The next time you think about cozying up to a nice warm fire to unwind or take the chill off, think again. The life you may save by not lighting up won’t just be your own. Every time wood is burned, toxins such as lead, cadmium and arsenic, among a host of other dangerous chemicals, are emitted.

The particulate matter that is released is known to cause lung cancer, asthma, and other lung diseases. And every log that is burned sends out quantities of CO2. Increased amounts of CO2 have been implicated as a cause of global warming. Indeed, it is an inconvenient truth that the ambiance of a fire - and its resulting smoke - can actually be quite dangerous, even deadly.

According to the EPA, wood smoke is twelve times more carcinogenic than equal amounts of tobacco smoke. The website http://burningissues.org claims
that “wood … smoke attacks our body cells up to 40 times longer than tobacco smoke.” Breast cancer survivors need to be made aware of the risks associated with wood-burning, largely because they are more susceptible and vulnerable to getting other cancers, including lung. They need no additional attacks on their body cells. Essentially wood smoke is as dangerous and damaging as second hand cigarette smoke because of what it is: unfiltered smoke that can get into our lungs.

In his June 2006 report, Surgeon General Richard Carmona issued a strong warning about second hand smoke. The report states “There is no safe level of second hand smoke.” While he was referring to tobacco smoke, it holds that if wood sm oke is twelve times more carcinogenic than cigarette smoke, we are putting ourselves, our children and our communities at an unnecessary risk when we choose to build fires. In fact, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are major contributors to fine particle pollution in our neighborhoods.

On top of these concerns, there is a breast cancer risk associated with second hand smoke. In January 2006, the California EPA reported that according to its research “exposure to environmental tobacco smoke raises the breast cancer risk 68% or more among women under the age of 50.”

Smoke is smoke is smoke. It is best to avoid it and avoid making it. Every risk must be considered and weighed. So… don’t smoke, don’t expose yourself to
secondhand smoke - whether wood or tobacco - and don’t build unnecessary fires. Consider cozying up to a warm and inviting book instead.

To find out more information, research and articles about wood smoke and air quality, log onto http://burningissues.org/car-www/index.html.