Wood Smoke Links - MCS Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Recognition

Published Studies on the Health Effects of Wood-Smoke

Exposure to wood-smoke can have serious consequences for health. In developing countries, some
stoves may emit smoke to indoor air. Several studies have shown that exposure to wood-smoke
reduces lung function, especially in children, and increases coughs and other respiratory diseases.

Many recent studies have also found significant effects in woodstove users in developed countries
such as the US. Children living in such homes tend to have increased respiratory symptoms, acute
lower respiratory infection, increased frequency and severity of wheeze, increased frequency of cough
and waking up at

Burning Issues - A project of clean air revival

What are the medical effects of exposure to smoke particles?

Chemical Composition of Wood Smoke

Burning Issues Wood Smoke Fact Sheets

Project Statement: Smoke from residential burning of wood, wood burning restaurants and outdoor
burning of wood, crops and debris is permeating our neighborhoods. This burning results in high
ground level concentrations of toxic air pollution. Millions of people are becoming ill from these
emissions and some are dying. Awareness and education are the key elements to the abatement of
this source of deadly fine particulate pollution in our communities.
Please take the time to read these informative fact sheets.

Morbidity and Mortality from Air Pollution

Air pollution increases death risk in people with certain diseases

Chemical Constituents of Wood Smoke

Chemicals listed here are only the tip of the iceberg - combustion variables lead to hundreds if not
thousands of chemical combinations. Some are sweet smelling vanilla and others are known to be the
most toxic chemicals on earth. Wood also carries mold spores, some are able to be cultured from wood
ashe.

Wood Smoke Tables and Charts

Emissions Information Tables and more . . .

Wood Smoke Comparisons of Emissions from Smoke Particle Sources

Chart: Comparing Particle Emissions from Traffic, Cigarettes and Heating

CABRA

Neighbours smoke getting up your nose?

Raising Community Awareness about the Health Effects of Burning Wood in Residential Areas

Disability OnLine

Wood Fires and Breathing Problems

Information for people with a disability, their families and carers.

Environmental Health Sciences

Critical Review of the Health Effects of Wood-Smoke

The sentiment that wood-smoke, being a natural and ancient substance, must be benign to
humans is still sometimes heard. It is now well established, however, that wood-burning stoves
and fireplaces as well as wildland and agricultural fires emit significant quantities of known
health-damaging pollutants, including carcinogenic and other toxic organic compounds such as
polyaromatic compounds, benzene, and aldehydes; respirable particulate matter with diameters
allowing it to penetrate into the deep lung; carbon monoxide (CO); nitrogen oxides (NOx), and
free radicals, among many other pollutants.

Wood-Smoke - Health Effects - A Review

Two of the principal gaseous pollutants in wood-smoke, CO and NOx, add to the atmospheric levels
of these regulated gases emitted by other combustion sources. Health impacts of exposures to these
gases and some of the other wood-smoke constituents (e.g., benzene) are well characterized in
thousands of publications.

Melissa Kaplan's Chronic Neuro Immune Diseases

Wood Burners Could Be Banned

Proposed crackdown on fireplaces, stoves among toughest in Bay Area

The Australian Lung Foundation

Wood Smoke and your Health: The Burning Issues

Wood-burning heaters are often admired for the ambience they add. However, smoke from
wood heaters can be a major source of air pollution in many parts of Australia, and is a real
and significant health hazard.

Health Impacts of Wood Smoke

Wood smoke contains fine particles which are breathed into the lungs. They irritate the
bronchial tubes and affect those with pre-existing lung disease, especially asthma, chronic
bronchitis & emphysema.