Shedding Light on Particulate Pollution

Shedding Light on Particulate Pollution
Letter to the Editor
Source: London Free Press August 9, 2011

Shedding Light on Particulate Pollution A visit to any hospital will shed light on the dire effects on human health caused by particulate pollution (PM 2.5) that exists in every community. Residential Woodburning is a leading contributor to Woodsmoke-related illnesses.

Fire Pits, Fire Rings, Chimeneas, Wood fuelled cooking devices and all appliances that prepare or smoke food, Woodburning stoves, Woodburning fireplaces, and pellet stoves all pollute and harm the air. The negative impact of Woodburning is felt by all residents. Woodsmoke crosses all boundaries, sex, faith, colour and socio economic conditions.

The significant toll on human health from Woodsmoke polluted air is evident everywhere. Woodsmoke affects everyone, healthy or not. No one is immune to Woodsmoke's deadly impact on their health. No one.

We know that Tobacco smoking continues to destroy the health of people. Even non-smokers suffered and died from the constant exposure to second hand tobacco smoke. Prohibition of Tobacco smoking, education and awareness has saved millions of lives. Yet, the toxic repercussions still exist in hospitals across our Nation as we see people struggle for each breath they take, living on oxygen support, and other means of survival. For many it is not survival but barely existing.

Facts are that "As many as three million Canadians may have COPD and it is Canada's fourth leading cause of death. The Canadian Lung Association predicts that COPD will soon move to the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer." "The true impact of COPD is probably underestimated as it is not usually diagnosed until the disease is moderately advanced."

Scientific and medical evidence state that Woodsmoke pollution is even worse for our health than tobacco smoke.

Asthma, COPD, Cardiopulmonay, Cardiovascular, Stroke, SIDS, Cancer, Respiratory, and other illnesses are associated with Woodburning. The failing and many times irreversible health of those who suffer from lung disease such as Asthma and COPD reveal the damages occurred from not only Tobacco but community Woodsmoke and Woodburning pollution. COPD cannot be cured. It can be managed. Asthma can be controlled, yet people continue to die each year from these diseases.

Shedding light on Particulate Pollution means that our Mayors, city council members, elected leaders and others must take immediate pro-active action to prohibit the use of all Woodburning devices. It is time to end Woodsmoke in our towns and cities. Our environment, our breath, and our life depend on doing so.

Author: Linda Baker Beaudin, Founder, Air Is Precious, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada

Source: London Free Press August 9, 2011


Webmaster: The above letter to the editor should shake-up the leaders in Canada to take action to prohibit all wood burning. For them to stand idly by and do nothing as millions of Canadians suffer (and die) from woodsmoke, is a travesty. Our congrats to the Air is Precious organization and its efforts to save millions of Canadians from the horrors of woodsmoke. Hey, leaders in Canada, it is time to take action now!