Wood Smoke and Asthma: Breathe Easier
Wood Smoke and Asthma: Reduce Smoke
Wood Smoke and Asthma: Dry Firewood
During the wintertime,
residential wood smoke is a main contributor to fine particle pollution and is
responsible for poor air quality days in many areas across the United States.
Particle pollution in wood smoke can affect everyone, but children, teenagers,
older adults, people with lung disease, including asthma and COPD, or people
with heart disease are the most vulnerable.
Particle
pollution exposure can lead to a variety of health effects. For example,
numerous studies link particle levels to increased hospital admissions and
emergency room visits—and even to early death. Research indicates that
obesity or diabetes may increase risk. New or expectant mothers may also want
to take precautions to protect the health of their babies.
EPA’s Burn Wise
program encourages communities and their citizens to implement safe burning
practices by emphasizing the importance of burning the right wood, the right
way, in the
right
wood-burning appliance.
