New York
Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health
This
time of year is notorious for its changing weather -- warm
one day, cold and damp the next. If you're using wood heat
to take the chills off your home, you need to be aware
of the special safety hazard that burning wood can cause to
your lungs.
According
to the American Lung Association of New York, burning wood
improperly can be risky, especially if you don't know what
not to do when using wood fuel. Improper burning of
wood can endanger your health and property.
Even
though wood is a natural fuel, if it is burned incorrectly,
it can produce dangerous emissions, including carbon monoxide,
organic gases, and smoke. To avoid this, be sure to burn
only seasoned hardwoods, such as oak, maple, and hickory.
Avoid burning soft woods like pine or fir and never burn
newly cut or wet wood.
Never
burn painted or treated wood, or wood products containing
glue. Never burn magazines, gift wrap, or colored paper.
They all produce particles that can clog a fireplace or wood
stove's air passages and can also produce noxious, corrosive
or even carcinogenic gases.
And
be sure you inspect your wood stove or fireplace regularly.
Keep them well maintained, and have the chimney cleaned
of creosote buildup every year to help prevent chimney fires.
Heating
with wood can warm up a damp chilly spring day, but for safety's
sake, make sure you burn wood with care.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
public service announcement was produced by the New York Center
for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH). Publication
date: 1994.
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