Wood smoke: The other secondhand smoke

Smoking has been banned in bars and restaurants but …

we are all “smoking” involuntarily on our own property and in public spaces due to wood smoke pollution.

Wood smoke: A major source of fine particle pollution in

Minnesota

• Residential burning is one of the largest sources of fine particle pollution in the metro and state-wide, according to an internal PCA Whitepaper Report.

• Wherever wood is burned, air quality near the source far exceeds safety standards.

Wood smoke: A severe health hazard

“Particle Pollution is the most important contaminate in our air – we know that when levels go up, people die.”

Joel Schwartz, Ph.D. Harvard School of Public Health

E Magazine, Sept/Oct. 2002.

Wood smoke: Why is it so dangerous?

Wood smoke’s fine particles are too small to be filtered by our lungs

They collect in the tiny sacs where oxygen enters the bloodstream

They cause structural and chemical changes deep within our lungs

PM2.5 Harms Health

Fine particulates are associated with increased hospitalizations and deaths due to respiratory and heart disease and can worsen the symptoms of asthma.

People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children are the groups most at risk.

Source: http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/region1.cfm?region=Twin%20Cities

Everyone is at risk from wood smoke exposure

• 30 % of Minneapolis children have asthma

• Asthma is the #1 reason for school absenteeism

• Millions of Americans have impaired lung function including emphysema and COPD.

• Wood smoke is implicated in premature death in people of all ages.

Asthma statistics

Asthma is one of this country's most common and costly diseases. - the annual cost of asthma is nearly $18 billion.

Every day in America: 40,000 people miss school or work due to asthma. 30,000 people have an asthma attack. 5,000 people visit the emergency room due to asthma. 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma. 11 people per day and thousands per year die of asthma attacks

Asthma accounts for one-quarter of all emergency room visits in the US each year, with 2 million emergency room visits.

Annually, asthma accounts for more than 10 million outpatient visits and 500,000 hospitalizations.

Source – Asthma and Allergy Foundation: http://www.aafa.org/

Smoke from backyard fires can…

Irritate eyes, lungs, throat and sinuses

Reduce lung function, especially in young children and is implicated in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Increase severity of existing lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, pneumonia and bronchitis

Increase risks of heart attacks and strokes

*Source: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/air/air-quality-and-pollutants/general-air-quality/wood-smoke/health-effects-of-wood-smoke.html?menuid=&redirect=1

Wood Smoke violates property rights

Deprives taxpayers of the right to breathe clean air on their property, and even in their homes.

According to the California Air Resources Board, up to 70% of smoke from chimneys can re-enter neighboring residences, exposing neighbors to toxic smoke.

Wood smoke violates the ADA

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Requires cities to provide “access” to public spaces, including streets, parks and sidewalks, to all people including those with disabilities, such as asthma.

Wood smoke presents a “physical barrier” that restricts the activities of many people.

Wood Smoke and public events

Food vendors at festivals, art shows and the MN State Fair are increasingly using wood grills which heavily pollute the surrounding area

Wood grilling restaurants are also increasing in number and pollute neighborhoods

Wood grilling creates heavy pollution which harms everyone’s health

At risk groups must avoid these areas which excludes them from being able to use public places

Minnehaha Falls, Labor Day 2011Bluegrass Festival Food Vendors

Fine particulates in wood smoke are so miniscule that windows and doors cannot adequately keep them out of your house. 70% of the small particles from outside get into the house. Even homes with modern

air exchangers may not prevent the assault of wood smoke indoors.

Wood smoke’s black carbon soot contributes to Global Warming

Al Gore calls on world to burn less wood and fuel to curb ‘black carbon’

Guardian.co.uk, Tuesday, April 28, 2009Black carbon soot from auto and truck engines, aircraft emissions, burning

forests and the use of wood- and coal-burning stoves is implicated in the melting of ice in polar and mountain regions and is also suspected of interfering in the seeding of clouds for rain.

Wood smoke vs. tobacco smoke

Wood smoke and cigarette smoke contain many of the same carcinogenic components; i.e., benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, lead, and mercury.

Wood smoke is far more concentrated and travels farther than cigarette smoke, remaining chemically active in the body up to 40 hours longer than cigarette smoke.

Wood smoke: a recognized contributor to air pollution

2010 Statistics:

• 17 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

• 142 Moderately Unhealthy Days

League of Women Voters’ Minneapolis Air Quality Forum March 2011

LWV Forum recognized wood smoke as a major contributor to air pollution in the metro

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) presented slides at the Air Quality Forum

Slides that follow are from Lisa Herschberger, MPCA

http://www.lwvmpls.org/Healthy_Legacy_III_Air_Quality.html

Graph Source:http://www.lwvmpls.org/sites/a7e72762-a9f9-4066-9434-3fc9e3d9a22c/uploads/LWV_ir_Quality_Forum_Herschberger.pdf

41% of the Direct PM2.5

Emissions (17,056 tons)

are from Residential

Wood Combustion

State of Minnesota

Graph Source:http://www.lwvmpls.org/sites/a7e72762-a9f9-4066-9434-3fc9e3d9a22c/uploads/LWV_ir_Quality_Forum_Herschberger.pdf

30% of the Direct PM2.5

Emissions (2,757 tons )

are from Residential

Wood Combustion

– Restaurants contribute

6%

Twin Cities Metro Area

Wood Burning

45% of the state Wood Burning “Facilities” are in the Metro Area

The Metro Area is a small portion of the overall State of Minnesota

About 1/3 of Metro Residential Wood Combustion is from Recreational Outdoor Burning = 857 tons of PM 2.5

Graph Source:http://www.lwvmpls.org/sites/a7e72762-a9f9-4066-9434-3fc9e3d9a22c/uploads/LWV_ir_Quality_Forum_Herschberger.pdf

http://www.lwvmpls.org/sites/a7e72762-a9f9-4066-9434-3fc9e3d9a22c/uploads/LWV_ir_Quality_Forum_Herschberger.pdf Graph Source:http://www.lwvmpls.org/sites/a7e72762-a9f9-4066-9434-3fc9e3d9a22c/uploads/LWV_ir_Quality_Forum_Herschberger.pdf

Graph Source:http://www.lwvmpls.org/sites/a7e72762-a9f9-4066-9434-3fc9e3d9a22c/uploads/LWV_ir_Quality_Forum_Herschberger.pdf

Residential Wood Burning is a major source of the

carcinogen Benzo(a)pyrene

“Benzo(a)pyrene is one PAH which has been studied extensively. This PAH is considered a potent carcinogen, meaning low doses may cause cancer. The toxicities of other, less potent, PAHs are commonly evaluated relative to benzo(a)pyrene “*

*http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/children/chemicals.html

Graph Source:http://www.lwvmpls.org/sites/a7e72762-a9f9-4066-9434-3fc9e3d9a22c/uploads/LWV_ir_Quality_Forum_Herschberger.pdf

Gas is the Greener Choice

What can Minneapolis do?

EDUCATE - Initiate an immediate educational campaign on the hazards of wood smoke

Educational notices with water bills

Sound bite on 311 calls

Include wood smoke hazards with cigarette smoke curriculum in schools

What else can Minneapolis do?

Eliminate outdoor recreational fires in Minneapolis

Eliminate recreational burning at public parks, just as cigarette smoke is restricted

Ban Outdoor Wood Boilers (OWBs), as other suburbs have done

Disallow mobile sources of wood burning, such as traveling barbecued rib vendors

Place a moratorium on wood burning restaurants

Wood burning reduction future goals

Incentivize wood burning fireplace change-outs to gas or electric only

Change out existing wood grills in restaurants to gas or electric only

Require that new home builders and remodelers install only gas or electric fireplaces