| As the holidays near and the air becomes more | | | | wood stoves reach an astonishing 50% to 70% |
| frigid, families gather around fireplaces and | | | | of outdoor levels when burning wood. Neighbors |
| wood-burning stoves seeking warm comfort. | | | | to wood fires may unwillingly be breathing smoky |
| Unfortunately for many --- especially those who | | | | air, even if they are not wood burners. A Higher |
| suffer from asthma and allergies -- the use of | | | | Risk for Lung Cancer According to Medical News |
| such heating devices can trigger health-related | | | | Today, "Burning wood may be associated with |
| disasters in unexpected ways. Dr. Leonard Bielory, | | | | lung cancer, even with people who do not |
| director of the Asthma and Allergy Research | | | | smoke." Scientists from Mexico gathered blood |
| Center at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School | | | | samples from 62 patients with lung cancer, 9 |
| in Newark, says emergency room visits from | | | | patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary |
| asthma attacks quadruple following the fall's first | | | | disease (COPD), and 9 control subjects. Of the |
| frost. "There are particles and toxic agents | | | | patients with lung cancer, 23 were tobacco |
| emitted by burning wood that, when inhaled, may | | | | smokers (37.1 percent), 24 were exposed to |
| cause shortness of breath or wheezing and | | | | wood smoke (38.7 percent), and 15 were not in |
| possibly a life-threatening asthma attack that may | | | | either category (24.2 percent). Study results |
| require emergency health care." Wood Smoke | | | | show that 38.7 percent of the patients with lung |
| Break Down Wood smoke from fireplaces and | | | | cancer were nonsmokers who were exposed to |
| wood-burning stoves contain fine particles and | | | | continuous wood smoke for over 10 years. A |
| gases that can pose a serious health threat to | | | | Few Suggestions Whether it is to have a nice |
| you and your family. The smoke emitted from | | | | romantic evening with a loved one, or to warm |
| wood burning contains the following: Fine Particles: | | | | those toes after playing in the snow, chances are |
| These particles are so small that several thousand | | | | you will find yourself lighting the fireplace or wood |
| of them could fit on the period at the end of a | | | | stove this winter. And you CAN go ahead and |
| sentence. They reach the deepest recesses of | | | | enjoy doing so. But before you do, here are a |
| the lungs and accelerate hardening of the arteries, | | | | few suggestions offered by the University of |
| negatively affecting heart function. Nitrogen | | | | Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey that you |
| Dioxide: This odorless gas that can irritate your | | | | should follow: Only use an EPA approved fireplace |
| eyes, nose and throat and cause shortness of | | | | or wood-burning stove. Don't allow those with |
| breath. In people with asthma, exposure to low | | | | respiratory conditions such as asthma or allergies |
| levels of NO2 may cause increased bronchial | | | | to be exposed to a fireplace or wood-stove for |
| reactivity and make young children more | | | | too long. Make certain there is adequate ventilation |
| susceptible to respiratory infections. Long-term | | | | to offset any smoke that is emitted (open |
| exposure to high levels of NO2 can lead to chronic | | | | windows a crack if need be). Avoid using a |
| bronchitis. Carbon Monoxide: This odorless, | | | | chemical accelerant, like lighter fluid, to ignite the |
| colorless, poisonous gas interferes with the | | | | fire. Properly maintain your fireplace or wood |
| delivery of oxygen throughout the body and may | | | | stove. Have your chimney cleaned annually to help |
| cause headaches, dizziness and, at higher | | | | prevent fumes from backing into the house. Be |
| concentrations, death. Those with cardiac and | | | | certain the room is aired out and dust and |
| respiratory disease may be more sensitive to | | | | vacuum the area thoroughly after it has been |
| lower levels of this gas. Toxic Compounds: These | | | | used. Don't use a fireplace or wood-burning stove |
| include such compounds as formaldehyde, | | | | as the only source of heat. If you use a fireplace |
| benzene, methyl chloride and methyl ethyl ketone | | | | or wood-burning stove, or live in an area where |
| (a wide range of compounds that usually have no | | | | neighbor's do, it is also extremely important to |
| color, taste or smell.) Some cause direct and | | | | keep your home's surfaces like furniture and |
| negative health effects by penetrating deep into | | | | floors clean to the microscopic level. The fine |
| the lungs. Carbon Dioxide: This greenhouse gas | | | | particles from the smoke settle and then, from |
| contributes to global climate change. The above | | | | walking, sitting down, etc., can be kicked back up |
| particles found in wood smoke are too small to | | | | into the air. It is strongly recommended that you |
| be filtered by the nose and upper respiratory | | | | DON'T use typical cleaning tools like rags, cotton |
| system, so they end up deep in your lungs. They | | | | mops and sponges for cleaning, as they are |
| can remain there for several months causing | | | | incapable of effectively removing the fine particles. |
| structural damage and chemical changes to your | | | | PerfectClean ultramicrofiber cleaning tools - |
| body without you even being aware. Not Just | | | | including dusters, terry cloths and more - are the |
| Your Household's Health at Risk If you don't have | | | | ideal solution, as they are constructed of fibers |
| a fireplace or wood-burning stove at home, don't | | | | that are just 3 microns in size (even smaller than |
| feel at ease just yet. You're heath still may be at | | | | many bacteria, so highly effective at removing |
| risk ... from your neighbor's fireplaces and | | | | fine particles.) You are strongly encouraged to |
| wood-burning stoves. Because wood smoke | | | | read about PerfectClean products in this previous |
| contains such tiny particles, the smoke is not | | | | article. This article was provided by the world's #1 |
| stopped by closed doors and windows, and seeps | | | | most popular and trusted holistic living |
| into nearby neighbors' houses. In fact, during | | | | e-newsletter -- FREE to you right now at The old |
| winter months, wood smoke does not rise and | | | | way of thinking: "holistic living" pertains only to |
| often hangs close to the ground, entering yards, | | | | personal health. The new way of thinking: "holistic |
| houses, schools, and hospitals. Subsequently, areas | | | | living" means prevention of the negative and |
| with valley locations and poor air circulation are | | | | adherence to the positive in all SIX practical areas |
| affected most. A recent University of Washington | | | | of life: relationships, finances, career, home |
| study in Seattle and an EPA study in Boise, Idaho | | | | environment, safety and health. With the |
| neighborhoods found that indoor PM10 levels | | | | e-newsletter, you will get holistic wisdom from the |
| (particulate matter - one of six major air | | | | world's top experts in all six of these areas -- |
| pollutants for which there is a national air quality | | | | completely FREE with a simple sign-up (and a |
| standard) from wood smoke in homes without | | | | guaranteed no-spam policy! |