Wood Burning Stoves May Save Money, But At What Cost?

To the Editor:

With the rising price of heating our homes and everyone trying to find ways to save money due to the economy, people are running out and purchasing wood burning stoves. As they may save money in the short term, how will wood burning stoves affect the health of people and the environment in the future?  Last winter I noticed a huge jump in the use of wood burning stoves in my neighborhood and when everyone used their stoves at once, the air was filled with smoke.

During our winter walks my husband, who has healthy lungs, would comment how he could smell and taste the smoke and myself who has asthma would come home coughing and would have a hard time breathing. I decided to do some research online and there were many websites with information regarding how unhealthy wood burning stoves are. It seems like smoke from wood burning stoves mostly affects people with current lung/health issues and the elderly. However, children are also negatively impacted since their lungs are still developing, they tend to breathe in more air per body weight than adults and spend more time outside.

We are all struggling in today’s economy, but there must be other ways to save money. If you still feel the need to use your wood burning stoves this winter, here are some ideas to help reduce air pollution from the stoves: use properly dried, seasoned wood (hardwood is most recommended), check the local air quality forecast and avoid burning wood when air quality is poor, and use an EPA-certified wood burning stove, which produce less particle pollution in the air.

You can go online and do your own research and learn about the health risks or even call the American Lung Association and they will be happy to either mail or e-mail you information. It is important to educate yourself to see how your wood burning stove could be negatively affecting your family, your neighbors and the environment. Hopefully with more people becoming aware of the potential health hazards of wood burning stoves we will find cleaner, healthier winter air to breathe.

Tina Long

3 Birch Rise Drive, Newtown                                       October 3, 2010