The answer? It is the cold air outside that pulls the moisture from the inside air. I lived in a bus on a commune for awhile and our woodstove was right next to my … Young children and the elderly are especially susceptible to breathing problems caused by wood smoke. This lack of humidity inside your home can lead to dry skin, … But a wood-burning fire in your fireplace can cause health problems, especially if you or a family member has a history of lung disease. I don't want what is suggested or recommended here to have even a hint at motivation other than the truth and what is best for children. There's a reason for strict guidelines for wood-burning stoves and fireplaces and for no-burn days meant to reduce pollution: Breathing woodsmoke poses a real health risk. Inhalation of the ash led to chronic exposure of the respiratory system, and all eight members of the family had bronchitis and lung congestion. Even teens are susceptible to airway distress. Wood-burning stoves can help save you money on your heating bill, and burning wood as a heat source can be easier on the environment than gas or coal. Problems with mucus drainage may also occur if airborne allergens in the air are inhaled into the sinus through the nasal cavities. Miniscule particles released into the air during burning can cause short- and long-term lung damage. Burning wood, hot and fast to cut down on the emission seems to be the only answer at present. Smoking: a common wood stove problem. Subsequent to that, another study was reported in which 31 preschoolers who were exposed to wood smoke were followed and found to have significantly more moderate-to-severe respiratory symptoms than children whose homes were heated by gas or electric furnaces. Not only are these chemicals harmful when breathed in, but they can also be brought deep into the body by the fine particulates released during burning. Other studies have shown that some Aborigines in New Guinea have a style of hut in which emission levels from their fires are extraordinarily high and produce the early development of chronic lung disease. The EPA announced that, based on a 6-year review, they were revoking the status of the inorganic arsenic based compounds (creosote, pentachloraphenol and their salts) as approved pesticides in order to help lessen the health threat caused by burning the preservative treated woods. Burning marine plywood and outdoor treated wood can be additionally dangerous. Wood smoke can cause both short- and long-term health problems, including allergic reactions like sneezing and coughing, chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia and emphysema. The best way to avoid difficulties with your wood-burning stove … Dry Air. This is more likely if you suffer from blockages from a deviated septum or other structural problems in your nasal cavity. Prolonged exposure to woodstove fires and close proximity to them will dry up a runny nose, guaranteed. Some people have suggested that an internal catalytic converter be built into each residential wood burning stove. Sometimes, problems with draft can cause the smoke from your wood stove to come back into the room, rather than going up the flue as it’s supposed to. It's difficult to locate 'benefactors' for a medical site which don't suggest a conflict of interest of some sort. I was starting to wonder about my sanity. If you own or manage an organization interested simply in providing free education about the health of children and don't have an "agenda" or expectation for endorsement, please, contact us. Make sure your fireplace or wood stove is properly installed and vented so that most of the smoke exits the house, and check regularly for leaks. While a blockage in the flue or the … A crackling fire might trigger images of cozy mountain cabins and romantic winter evenings, but it can also lead to a host of health problems, some mildly irritating and others deadly serious. No more so than any other form of heat. Exposure to wood smoke, even from a neighbor's fireplace, can also cause burning eyes, headache, sore throat, excess phlegm, tightness in the chest and sinus problems. However, some wood burning stoves can make the symptoms of asthma or emphysema worse. The study was well controlled and the children were matched for age, sex, hometown, head of household’s education, use of humidifiers, and exposure to cigarette smoking in the home. Buy a new one from your hearth store and replace it. In addition, they are more frequently at home and thereby exposed to a greater amount of these residential air pollutants. These appliances are efficient and beautiful, but they are not always problem-free. Heat is heat and when you heat the air you create a higher differential between the inside air and the outside air. Wood stoves can cause unexplained respiratory disease The mediator in the study seemed to be airway irritation from hydrocarbons and particulate matters released from the wood as it is burning causing the symptoms in infants through adolescents. These types of woods have been treated with preservatives, one of which is arsenic-pentoxide mixed in chromium and copper solution. The problem we are talking about is with wood stoves. How to Improve the Draw of a Wood-Burning Stove to Help It Burn Better. Without proper draw, wood will smolder, and smoke may … More often than not, it’s very easy to solve whatever difficulty you’re encountering. Fumes from inappropriate burning of trash, propane, coal, charcoal, oil, wood and natural gas Pollution can cause sinus irritation You may assume that staying indoors is the best solution in avoiding … Today’s wood-burning stoves are excellent investments, providing one of the most cost-effective ways to heat your home. He found a three-month old infant who developed severe respiratory symptoms as soon as the family began using a wood stove as a primary heat source – recurrent pneumonia, cough, and wheezing which was not caused by the medical problems commonly thought of. I found that quite a few people have this happen. Wood stoves can cause unexplained respiratory diseaseThe mediator in the study seemed to be airway irritation from hydrocarbons and particulate matters released from the wood as it is burning causing the symptoms in infants through adolescents. Hamsters who are exposed to wood burning stove emissions have considerably less pulmonary injury than do those who are exposed to burning anthracite, and especially bituminous coal. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. The most likely culprit is a worn door gasket. Switching to a gas or electric heater can eliminate wood smoke altogether but may not be a feasible option. If there are none of these causes, then your wood or coal burning stove ought to be the next suspect. In addition, they are more frequently at home and thereby exposed to a greater amount of these residential air … The particles and chemicals in the smoke can trigger asthma attacks and difficulty breathing for people already suffering from bronchitis and emphysema. Children have much narrower airways than adults. You could also be at especially high risk of developing health problems from wood-burning stove fumes if you: Have heart or lung disease, including congestive heart failure (CHF), angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, or asthma Have a chronic illness, such as cancer, lupus, or an immune deficiency Science Daily: Wood-Burning Stoves: Harmful or Safe? Eventually, after much trial and error, it became obvious that the wood burning stove was the sole cause of the respiratory symptoms, and when the family switched back to oil heat, the baby’s symptoms subsided and he began to develop normally. Wood burning stoves may be an economical option to heat a home. Smoking commonly occurs when the door doesn’t make a complete seal against the body of the stove. Some of these chemicals have been linked directly to cancer, although not necessarily through wood smoke. 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