Wood fires and chest problems

chipsdave

I would be interested in hearing Peoples views on the following article and the reasoning as to why not we are alerted to this more just like we are to cigarette smoking

Health Issues

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• Although wood smoke conjures up fond memories of sitting by a cozy fire, it is important to know that the components of wood smoke and cigarette smoke are quite similar, and that many components of both are carcinogenic. Wood smoke contains fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide and various irritant gases such as nitrogen oxides that can scar the lungs. Wood smoke also contains chemicals known or suspected to be carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxin.
• Wood smoke interferes with normal lung development in infants and children. It also increases children’s risk of lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Wood smoke exposure can depress the immune system and damage the layer of cells in the lungs that protect and cleanse the airways.
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), toxic air pollutants are components of wood smoke. Wood smoke can cause coughs, headaches, eye, and throat irritation in otherwise healthy people.
• For vulnerable populations, such as people with asthma, chronic respiratory disease and those with cardiovascular disease, wood smoke is particularly harmful— even short exposures can prove dangerous.
• The particles of wood smoke are extremely small and therefore are not filtered out by the nose or the upper respiratory system. Instead, these small particles end up deep in the lungs where they remain for months, causing structural damage and chemical changes. Wood smoke’s carcinogenic chemicals adhere to these tiny particles, which enter deep into the lungs.
• Recent studies show that fine particles that go deep into the lungs increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. EPA warns that for people with heart disease, short- term exposures have been linked to heart attacks and arrhythmias. If you have heart disease, these tiny particles may cause you to experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

chipsdave

chipsdave wrote: »

.................the reasoning as to why not we are alerted to this more just like we are to cigarette smoking

..............

Cigarette smoking is more widespread than folks having wood fires in these days of predominantly central hated homes without an open fire.

chipsdave

Yes Roverjames but in rural areas open fires are the norm , I have to admit I have been quite naieve as to the amount of problems can be caused but burning logs in a fireplace .I am asthmatic Myself and unfortunately smoked cigarettes and as I got older infections etc became more commonplace ,I stopped however and got my health back .This Winter however I have been doing an inordinate amount of coughing ,it has been baffling me ,then I wondered could it be to do with the fireplace as I do cut and burn timber there ....1 quick google later and there appears to be the answer to my question !