[Greenbuilding] No place for wood burning fireplaces in Green Building

[JAY WALSH]

No place for wood burning open fireplaces in Green Building

Burning wood in an inefficient way is a step in the wrong direction if your
intention is to Build Green.  

EPA web site
For Air Quality Program Officials
As an air quality program official, you know that in some parts of the United
States, smoke from woodstoves and fireplaces is the largest source of outdoor
air pollution from residential sources. During a typical wood heating season
(especially nights and weekends), wood smoke can account for as much as 80% of
the particulate matter (PM) emissions in a residential area, depending on
usage patterns... 


American Lung Association April 2000
WHY IS WOODBURNING AN AIR POLLUTION PROBLEM?
In most areas of the country, woodburning from fireplaces and woodstoves is
the largest source of particulate matter air pollution (PM) generated by
residential sources. In some localities, fireplaces and woodstoves have been
identified as the source of 80% or more of all ambient particles smaller than
2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) during the winter months. A large body of
evidence links PM with adverse health outcomes, including excess mortality,
especially among those with preexisting cardiopulmonary illness…

In addition to particulate matter, woodsmoke emissions contain components such
as carbon monoxide; various irritant gases such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and formaldehyde; and chemicals known or suspected
to be carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and
dioxin….

City of Toronto,
Health impacts of wood-burning emissions
Residential wood burning can impact air quality both outdoors and indoors.
Indoor air quality is especially important for health, given that most people
spend the majority of their time indoors. Data suggest that respirable small
particles from various sources indoors including residential wood burning, can
contribute to nasal irritation, respiratory infections, bronchitis and lung
cancer.

USA TODAY Posted 11/14/2005 
Hidden cost in wood burning: Pollution 
Scientists have long known that wood smoke contains carbon monoxide and
cancer-causing chemicals. But research shows that wood smoke's major
ingredient — tiny particles of soot and liquid pollution — worsens heart
disease and triggers asthma attacks.

Sincerely submitted,

Jay Walsh
Center for Ecological Technology