What Happens When Wood Burns
The smoke from a wood-burning stove releases a variety of pollutants, mainly in the form of toxic gases, particle pollutants, or creosote. Creosote is a gummy, foul-smelling residue that sticks to the inside of your chimney. It is produced when wood gases are not completely burned. The buildup can cause a chimney fire.
Health Risks of Wood-Burning Stoves
According to a 2015 study in Environmental Research, exposure to particle pollution increases the risk of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and even death from heart and lung disease. In the end, anyone with a chronic illness is more susceptible to the harmful effects of wood smoke. The stoves may look pretty but exude fumes that can cause long-lasting or even permanent harm, especially to children with developing lungs and smaller body sizes.
Short-Term Health Effects
You may feel the effects of a wood-burning stove while it is burning or afterward when near the toxic remnants of a fire. Symptoms of inhaling wood smoke from any source may include shortness of breath, coughing, worsening allergies, and acute bronchitis.
Long-Term Health Effects
Particulate pollution can be breathed deep into the lungs. Once trapped, it can damage the cells and contribute to the worsening of not only lung diseases but heart diseases as well.
Conclusions
Using a wood-burning stove can be hazardous to your health if used improperly. The smoke released by these stoves can cause respiratory symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath, and recurrent exposure can cause the worsening of symptoms in people with chronic illnesses. To minimize the health risks associated with wood-burning stoves, it is essential to use them safely and responsibly.
FAQs
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What are the health risks associated with wood-burning stoves?
Wood-burning stoves can release toxic gases and particle pollutants that can cause respiratory symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath, and even increase the risk of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and death from heart and lung disease. -
Who is most susceptible to the harmful effects of wood smoke?
Anyone with a chronic illness is more susceptible to the harmful effects of wood smoke, especially children with developing lungs and smaller body sizes. - What can I do to minimize the health risks associated with wood-burning stoves?
To minimize the health risks associated with wood-burning stoves, use them safely and responsibly. Ensure that your stove is properly installed and maintained, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
Sources:
- American Lung Association. Residential wood burning.
- Semmens E, Noonan C, Allen R, Weiler E, Ward T. Indoor particulate matter in rural, wood stove heated homes. Environmental Research, 2015.
- White AJ, Sandler DP. Indoor wood-burning stove and fireplace use and breast cancer in a prospective cohort study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2017.
- Environmental Protection Agency. Best wood-burning practices.
- Rokoff L, Koutrakis P, Garshick E, et al. Wood stove pollution in the developed world: a case to raise awareness among pediatricians. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 2017.
- Ljungman PLS, Andersson N, Stockfelt L, et al. Long-term exposure to particulate air pollution, black carbon, and their source components in relation to ischemic heart disease and stroke. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2019.
- Unosson J, Blomberg A, Sandstrom T, et al. Exposure to wood smoke increases arterial stiffness and decreases heart rate variability in humans. Part Fibre Toxicol, 2013.
- Oudin A, Segersson D, Adolfsson R, Forsberg B. Association between air pollution from residential wood burning and dementia incidence in a longitudinal study in Northern Sweden. PLoS ONE, 2018.
- Ward T, Semmens E, Weiler E, Harrar S, Noonan C. Efficacy of interventions targeting household air pollution from residential wood stoves. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 2017.
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