News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Beth Gorman (520) 740-3343
Tucson, Arizona (December 20, 2006) – Cooler
nights bring more fireplaces and wood stoves into use in our
community. For many, part of holiday traditions include lighting
up the fireplace as loved ones gather together in our homes.
Wood smoke contains hundreds of chemical compounds, including
nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds,
and particulate matter. These compounds can cause health problems,
especially for children, pregnant women and people with respiratory
ailments. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-certified
woodstoves, fireplace inserts, and natural gas fireplaces emit
considerably less air pollution than traditional woodstoves and
fireplaces. Pima County Department of Environmental Quality suggests
that those who use traditional fireplaces for recreational purposes
(not as the sole source of heat in their homes) voluntarily reduce
the number of fires they light to improve air quality.
“I receive calls during the winter from individuals in
our community who cannot walk in their neighborhood due to the
affects of wood smoke on their health,” said Beth Gorman,
Program Manager at PDEQ. “Pollution from wood smoke can
have serious health consequences. The very small particles from
wood smoke can penetrate deep in the lungs and become trapped
for years, contributing to lung disease,” Gorman continued.
Exposure to the pollutants in wood smoke can cause eye, nose
and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, dizziness and can aggravate
asthma and other respiratory diseases.
The pollution from the burning wood can affect the quality of
indoor, as well as outdoor air. According to the EPA, several
of the pollutants emitted from wood burning have demonstrated
cancer-causing properties similar to cigarette smoke. Combustion
gases and particles can enter the home from chimneys and flues
that are improperly installed or maintained and cracked furnace
heat exchangers. Pollutants from fireplaces and woodstoves with
no dedicated outdoor air supply can be “back-drafted” from
the
chimney into the living space, particularly in well-sealed weatherized
homes. It is recommended that furnaces, flues and chimneys be
inspected annually and that cracks or damaged parts are repaired
promptly.
Those who use fireplaces or woodstoves can follow these tips
for healthier burning:
• Burn seasoned hardwoods (oak, mesquite, pecan) instead
of softwoods (cedar, fir, pine) because hardwoods burn hotter
and form less creosote and smoke;
• Use wood that has been split and dried for at least six
months;
• Use smaller pieces of wood. They burn more efficiently
so they are a better source of heat;
• Make sure there is enough room in the firebox for air
to circulate freely around the wood;
• Do not use green or wet woods because they smoke and
form creosote;
• Never burn painted scrap wood or wood treated with preservatives,
because they could release highly toxic pollutants;
• Do not burn plastics, charcoal, and colored paper such
as comics, because they also produce toxic pollutants;
• Go outside and check your chimney frequently. If you
see smoke coming out, you’re wasting wood by not burning
hot enough. Give the fire more air and check the chimney again;
• Watch your smoke. If it goes into your neighbor’s
yard, you are causing a nuisance and should remedy the situation;
and
• Avoid burning wood on days when the air pollution level
is elevated. Check www.airinfonow.org or 520.882.4AIR for hourly
air pollution information.
Residents who heat their homes with
non-EPA-certified wood-burning fireplaces or woodstoves may
consider replacing them with new ones to reduce emissions.
According to information from the Hearth Products Association,
fireplaces with EPA-certified inserts and EPA-certified woodstoves
reduce emissions by 85 percent when compared to traditional
fireplaces and woodstoves.
If you are
using your fireplace for the ambiance, as opposed to it being
the sole source of heat, PDEQ staff has a suggestion that will
reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution. “Individuals
who use fireplaces recreationally, because they enjoy the flicker
of flames, may find that multiple candles in the fireplace can
be as relaxing to watch and will improve the quality of the air
we all breathe,” said Gorman.
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