counted money and added their gains
Oh the sorrow and grief of time lost now becomes clear
That life has no value to the clowns and their peers
The greed filled their pockets and their laugher was heard
No sorrow, no sadness, no repentance or word
And the tall willows did weep and the wings did not flutter
No joy filled the hearts and no sweet songs were uttered
The birds flocked at the graves and bowed their sweet heads
To honor the living but pay respect to the dead
The world became silent without the sound of birdcall
The world became silent as each child did fall
To their death from the Woodsmoke and such sad neglect
No sorrow, no protection and not even respect
But in time the clowns toppled each one by one
And the gains they had made were burned by the sun
The fires that raged all out of control, no trees could be found
No birds and no souls
The greed and the sorrow and grief of time lost
All mankind did pay and oh what a cost.
Anonymous
Webmaster...The writer of the above sincere, caring, and oh so true poem wishes to remain anonymous. We thank the writer for this heartfelt and beautiful poem.
Elected officials and leaders in our towns and communities need to adopt laws to ban woodsmoke to save our children, and ourself too. We also should speak-up and take action to end the horror and death caused by woodsmoke where we live. If not, the legacy we leave will be that we let others harm and kill our children, and we did nothing. Is that the legacy you want? Don't be passive about ending woodsmoke. If we do nothing, as the poem above says...."All mankind did pay and oh what a cost".......our children!
Heavy hearted and filled with toxic Woodsmoke
The small weakened child began to choke
The days grew long and the sky was grey
The weakened child could not play
He watched from inside looking out
He could not call, he could not shout
His lungs were filled with the heavy smoke
His lungs were filled as he began to choke
The darkened sky and the Mothers tears
Confirmed the worst of any Mothers fears
Her child was dying from smothering smoke
Her child had suffered from deadly Woodsmoke
It filled all the cities and it filled all the towns
It filled all the rooms and amused all the clowns
Who doubted and laughed and mocked and denied
The horror, the sorrow of all the sad cries
That echoed so deeply from mountain to vale
That left all the people dead in its trail
Of the deadly dark plumes and the toxins that filled
All the suffering and sorrow and all those it killed
Grief of time lost never again to be found
Not in life, not in death, not in tears, and not on the mound
Of the child that was buried on the sorrow filled day
Oh the child, sweet child that died in that May
And the trees bowed in reverence to pay their respect
For the child that died from the leaders neglect
But the Woodsmoke continued to cover the towns
The Woodsmoke brought death and sorrow and frowns
More children were buried and more parents did weep
They mourned in the daytime and they mourned in their sleep
But the Woodsmoke continued and the clowns they did dance
Till the Reverend came forth from his home in the Manse
And pleaded with leaders to end all the hell
So children could laugh and so children could yell
So children could play and love and live life
Free of suffering from Woodsmoke and all the strife
Oh think of the children and his eyes filled with tears
And he raged with anger and his soul filled with fear
If you do not stop this and end all of this smoke
More children will die and more children will choke
The clowns hung their heads and considered his thought
But we want the money and we can be bought
For a price and a slice of the cake or the pie
Then they turned their backs and avoided his eyes
And the raven stood silent and bluebird did weep
No Robin called and no sweet sparrow cheeped.
The rain fell from the sky like a soul in despair
And the Reverend was saddened by the smoke in the air
That had killed all the children and taken their life
While the clowns neglected Father, Child and wife
And the silence was deafening without the bird call
No children did skip, or play with a ball
Their bodies were weakened and filled with such pain
While the clowns counted money and added their gains
Oh the sorrow and grief of time lost now becomes clear
That life has no value to the clowns and their peers
The greed filled their pockets and their laugher was heard
No sorrow, no sadness, no repentance or word
And the tall willows did weep and the wings did not flutter
No joy filled the hearts and no sweet songs were uttered
The birds flocked at the graves and bowed their sweet heads
To honor the living but pay respect to the dead
The world became silent without the sound of birdcall
The world became silent as each child did fall
To their death from the Woodsmoke and such sad neglect
No sorrow, no protection and not even respect
But in time the clowns toppled each one by one
And the gains they had made were burned by the sun
The fires that raged all out of control, no trees could be found
No birds and no souls
The greed and the sorrow and grief of time lost
All mankind did pay and oh what a cost.
Anonymous
Webmaster...The writer of the above sincere, caring, and oh so true poem wishes to remain anonymous. We thank the writer for this heartfelt and beautiful poem.
Elected officials and leaders in our towns and communities need to adopt laws to ban woodsmoke to save our children, and ourself too. We also should speak-up and take action to end the horror and death caused by woodsmoke where we live. If not, the legacy we leave will be that we let others harm and kill our children, and we did nothing. Is that the legacy you want? Don't be passive about ending woodsmoke. If we do nothing, as the poem above says...."All mankind did pay and oh what a cost".......our children!
Mother Earth------Woodsmoke Poem
Saturday, January 8, 2011
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
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
Where there's smoke, there's pollution!!!!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Source:
bclocalnews.com
Canada)
Published: October 31, 2010 6:00 AM
The Editor,
Port Coquitlam residents are invited to participate in molding a greener, futuristic view of our city.
Improving neighbourhood air quality would be a vital step to going green.
Air quality differs from one residential area to another. Poor neighbourhood air quality is noted in areas where wood-burning fireplaces exist. Fireplaces are a very uncontrolled source of air pollution, according to a professor in UBC's School of Environmental Health.
Wood smoke poses a health threat to wood stove and fireplace users and to their neighbours, states Washington State Department of Ecology. Emissions from one chimney can foul the air of all the surrounding neighbours and present health hazards.
How informed people are about these health hazards contained in wood smoke emissions is a guess. Many individuals do not relate a scratchy throat (or the "not quite feeling right") to wood-smoke. Are people aware that these symptoms could be the beginning of a serious condition related to wood-smoke emissions?
BCLA has a list of these conditions and claims that wood-smoke is linked to asthma, respiratory conditions, lung and heart problems, including cancer.
Government wants to improve air quality but has no jurisdiction over communities as far as a ban on wood-burning fireplaces is concerned; that power lies in the hands of municipal leaders.
For council and environment enhancement committee to implement a no-burning bylaw should not depend on how many people are complaining but needs to be based on the fact that too many people’s health will be affected if a ban does not take place.
Brie Oishi, Port Coquitlam
Note:Source:
bclocalnews.com
(Canada)
Published: October 31, 2010 6:00 AM
bclocalnews.com
Canada)
Published: October 31, 2010 6:00 AM
The Editor,
Port Coquitlam residents are invited to participate in molding a greener, futuristic view of our city.
Improving neighbourhood air quality would be a vital step to going green.
Air quality differs from one residential area to another. Poor neighbourhood air quality is noted in areas where wood-burning fireplaces exist. Fireplaces are a very uncontrolled source of air pollution, according to a professor in UBC's School of Environmental Health.
Wood smoke poses a health threat to wood stove and fireplace users and to their neighbours, states Washington State Department of Ecology. Emissions from one chimney can foul the air of all the surrounding neighbours and present health hazards.
How informed people are about these health hazards contained in wood smoke emissions is a guess. Many individuals do not relate a scratchy throat (or the "not quite feeling right") to wood-smoke. Are people aware that these symptoms could be the beginning of a serious condition related to wood-smoke emissions?
BCLA has a list of these conditions and claims that wood-smoke is linked to asthma, respiratory conditions, lung and heart problems, including cancer.
Government wants to improve air quality but has no jurisdiction over communities as far as a ban on wood-burning fireplaces is concerned; that power lies in the hands of municipal leaders.
For council and environment enhancement committee to implement a no-burning bylaw should not depend on how many people are complaining but needs to be based on the fact that too many people’s health will be affected if a ban does not take place.
Brie Oishi, Port Coquitlam
Note:Source:
bclocalnews.com
(Canada)
Published: October 31, 2010 6:00 AM
Breathe At Your Own Risk!--Letter to the Editor
Friday, November 19, 2010
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
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
Press Release Source: Environment and Human Health, Inc.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Press Release Source: Environment and Human Health, Inc.
Monday October 25, 2010, 12:00 pm EDT
WOODBRIDGE, Conn., Oct. 25, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Environment and Human Health, Inc.'s (EHHI) newly released report, The Dangers from Outdoor Wood Furnaces, shows that current regulations for outdoor wood furnaces (OWFs) are not sufficient to protect human health.
Wood smoke contains many of the same toxic compounds that are found in cigarette smoke. Just a few of them include benzene, formaldehyde, and 1,3-butadiene, all three of which are carcinogenic.
Currently, some states have OWF "set-back" regulations of 100 feet, others have "set-backs" of 200 feet and some states have no regulations at all.
EHHI measured two particle sizes found by EPA to be contained in wood smoke and designated to be the most dangerous to human health. These particles are PM 2.5 and PM 0.5.
The study showed that a house 100 feet from an OWF had 14 times the levels of PM 2.5 as houses not near an outdoor wood furnace and 9 times the levels of the EPA air standards.
A house 120 feet from an OWF had over 8 times the levels of PM 2.5 as the houses not near an outdoor wood furnace, and 6 times the levels of the EPA air standards.
A house 240 feet from OWF had 12 times the levels of PM 2.5 as the houses not near an outdoor wood furnace and 8 times the levels of the EPA air standards.
And a house as far away as 850 feet from OWF had 6 times the levels of PM 2.5 as the houses not near an outdoor wood furnace and 4 times the levels of the EPA air standards.
High levels were present in every 24-hour period tested inside homes neighboring outdoor wood furnaces. All houses tested had particulate exposures well above the EPA ambient air quality standard. Levels of PM 2.5 that exceed the EPA standards are associated with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attacks and hospitalizations, and are also associated with increased risk of cardiac attacks.
Particles of wood smoke are so small that windows and doors cannot keep smoke out. A study by the University of Washington, Seattle, showed that 50 to 70 percent of outdoor wood smoke entered homes that were not burning wood.
Because wood smoke particles are so small, they are not filtered out by the nose or the upper respiratory system. Instead, these small particles end up deep in the lungs where they can cause structural damage and chemical changes. Carcinogenic chemicals and wood smoke irritants adhere to the small particles and enter the deep, sensitive regions of the lungs where toxic injury is high.
Public Health Toxicologist David Brown, Sc.D., an expert in wood smoke, says, "Some of the health effects reported to EHHI include awakening at night with coughing, headaches, inability to catch breath, continual sore throats, bronchitis and colds requiring children to stay home from school. In some cases the breathing difficulty has gone into asthma attacks requiring emergency-room treatment. Even episodes of short-term exposures to extreme levels of fine particulates from wood smoke and other sources, for periods as short as two hours, can produce significant adverse health effects."
Oncologist D. Barry Boyd, MD, says, "In addition to the fine particulate matter, wood smoke contains a number of organic compounds that are potential or recognized carcinogens. Exposure over time may raise the risk not only of chronic lung disease but also of lung cancer. As well, wood smoke interferes with normal lung development in infants and children. It increases children's risk of lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Wood smoke exposure can depress the immune system and damage the layer of cells in the lungs that protect and cleanse the airways."
Outdoor wood furnaces create emissions different from either fireplaces or indoor wood stoves. The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) found that the average fine particle emissions from one OWF are equivalent to the emissions from 22 EPA-certified indoor wood stoves, 205 oil furnaces or as many as 8,000 natural gas furnaces.
The short-term health effects of wood smoke exposures are burning eyes and throat, sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia.
The long-term health effects are asthma, COPD, cancer, cardiovascular problems and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Dawn Mays-Hardy of the American Lung Association, New England, says, "Because wood smoke has many of the same components as cigarette smoke, and because wood smoke emissions from outdoor wood furnaces are so thick and pervasive for all those who live near them, American Lung sees them as dangerous to health."
President of Environment and Human Health, Inc. Nancy Alderman says, "EHHI has now shown that wood smoke from outdoor wood furnaces enters neighboring houses in high enough amounts to cause serious health impacts to these families. States can no longer ignore this science and should ban outdoor wood furnaces until safer technologies are found."
For seeing or downloading the full report go to http://ehhi.org
The Environment and Human Health, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7516
Monday October 25, 2010, 12:00 pm EDT
WOODBRIDGE, Conn., Oct. 25, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Environment and Human Health, Inc.'s (EHHI) newly released report, The Dangers from Outdoor Wood Furnaces, shows that current regulations for outdoor wood furnaces (OWFs) are not sufficient to protect human health.
Wood smoke contains many of the same toxic compounds that are found in cigarette smoke. Just a few of them include benzene, formaldehyde, and 1,3-butadiene, all three of which are carcinogenic.
Currently, some states have OWF "set-back" regulations of 100 feet, others have "set-backs" of 200 feet and some states have no regulations at all.
EHHI measured two particle sizes found by EPA to be contained in wood smoke and designated to be the most dangerous to human health. These particles are PM 2.5 and PM 0.5.
The study showed that a house 100 feet from an OWF had 14 times the levels of PM 2.5 as houses not near an outdoor wood furnace and 9 times the levels of the EPA air standards.
A house 120 feet from an OWF had over 8 times the levels of PM 2.5 as the houses not near an outdoor wood furnace, and 6 times the levels of the EPA air standards.
A house 240 feet from OWF had 12 times the levels of PM 2.5 as the houses not near an outdoor wood furnace and 8 times the levels of the EPA air standards.
And a house as far away as 850 feet from OWF had 6 times the levels of PM 2.5 as the houses not near an outdoor wood furnace and 4 times the levels of the EPA air standards.
High levels were present in every 24-hour period tested inside homes neighboring outdoor wood furnaces. All houses tested had particulate exposures well above the EPA ambient air quality standard. Levels of PM 2.5 that exceed the EPA standards are associated with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attacks and hospitalizations, and are also associated with increased risk of cardiac attacks.
Particles of wood smoke are so small that windows and doors cannot keep smoke out. A study by the University of Washington, Seattle, showed that 50 to 70 percent of outdoor wood smoke entered homes that were not burning wood.
Because wood smoke particles are so small, they are not filtered out by the nose or the upper respiratory system. Instead, these small particles end up deep in the lungs where they can cause structural damage and chemical changes. Carcinogenic chemicals and wood smoke irritants adhere to the small particles and enter the deep, sensitive regions of the lungs where toxic injury is high.
Public Health Toxicologist David Brown, Sc.D., an expert in wood smoke, says, "Some of the health effects reported to EHHI include awakening at night with coughing, headaches, inability to catch breath, continual sore throats, bronchitis and colds requiring children to stay home from school. In some cases the breathing difficulty has gone into asthma attacks requiring emergency-room treatment. Even episodes of short-term exposures to extreme levels of fine particulates from wood smoke and other sources, for periods as short as two hours, can produce significant adverse health effects."
Oncologist D. Barry Boyd, MD, says, "In addition to the fine particulate matter, wood smoke contains a number of organic compounds that are potential or recognized carcinogens. Exposure over time may raise the risk not only of chronic lung disease but also of lung cancer. As well, wood smoke interferes with normal lung development in infants and children. It increases children's risk of lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Wood smoke exposure can depress the immune system and damage the layer of cells in the lungs that protect and cleanse the airways."
Outdoor wood furnaces create emissions different from either fireplaces or indoor wood stoves. The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) found that the average fine particle emissions from one OWF are equivalent to the emissions from 22 EPA-certified indoor wood stoves, 205 oil furnaces or as many as 8,000 natural gas furnaces.
The short-term health effects of wood smoke exposures are burning eyes and throat, sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia.
The long-term health effects are asthma, COPD, cancer, cardiovascular problems and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Dawn Mays-Hardy of the American Lung Association, New England, says, "Because wood smoke has many of the same components as cigarette smoke, and because wood smoke emissions from outdoor wood furnaces are so thick and pervasive for all those who live near them, American Lung sees them as dangerous to health."
President of Environment and Human Health, Inc. Nancy Alderman says, "EHHI has now shown that wood smoke from outdoor wood furnaces enters neighboring houses in high enough amounts to cause serious health impacts to these families. States can no longer ignore this science and should ban outdoor wood furnaces until safer technologies are found."
For seeing or downloading the full report go to http://ehhi.org
The Environment and Human Health, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7516
An Innocent Victim of a Fire Pit--Remembering Aliaa
Saturday, September 25, 2010
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.
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.
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
EPA'S BURN WISE IS BAD NEWS FOR ALL!!!
Friday, March 12, 2010
URGENT INFORMATION---ACTION NEEDED NOW
EPA'S BURN WISE IS BAD NEWS FOR ALL!!!
The EPA is about to begin a “Burn Wise” national campaign that promotes wood burning and advises people on how to burn cleaner with EPA certified wood stoves. This could result in more wood burning and more wood smoke. This campaign is a threat to children’s health and anyone with asthma or heart disease. Wood smoke is already ruining outdoor air in metro areas throughout our country. Outdoor wood boilers are being banned, due to the severe health effects of wood smoke. This is like the tobacco promotions in the past about “smoking cleaner” with filter cigarettes. We must use this opportunity to get our opposing voices heard. Now is the time to press our decision-makers nation-wide to restrict wood burning, before more wood smoke pollutes our air and further harms our families.
Pass this on and encourage all decision-makers in your community to disallow wood burning in your communities. This is “greenwashing” at its lowest level.
PLEASE all activists, put this on your web pages, Twitter, UTube, Facebook and other websites. If someone could add a no burn icon to this, please let me know.
THE ONLY WISE BURNING IS NO BURNING
The EPA begins a wood burning campaign this Friday to encourage people to “burn wise” by burning cleaner. They also promote EPA-certified wood burning appliances, which means more wood smoke.
At the same time, their promotion states that wood smoke is harmful to children and to human health, especially for kids and people with asthma or heart disease.
DON’T BE DUPED!
Wood burning is NEVER safe!
5 Reasons not to burn wood:
1. Wood smoke is implicated in asthma attacks, heart attacks, cancer, sudden infant death syndrome and premature death in people of all ages. (American Lung Association, EPA, MPCA websites).
2. Wood smoke is a major source of fine particle pollution, the worst kind. (MPCA and EPA websites)
3. Wood smoke carries fine particulates that can be drawn deep into the lungs, causing severe damage.
4. Wood smoke contains black carbon soot, which accelerates the melting of glaciers.
5. Wood smoke’s black carbon soot contributes heavily to global warming and climate change!
6. Wood smoke violates the property rights of others to enjoy their property smoke-free.
The only answer is to contact your city councils, legislators and other decision-makers and demand that they ban wood burning in residential areas. Outdoor wood boilers (OWBs) are being banned in many cities nation-wide. NO SMOKE IS GOOD SMOKE. If they have banned cigarette smoking in public areas, why are they forcing us to breathe wood smoke in our own home and property?
WOOD SMOKE IS MORE THAN A NUISANCE—it is a severe public health hazard!
We all need to work on this important issue and we need to do it now!
EPA'S BURN WISE IS BAD NEWS FOR ALL!!!
The EPA is about to begin a “Burn Wise” national campaign that promotes wood burning and advises people on how to burn cleaner with EPA certified wood stoves. This could result in more wood burning and more wood smoke. This campaign is a threat to children’s health and anyone with asthma or heart disease. Wood smoke is already ruining outdoor air in metro areas throughout our country. Outdoor wood boilers are being banned, due to the severe health effects of wood smoke. This is like the tobacco promotions in the past about “smoking cleaner” with filter cigarettes. We must use this opportunity to get our opposing voices heard. Now is the time to press our decision-makers nation-wide to restrict wood burning, before more wood smoke pollutes our air and further harms our families.
Pass this on and encourage all decision-makers in your community to disallow wood burning in your communities. This is “greenwashing” at its lowest level.
PLEASE all activists, put this on your web pages, Twitter, UTube, Facebook and other websites. If someone could add a no burn icon to this, please let me know.
THE ONLY WISE BURNING IS NO BURNING
The EPA begins a wood burning campaign this Friday to encourage people to “burn wise” by burning cleaner. They also promote EPA-certified wood burning appliances, which means more wood smoke.
At the same time, their promotion states that wood smoke is harmful to children and to human health, especially for kids and people with asthma or heart disease.
DON’T BE DUPED!
Wood burning is NEVER safe!
5 Reasons not to burn wood:
1. Wood smoke is implicated in asthma attacks, heart attacks, cancer, sudden infant death syndrome and premature death in people of all ages. (American Lung Association, EPA, MPCA websites).
2. Wood smoke is a major source of fine particle pollution, the worst kind. (MPCA and EPA websites)
3. Wood smoke carries fine particulates that can be drawn deep into the lungs, causing severe damage.
4. Wood smoke contains black carbon soot, which accelerates the melting of glaciers.
5. Wood smoke’s black carbon soot contributes heavily to global warming and climate change!
6. Wood smoke violates the property rights of others to enjoy their property smoke-free.
The only answer is to contact your city councils, legislators and other decision-makers and demand that they ban wood burning in residential areas. Outdoor wood boilers (OWBs) are being banned in many cities nation-wide. NO SMOKE IS GOOD SMOKE. If they have banned cigarette smoking in public areas, why are they forcing us to breathe wood smoke in our own home and property?
WOOD SMOKE IS MORE THAN A NUISANCE—it is a severe public health hazard!
We all need to work on this important issue and we need to do it now!
Risky Business: Burning Wood and other Biomass for Energy
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
From----The Wood Smoke Activist
February 2010 Newsletter
Educating the world about the health and climate impacts of wood smoke and combustion aerosols.
Editor: Shirley Brandie
1/2/2010
Risky Business: Burning Wood and other Biomass for Energy
Though burning biomass is a source of renewable energy, the negative health consequences are so well documented that they far outweigh the benefits.
Wood smoke shares many common chemicals with tobacco smoke, including formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and carbon emissions. It is rich in dioxins, the most insidious family of toxins known to man, which accumulate in the environment and in mammalian lungs, building up over time, adding incrementally to health risks for every generation to come.
Smoke from biomass burning is implicated in skyrocketing birth defects, including reproductive defects in unborn babies, asthma attacks, heart attacks and even SIDS.
Morbidity and Mortality from Air Pollution—a Wake-Up Call
The American Thoracic Society, May 22, 2006, found that for an increase of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of particulates over two years, the risk of dying was increased by:
*32% for people with diabetes
*28% for people with COPD, asthma and pneumonia
*27% in people with congestive heart failure
*22% for people with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
A current American Lung Association brochure states that a majority of asthmatics cite smoke of all kinds as a trigger for asthma attacks.
“Particulate pollution has been linked to hospital admissions and emergency room visits for respiratory problems and to premature death.” Further, “The sulfur dioxide in wood smoke constricts air passages, making it a problem for people with asthma and for young children whose small lungs need to work harder than adult lungs. Even brief exposures to relatively low levels of sulfur dioxide can cause an asthma attack.”
The EPA, in “Health Effects of Particle Pollution,” March 8, 2006, states, “Many scientific studies have linked breathing particle pollution to a series of significant health problems, including chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function, and premature death.”
Do we need to hear more to rule out biomass burning in urban areas?
Biomass/Wood Smoke Particulates are Major Contributors to Climate Change
Smoke and other fine particulates influence cloud thinning by “choking” clouds, and absorb moisture from the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. For more detailed facts, see www.burningissues.org, a project of Clean Air Revival, a non-profit organization providing online scientific information on wood smoke and other fine particulates.
Julie Mellum
President, Take Back the Air
info@takebacktheair.com
Credit to----The Wood Smoke Activist
February 2010 Newsletter
Educating the world about the health and climate impacts of wood smoke and combustion aerosols.
Editor: Shirley Brandie
1/2/2010
February 2010 Newsletter
Educating the world about the health and climate impacts of wood smoke and combustion aerosols.
Editor: Shirley Brandie
1/2/2010
Risky Business: Burning Wood and other Biomass for Energy
Though burning biomass is a source of renewable energy, the negative health consequences are so well documented that they far outweigh the benefits.
Wood smoke shares many common chemicals with tobacco smoke, including formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and carbon emissions. It is rich in dioxins, the most insidious family of toxins known to man, which accumulate in the environment and in mammalian lungs, building up over time, adding incrementally to health risks for every generation to come.
Smoke from biomass burning is implicated in skyrocketing birth defects, including reproductive defects in unborn babies, asthma attacks, heart attacks and even SIDS.
Morbidity and Mortality from Air Pollution—a Wake-Up Call
The American Thoracic Society, May 22, 2006, found that for an increase of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of particulates over two years, the risk of dying was increased by:
*32% for people with diabetes
*28% for people with COPD, asthma and pneumonia
*27% in people with congestive heart failure
*22% for people with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
A current American Lung Association brochure states that a majority of asthmatics cite smoke of all kinds as a trigger for asthma attacks.
“Particulate pollution has been linked to hospital admissions and emergency room visits for respiratory problems and to premature death.” Further, “The sulfur dioxide in wood smoke constricts air passages, making it a problem for people with asthma and for young children whose small lungs need to work harder than adult lungs. Even brief exposures to relatively low levels of sulfur dioxide can cause an asthma attack.”
The EPA, in “Health Effects of Particle Pollution,” March 8, 2006, states, “Many scientific studies have linked breathing particle pollution to a series of significant health problems, including chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function, and premature death.”
Do we need to hear more to rule out biomass burning in urban areas?
Biomass/Wood Smoke Particulates are Major Contributors to Climate Change
Smoke and other fine particulates influence cloud thinning by “choking” clouds, and absorb moisture from the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. For more detailed facts, see www.burningissues.org, a project of Clean Air Revival, a non-profit organization providing online scientific information on wood smoke and other fine particulates.
Julie Mellum
President, Take Back the Air
info@takebacktheair.com
Credit to----The Wood Smoke Activist
February 2010 Newsletter
Educating the world about the health and climate impacts of wood smoke and combustion aerosols.
Editor: Shirley Brandie
1/2/2010
Burning---Thoughts from Canada
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Burning…
A smoky haze engulfs our Earth
We watch, perched atop a mountain, like an eagle
We dare not soar into its plume
We seek the current that sweeps us higher from this doom
Away from flame and smoke and dread
I circle as I watch the dead
They were warned and they were told
From those who stood so strong and bold
But sadly they did listen not
To them came the death they sought.
Of each struggle for a breath
Some fought more and some fought less
But death still came as they watched in fear
Loss of life as they shed a tear
But even those were lost in heat
As the wind did swirl beneath their feet
Their spirits soared and their lone souls weeped
And as the planet was set on fire
Our world became a funeral pyre.
Note....Dedicated to those who know and believe that woodsmoke will and has prematurely caused the death of millions on this Earth. That is why we must fight on…or millions more will continue to die.
Author==Linda from Canada
A smoky haze engulfs our Earth
We watch, perched atop a mountain, like an eagle
We dare not soar into its plume
We seek the current that sweeps us higher from this doom
Away from flame and smoke and dread
I circle as I watch the dead
They were warned and they were told
From those who stood so strong and bold
But sadly they did listen not
To them came the death they sought.
Of each struggle for a breath
Some fought more and some fought less
But death still came as they watched in fear
Loss of life as they shed a tear
But even those were lost in heat
As the wind did swirl beneath their feet
Their spirits soared and their lone souls weeped
And as the planet was set on fire
Our world became a funeral pyre.
Note....Dedicated to those who know and believe that woodsmoke will and has prematurely caused the death of millions on this Earth. That is why we must fight on…or millions more will continue to die.
Author==Linda from Canada
Lung Association Disagrees With Claim
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
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
Laws governing wood smoke emissions is long overdue
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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
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
Friday, March 6, 2009
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
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
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