tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71446236985629674852024-03-13T00:37:22.660-07:00Clean Air For WoodstockThis blog was created to help raise awareness concerning the adverse effects of wood smoke on human health, and on the environment. We are lobbying to eliminate open air burning in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada.
To complain about a burn, call Police and Fire Dispatch: 519-537-2323.
To complain about open air burning, call, write, or e-mail Woodstock Council members (link below, right).Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-56120292053464167812019-11-28T07:59:00.000-08:002020-01-26T07:11:58.235-08:00Canadian Cancer Society (Why I no longer support this organization)Like many health organizations, the Canadian Cancer Society condemns smoking, but turns a blind eye to residential wood burning.<br />
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FACTS:<br />
Air pollution and particulate matter were both classified by IARC as Group 1 carcinogens in 2013.<br />
That means “CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS”.<br />
Anyone near a wood fire is exposed to a megadose of particulate matter.<br />
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In 2016 Public Health Ontario and Cancer Care Ontario jointly published a report entitled <a href="http://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/environmental-burden-cancer-on.pdf?la=en">The Environmental Burden of Cancer in Ontario</a>, in which they ranked 23 environmental carcinogens. <br />
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) ranked #3, far ahead of other well-recognized carcinogens such as asbestos, formaldehyde, and secondhand [tobacco] smoke.<br />
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<b>Despite the evidence, the Canadian Cancer Society website has minimal warnings about wood smoke.</b><br />
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Using the website’s search function, there are no hits for the term “PM2.5”<br />
“Particulate matter” retrieves the pages “Air Pollution and Cancer” and “Risk factors for lung cancer”, although neither links PM to recreational wood burning.<br />
But wait; here it is! Buried WAY down, under the heading “Pollutants from cooking and heating”, we find: “<b>Burning wood and other fuels, such as dung or grass...can also increase the risk for lung cancer.</b>”<br />
And a second mention, on the “What is air pollution” page, where “<b>indoor burning of coal or wood</b>” is listed as a major source of indoor air pollution.<br />
On the “7 ways to reduce your exposure to air pollution - indoors”, we finally find a piece of good advice: “<b>Switch from a...wood-burning heat source...</b>”, unfortunately followed immediately by this howler: “...<b>lower your risk by using efficient stoves and fireplaces with effective chimneys.”</b><br />
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<b>There is no mention anywhere about RECREATIONAL wood burning: backyard fire pits, campfires, or fireplaces.</b><br />
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Why isn’t residential wood burning treated like smoking? <br />
This message should be upfront on the website, where the public is encouraged to “Make healthy choices”.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "lato" , , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span>Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-49894701437796530222019-11-19T19:47:00.000-08:002020-02-16T17:29:32.498-08:00Heart & Stroke (Why I no longer support this organization)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.heartandstroke.ca/">Heart & Stroke</a></div>
Way back in 2009, H&S published a position statement entitled “Air Pollution, Heart Disease and Stroke”.<br />
In this document they:<br />
<ul>
<li>Linked air pollution with premature deaths</li>
<li>Recognized wood stoves and fireplaces as “sources of dangerous air pollution” and PM2.5</li>
<li>Described the ways PM2.5 affects the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke</li>
<li>Recommended that public take action to reduce air pollution by limiting wood burning</li>
</ul>
Strangely, a decade later, none of this information is reflected in the front end of the H&S website.<br />
Evidence that air pollution, PM2.5, and wood smoke have a detrimental effect on the cardiovascular system has increased, and yet residential wood burning is not included among “lifestyle risk factors”. There are no warnings about inhaling wood smoke.<br />
“Particulate” and “PM2.5” retrieve nothing in the H&S website search function.<br />
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There is even Canadian research showing the link between heart attacks in seniors and wood burning:<br />
<a href="https://www.cantechletter.com/2017/03/wood-burning-stoves-fireplaces-increase-risk-heart-attack-canadian-study/">https://www.cantechletter.com/2017/03/wood-burning-stoves-fireplaces-increase-risk-heart-attack-canadian-study/</a><br />
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Bizarrely, in 2017 H&S used an image of a fire pit in their lottery brochure:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSrD4sqziAv4_3pjQv1pTC6sJGJvvenN0FKb_QJDkrKk2mCrZSfnXMnlhosvGEVckZtHBl929UFCKDWSCqPcMBfaiAwlKWofYNnuXk0m21UzBPnaWjzvz084TdHI12ybZsjrEI_W506Da/s1600/B7590CBF-F781-43C8-992E-D420AEDEFB04.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSrD4sqziAv4_3pjQv1pTC6sJGJvvenN0FKb_QJDkrKk2mCrZSfnXMnlhosvGEVckZtHBl929UFCKDWSCqPcMBfaiAwlKWofYNnuXk0m21UzBPnaWjzvz084TdHI12ybZsjrEI_W506Da/s320/B7590CBF-F781-43C8-992E-D420AEDEFB04.jpeg" width="287" /></a></div>
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WHY WON’T HEART & STROKE TELL CANADIANS THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR FIREPLACES, WOOD STOVES, CAMPFIRES AND FIRE PITS?<br />
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The position statement can still be found [archived] on the website...if you know where to look:<br />
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<a href="https://www.heartandstroke.ca/-/media/pdf-files/canada/2017-position-statements/airpollution-heartdisease-andstroke-ps-eng.ashx?rev=b3f18cce0f4249d0b7349d3e426843d7&hash=BC224590A86220A51F6F093C27F16FFE">https://www.heartandstroke.ca/-/media/pdf-files/canada/2017-position-statements/airpollution-heartdisease-andstroke-ps-eng.ashx?rev=b3f18cce0f4249d0b7349d3e426843d7&hash=BC224590A86220A51F6F093C27F16FFE</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nMkxTTUVdjSDp-sAkYO5pSPS1xQSyepYOowhOntXhnOtnZ6dUj_W5Nu7wRc0Kd-eLPZAWgXnSu3973X92RsxPNBppYMqdPZHr_5bqocoP82J6YUTZ-P2vc39CS4HLnk_upKIvXwbTbWT/s1600/B4692966-494A-4AB2-8F46-2CA524E18C3D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="1024" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nMkxTTUVdjSDp-sAkYO5pSPS1xQSyepYOowhOntXhnOtnZ6dUj_W5Nu7wRc0Kd-eLPZAWgXnSu3973X92RsxPNBppYMqdPZHr_5bqocoP82J6YUTZ-P2vc39CS4HLnk_upKIvXwbTbWT/s640/B4692966-494A-4AB2-8F46-2CA524E18C3D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-84050538754008346092019-10-31T07:50:00.001-07:002019-12-16T06:22:56.856-08:00Diabetes Canada (Why I can’t support this organization)<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #414141; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #414141; font-size: 16px;">More evidence of the general level of ignorance, even in the healthcare community, of the dangers of localized air pollution and biomass combustion.</span><br />
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #414141; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #414141; font-size: 16px;">Like other health-related charities, <a href="http://diabetes.ca/">Diabetes Canada</a> condemns tobacco use:</span>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Smoking</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> is a deadly habit. One of the best things you can do for your heart, diabetes and overall health is to quit now.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #414141; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #414141; font-size: 16px;">And then they post THIS image promoting their camps: child and teens inhaling toxic wood smoke.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-SdvKUJmM3k1TSBfjL5KWlJDuxVOfNxCzvaP0FqH0JtCM2hQzdb4aag4EHs2Inc28RQjNzfBxijzaJy2Mmlt2Ql-tEbyM2S6UUwUWjzTGNw2Bli-QMPgdep2pNT2D-hF_Ji8IoXrZipU/s1600/F25788E7-C5C8-4DB2-9F25-DC980BB6C378.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="350" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-SdvKUJmM3k1TSBfjL5KWlJDuxVOfNxCzvaP0FqH0JtCM2hQzdb4aag4EHs2Inc28RQjNzfBxijzaJy2Mmlt2Ql-tEbyM2S6UUwUWjzTGNw2Bli-QMPgdep2pNT2D-hF_Ji8IoXrZipU/s640/F25788E7-C5C8-4DB2-9F25-DC980BB6C378.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On their page “Diwali and Diabetes”, one of the gift basket suggestions is a source of indoor air pollution:</div>
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<ul style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1.25rem 0px 0px 1.8rem; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: 1rem;"><span style="color: red;">Scented candles or home fragrance such as incense sticks. This gift will be enjoyed long after the holiday is over.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://www.diabetes.ca/media-room/news/diwali-and-diabetes--less-sweets-and-more-sweetness--?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=socialpost&utm_campaign=GeneralPost&utm_content=diwali">https://www.diabetes.ca/media-room/news/diwali-and-diabetes--less-sweets-and-more-sweetness--?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=socialpost&utm_campaign=GeneralPost&utm_content=diwali</a></div>
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Although exposure to fine particulate is a known risk factor for the development of diabetes, the terms “particulate”, “PM2.5” and “air pollution” yield no useful results when searched on their website.</div>
Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-26894093145127242902019-10-30T18:57:00.001-07:002019-12-16T06:23:39.749-08:00Lung Association (Why I no longer support this organization)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lung.ca/" target="_blank">Lung Association </a></div>
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The Lung Association appears to be either</div>
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1) ignorant of all the health issues associated with air pollution, wood smoke, and PM2.5, OR</div>
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2) unwilling to offend or alienate the wood-burning public by telling the truth.</div>
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Concerning fireplaces, we are told to “burn smart”, properly install and maintain, store wood properly, and (laughably) “...open a window a little bit to ensure a good supply of fresh air into your home.” 🤣🤣🤣</div>
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<b>Did HPBCA, WETT, or another industry organization write this nonsense?</b></div>
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<b>Shouldn’t the Lung Association condemn residential wood burning as strongly as it condemns smoking???</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "gotham book" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: red;">Do you have a fireplace in your home? Wood burning indoors can produce high levels of dangerous particles and gases that can be easily inhaled into the lungs. Be sure to "burn smart" if you use a fireplace.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/air-quality/your-healthy-home/healthy-home-tour/living-room"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/air-quality/your-healthy-home/healthy-home-tour/living-room</span></a></h2>
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<span style="color: red;">Many Canadian homes have fireplaces for ambience and extra warmth. Some homes burn wood as the main source of heat. It is important to follow a number of key steps when burning any wood indoors.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tips:</span></span></h2>
<ul style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "Gotham Book", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 25px;">
<li><span style="color: red;">Inspect your chimneys and flues annually for corrosion, blockages, and cracks that could let dangerous gases (e.g. carbon monoxide) enter your home.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: red;">When using your fireplace, open a window a little bit to ensure a good supply of fresh air into your home.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Do not burn plastics, newspapers, magazines, painted wood, or cardboard as they can all release dangerous chemicals into your home's air.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Make sure wood is stored outdoors, dried, kept off the ground, and loosely covered.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: red;">When installing a fireplace, be sure that it is installed by a certified contractor who will ensure proper installation and safety. Check to see if they are a Wood Energy Technical Training (WETT) certified member.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Poorly maintained and inefficient fireplaces can lead to difficulty breathing, coughing, irritation of the lungs, and asthma attacks in sensitive individuals.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Ensure your wood burning appliances are being used properly and not causing breathing problems or making air unpleasant for your neighbours.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/air-quality/your-healthy-home/healthy-home-tour/living-room/fireplace">https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/air-quality/your-healthy-home/healthy-home-tour/living-room/fireplace</a></div>
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SHOCKINGLY bad advice offered about outdoor burning: </div>
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1) no distinction concerning fuels (wood, charcoal, gas, propane)</div>
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2) implying these activities are safe under appropriate air quality and weather conditions, and if “not located too close to the home”</div>
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In reality a wood burning fire pit will blanket an entire neighbourhood with toxic smoke.</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "gotham book" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Barbequing and sitting around the backyard fire pit are common Canadian summertime activities. It is important to use them properly to prevent any health issues from exposure to pollutants.</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: red;">Monitor your air quality and weather forecast to determine wind conditions and any air alerts that may be occurring when you're planning on using a barbeque or fire pit. Try not to do any outdoor burning on a hazy or smog day, when the air quality reading is poor, or when there is no wind as it will keep wood smoke particles close to the ground where people can inhale them. Also, do not light a fire pit during windy conditions as this can cause sparks to fly around and cause the fire to get out of control.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Make sure your barbeque or fire pit is not located too close to the home as any drifting smoke can easily get indoors through windows or doors.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/air-quality/your-healthy-home/healthy-home-tour/outside-home/barbeques-and-fire-pits" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: center;">https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/air-quality/your-healthy-home/healthy-home-tour/outside-home/barbeques-and-fire-pits</a></div>
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Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-8185784417839787982019-09-03T11:15:00.002-07:002019-09-03T11:21:17.561-07:00SCAQMD adopts balanced measure governing beach bonfires<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://burningissues.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6405">http://burningissues.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6405</a><br />
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“Burning Issues” has preserved this document from July 12, 2013, which may have been deleted from the AQMD website.<br />
<br />Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-32910787649414203812018-08-15T12:30:00.000-07:002019-09-03T10:57:00.430-07:00Fire Pit Emissions (To Council, #8)<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Today I would like to direct your attention to the 2013 decision by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in California, regarding beach bonfires:</span></div>
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<a href="http://burningissues.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6405">http://burningissues.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6405</a><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Some key points to note:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“The <b>particulate</b> <b>emissions rate per minute</b> from one beach bonfire is equal to that from: </span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Three average big-rig diesel trucks</b>; or </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><b>The secondhand smoke from 800 cigarettes</b>. Wood smoke contains many of the same toxic chemicals as secondhand cigarette smoke.”</span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"> “...one fire pit in one evening emits as much fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) as one big-rig diesel truck driven 564 miles.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“Smoke does disperse and is diluted as it travels downwind from a fire pit. An air quality model indicates that <b>the concentration of PM2.5</b>, the key harmful ingredient in wood smoke, <b>decreases by about 98 percent at a distance of 700 feet from a fire pit</b>...”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“Fine particles in wood smoke contain cancer-causing chemicals as well as common combustion pollutants such as nitrogen oxides. Numerous health studies during wildfires, and in communities where large amounts of wood or other biomass is burned, show that wood smoke causes respiratory irritation and an increase in hospital admissions for respiratory problems. <b>Fine particles also can aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases and are linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions</b>.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">SCAQMD’s decision is that fire pits can remain if they are “<b>located at least 700 feet from the nearest residence</b>”.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">I am waiting to hear your justification for allowing backyard fire pits in Woodstock.</span></div>
Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-44729008537800972642018-08-08T14:22:00.000-07:002018-08-16T07:19:54.356-07:00Open Air Burning and Children (To Council, #7)<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #484848; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Just like second-hand tobacco smoke, wood smoke is hazardous to infants, children, and the unborn.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">You are probably aware that in Ontario it is illegal to light a cigarette in a vehicle with a child on board, and it is also illegal to smoke within 20 metres of a playground or playing field. Our provincial government is well aware of the danger posed to children from smoke inhalation.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/smoke-free-ontario">https://www.ontario.ca/page/smoke-free-ontario</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Bizarrely, in Woodstock it is legal for many residents near parks and playing fields to light backyard fires, thus subjecting children and their families using these facilities to toxic wood smoke. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Please ponder the irony implicit in the attached picture, taken at Cowan Park: no smoking, but a fire pit (one of many in the neighbourhood) in the background.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Here are some excerpts from the website of Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">“Children are among the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of particulate air pollution. <b>Children breathe faster and inhale more pollutants</b> in proportion to their body weight than do adults. Their immune systems and organs are still developing.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">“Particulate pollution has been <b>shown to affect lung function and lung development</b>.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">“During infancy, <b>the developing lung is highly susceptible to damage</b> from environmental pollutants, including those from wood smoke.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">“<a href="http://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2016/04/28/oemed-2015-103086.short?g=w_oem_ahead_tab"><span style="color: #4e808e; font-size: 12pt;">Recent research</span></a> also suggests an association with increased exposure to fine particulate matter during pregnancy and an <b>increased risk of stillbirth</b>.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">“There is also <a href="http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/en.2015-1403"><span style="color: #4e808e; font-size: 12pt;">growing evidence</span></a> that fine particulate pollution, especially with increased levels of PAHs, can lead to <b>impaired neuropsychological development and a lifelong lowered IQ</b>.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">“As a society, we no longer think it is acceptable to force children to breathe secondhand tobacco smoke. It’s time to extend this attitude to wood smoke.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://woodsmokepollution.org/children.html">https://woodsmokepollution.org/children.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Why does Woodstock allow open air burning?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWjZPTLfMCQc9CRPrBYnfQU99zimW2tSvmbsT1h91iRD5VFTC3DB7Jr9XnHbwOFmRGiT-ucwE0uAAZ-A4RwXpDWHBfcTTNm3dOsMk6Ti4GZKBagvMPVbuzwBJdh8IlY4j1sHH103SH0fK/s1600/Sign+with+Firepit.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWjZPTLfMCQc9CRPrBYnfQU99zimW2tSvmbsT1h91iRD5VFTC3DB7Jr9XnHbwOFmRGiT-ucwE0uAAZ-A4RwXpDWHBfcTTNm3dOsMk6Ti4GZKBagvMPVbuzwBJdh8IlY4j1sHH103SH0fK/s320/Sign+with+Firepit.jpeg" width="237" /></a></div>
Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-86239062623428471482018-08-01T12:28:00.000-07:002018-08-26T05:07:59.770-07:00Open Air Burning and Dementia (To Council, #6)<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">If physical health problems previously discussed (cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, COPD, and asthma) aren’t enough reason to fear wood smoke, please be advised that there is evidence that PM2.5 attacks the brain, and leads to various forms of impairment, including dementia.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">A recent study conducted in Ontario found a positive relationship between PM2.5 and dementia, and between nitrogen dioxide and dementia. PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide are both components of wood smoke.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28917207">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28917207</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Here is an accessible article that quotes the study:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/01/brain-pollution-evidence-builds-dirty-air-causes-alzheimer-s-dementia">http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/01/brain-pollution-evidence-builds-dirty-air-causes-alzheimer-s-dementia</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Follow that with this study from Sweden:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“Researchers at the Umea University in northern Sweden have studied air quality in homes where wood-fire stoves are used and found that inhaling smoke from the stoves may not only cause asthma and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, but can also enhance the risk of the onset of dementia...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">"We have seen that people who live in areas where wood-fire stoves are common run a greater risk of being affected, and that also goes for people who live next to someone who uses wood-fire stoves,"...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/14/c_137253934.htm">http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/14/c_137253934.htm</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Results from the Swedish study:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“The emission of PM2.5 from local residential wood burning was associated with dementia incidence with a hazard ratio of 1.55 for a 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5...</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Study participants with an address in an area with the highest quartile of PM2.5 from residential wood burning and who also had a wood-burning stove were more likely to develop dementia than those in the lower three quartiles without a wood-burning stove...”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0198283">http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0198283<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;"></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Wood smoke is hazardous to mind and body.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Why does Woodstock Council allow open air burning?</span></div>
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Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-54212487971650737692018-07-25T10:54:00.000-07:002018-08-01T12:28:31.771-07:00Open Air Burning and Asthma (To Council, #5)<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">You probably know someone who suffers from asthma; according to Health Canada, this chronic condition afflicts 12.1% of the population of Ontario.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/asthma-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-canada-2018.html">https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/asthma-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-canada-2018.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">If you have been following the news about the forest fires elsewhere in the province, you may have heard special warnings directed at people who suffer from asthma, as well as for those with COPD, or other respiratory or cardiovascular problems.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">What you should realize is that inhaling smoke from neighbourhood fire pits is just as dangerous as inhaling forest fire smoke.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Here is more information from the Lung Association, Asthma Canada, and the Government of Canada:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“Breathing in wood smoke can cause increased respiratory symptoms, increased hospital admissions, exacerbation of asthma and COPD, and decrease your ability to breathe normally. If you have a lung disease,<b> breathing in wood smoke can make your disease worse and cause a flare-up</b>.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.lung.ca/news/advocacy-tools/our-position-statements/residential-wood-burning">https://www.lung.ca/news/advocacy-tools/our-position-statements/residential-wood-burning</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“Exposure to smoke of any kind, whether the source is tobacco, marijuana, forest fires or camp fires, can be harmful.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.asthma.ca/get-help/asthma-3/triggers-3/common-asthma-triggers/">https://www.asthma.ca/get-help/asthma-3/triggers-3/common-asthma-triggers/<span style="color: #424141; font-size: 11pt;"></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in Canada. It affects Canadians of all ages, but younger Canadians are disproportionately affected.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness. There is currently no cure for asthma; however, it can be well controlled by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">avoiding allergens and other triggers</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">, quitting smoking, and taking medication properly.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://infobase.phac-aspc.gc.ca/datalab/asthma-blog-en.html">https://infobase.phac-aspc.gc.ca/datalab/asthma-blog-en.html<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;"></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">The number of residents of Woodstock who suffer from asthma is probably close to 5,000.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">(2016 census population: 40,902 x provincial asthma rate 12.1%) = 4,949.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Now that you know that wood smoke may be triggering asthma attacks in approximately 5,000 residents (many of them children), how can Woodstock Council justify continuing the practice of open air burning?</span></div>
Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-64824114277252006482018-07-18T13:03:00.000-07:002018-07-26T12:24:57.725-07:00Open Air Burning and COPD (To Council, #4)<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12pt;">You probably know someone who is suffering from COPD; more than 10% of Canadians over the age of 35 are living with it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://infobase.phac-aspc.gc.ca/datalab/copd-blog-en.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 12pt;">https://infobase.phac-aspc.gc.ca/datalab/copd-blog-en.html</a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Wood smoke can cause COPD, precipitate flare-ups, and lead to death.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Here’s what the Lung Association has to say:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">In 80-90% of cases, it is caused by smoking. Other causes of COPD can include:</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">genetic reasons (alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency)</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">occupational dusts and chemicals</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">second hand smoke</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">frequent lung infections as a child</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><b>wood smoke and other biomass </b>(animal dung, crop residues) <b>fuel</b> used for cooking. </span><a href="https://www.lung.ca/copd" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.lung.ca/copd</a></li>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Breathing in wood smoke can cause increased respiratory symptoms, increased hospital admissions, exacerbation of asthma and COPD, and decreased your ability to breathe normally. If you have a lung disease, <b>breathing in wood smoke can make your disease worse and cause a flare-up</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">PM2.5 (inhalable particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter) - PM2.5, which consists of a mixture of microscopic particles of varied size and composition, has been declared a toxic substance under the Environmental Protection Act. <b>These particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, leading to serious respiratory problems, including excess mortality,</b> especially among those with pre-existing cardiopulmonary illness.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.lung.ca/news/advocacy-tools/our-position-statements/residential-wood-burning">https://www.lung.ca/news/advocacy-tools/our-position-statements/residential-wood-burning<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;"><b>So we can add COPD to our growing list of health problems (cancer, diabetes, heart attacks) linked to PM2.5 and wood burning.</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;"><b>How can Woodstock Council justify the practice of open air burning?</b></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 11pt;"><i>The above text was sent by e-mail to each member of Council on July 18, 2018.</i></span></span></div>
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Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-11817717265924709322018-07-11T14:14:00.000-07:002018-09-06T16:26:53.739-07:00Open Air Burning and Heart Attacks (To Council, #3)<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Saturday July 7 was a horribly smoky, unpleasant evening in my neighbourhood here in Woodstock.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Are you aware that wood smoke causes heart attacks?</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">The results of a recent Canadian study are summarized here:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“By comparing pollution data from three cities in British Columbia (Prince George, Kamloops and Courtenay/Comox) with hospital admissions, researchers from McGill and Health Canada found that rising concentrations of fine particulate air pollution caused by wood burning were associated with increased hospitalization for myocardial infarction. During the cold season, when pollution from woodstoves is at its highest, the risk of heart attacks among subjects of 65 years and older increased by 19%.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“We noticed that the association was stronger when more of the air pollution came from wood burning, says McGill University professor Scott Weichenthal, lead author of a new study published in <a href="http://journals.lww.com/epidem/fulltext/9000/00000/Biomass_Burning_as_a_Source_of_Ambient_Fine.98888.aspx"><span style="color: #1f5187; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">Epidemiology</span></a>.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/woodstoves-are-good-soul-bad-heart-266643">https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/woodstoves-are-good-soul-bad-heart-266643</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Here’s a statement from the American Heart Association:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">“In sensitive populations, exposure to PM2.5 for even a few hours or days can trigger cardiovascular disease-related deaths from heart attack, stroke, arrhythmia, sudden cardiac arrest, and heart failure. Short- term increases in PM2.5 levels lead to the early death of tens of thousands of Americans every year.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@adv/documents/downloadable/ucm_463344.pdf">https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@adv/documents/downloadable/ucm_463344.pdf<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;"></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><b>PM2.5 is a carcinogen.</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><b>PM2.5 increases the risk of developing diabetes.</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><b>PM2.5 causes heart attacks.</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><b>PM2.5 is a major component of wood smoke.</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><b>How can Woodstock Council justify the policy of open air burning?</b></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><i>The above text was sent by e-mail to each member of Council on July 11, 2018.</i></span><br />
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Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-85722722558826729802018-07-04T11:33:00.001-07:002018-07-07T18:51:04.705-07:00Open Air Burning and Diabetes (To Council, #2)<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">Last week I wrote to you about the cancer risk for residents due to exposure to wood smoke and one of its components, fine particulate matter (PM2.5).</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">This past Friday a new study was published in The Lancet Planetary Health, that links PM2.5 with DIABETES.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">From CNN’s report on the study:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">"There's an undeniable relationship between diabetes and and particle air pollution levels well below the current safe standards," said senior study author Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, an assistant professor of medicine at Washington University.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">“Particulate or particle air pollution is made up of microscopic pieces of dust, dirt, smoke and soot mixed with liquid droplets. The finest particles regulated by the EPA are 2.5 micrometers; to put that in perspective, a strand of human hair is 70 micrometers, or more than 30 times larger.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Anything less than 10 micrometers can not only enter the lungs, it can pass into the bloodstream, where it is carried to various organs and begins a chronic inflammatory reaction thought to lead to disease.</b>”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/29/health/air-pollution-diabetes-study/index.html">https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/29/health/air-pollution-diabetes-study/index.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">From the study itself:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">“The global toll of diabetes attributable to PM2·5 air pollution is significant. Reduction in exposure will yield substantial health benefits.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://secure.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/action/getSharedSiteSession?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thelancet.com%2Fjournals%2Flanpla%2Farticle%2FPIIS2542-5196%2818%2930140-2%2Ffulltext&rc=0">https://secure.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/action/getSharedSiteSession?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thelancet.com%2Fjournals%2Flanpla%2Farticle%2FPIIS2542-5196%2818%2930140-2%2Ffulltext&rc=0</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">8 years ago, the Sentinel Review reported that residents of Oxford County were already at a higher risk of diabetes, due to obesity.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2010/09/10/diabetes-risk-for-adults-in-oxford-county-is-on-the-rise">http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2010/09/10/diabetes-risk-for-adults-in-oxford-county-is-on-the-rise</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;"><b>PM2.5 is a carcinogen.</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;"><b>PM2.5 increases the risk of developing diabetes.</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;"><b>PM2.5 is a major component of wood smoke.</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;"><b>How can Woodstock Council justify open air burning?</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 12pt;">I await your response.</span></div>
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<i>The above text was sent as an e-mail to each member of Woodstock Council on July 4, 2018.</i></div>
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Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-56768820025726870522018-06-27T14:29:00.001-07:002018-07-31T04:57:34.722-07:00Open Air Burning and Cancer (To Council, #1)<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11pt;">On calm summer evenings, many Woodstock neighbourhoods are filled with wood smoke from backyard fire pits.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">I would like each member of Council to spend a few minutes perusing a report entitled “Environmental Burden of Cancer in Ontario”, a joint publication from Public Health Ontario and Cancer Care Ontario, available on the internet.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/Environmental_Burden_of_Cancer_Key%20Messages_2016.pdf">https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/Environmental_Burden_of_Cancer_Key%20Messages_2016.pdf</a></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/Environmental_Burden_of_Cancer_in_Ontario_2016.pdf">https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/Environmental_Burden_of_Cancer_in_Ontario_2016.pdf</a></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">This report ranks 23 environmental carcinogens, and concludes that 3 of those carcinogens are responsible for 90% of new environmental cancer cases in this province.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">One of the top 3 carcinogens is FINE PARTICULATE MATTER (also known as PM2.5), and it is a key component of WOOD SMOKE.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><b>BY ALLOWING OPEN AIR BURNING, WOODSTOCK COUNCIL IS THEREFORE INCREASING THE CANCER RISK FOR EVERY RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY.</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">One of the reduction strategies for PM2.5 given in the report is “increasing the distance between areas with concentrated combustion emissions and where people live and work.” </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11pt;">[p.5] </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11pt;">Clearly, fires shouldn’t be burning in backyards.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">You should notice how far down the list are other substances commonly recognized as carcinogenic, such as asbestos, formaldehyde, and second-hand tobacco smoke. Consider, too, that there is no way to avoid inhaling wood-smoke-polluted air from a neighbour’s fire pit.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;">Backyard fires are illegal in many Ontario cities, including Guelph, Waterloo, Brantford and Cambridge.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt;"><b>In light of the cancer risk, I would appreciate hearing your justification for continuing to allow open air burning in Woodstock.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"><i>The above text was sent by e-mail to each member of Woodstock Council on June 27, 2018.</i></span></div>
Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-5672787407594205022017-12-03T10:05:00.000-08:002018-03-30T12:25:18.567-07:00The holiday tradition we would be better off without (2nd edition)<br />
Quiz: What holiday tradition is bad for everyone's health, and also bad for the planet?<br />
Hint: "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."<br />
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Yes, that cheerful wood-burning fireplace that confronts us everywhere in image and song at this time of year, is actually a little toxic incinerator.<br />
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Burning wood, leaves, or any other biomass releases carbon and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, but perhaps the deadliest component of wood smoke is fine particulate matter (PM2.5).<br />
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In a joint publication, Public Health Ontario and Cancer Care Ontario identified PM2.5 as the third greatest environmental carcinogen in this province (way ahead of asbestos, formaldehyde, and second-hand tobacco smoke, for comparison). Solar UV radiation and radon claimed the first two spots.<br />
If that isn’t enough bad news, a recent study funded by Health Canada and conducted in B.C., found that heart attacks in seniors increased as the level of PM2.5 in the air increased.<br />
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This festive season, could we consider the health of everyone around us, and NOT light the fireplace?<br />
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<b>Peace, goodwill, clean air, and good health to all.</b><br />
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References:<br />
Public Health Ontario/Cancer Care Ontario. The Environmental Burden of Cancer<br />
<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/BrowseByTopic/EnvironmentalandOccupationalHealth/Pages/Environmental-Burden-of-Cancer-ON.aspx">https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/BrowseByTopic/EnvironmentalandOccupationalHealth/Pages/Environmental-Burden-of-Cancer-ON.aspx</a><br />
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Biomass Burning as a Source of Ambient Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Acute Myocardial Infarction<br />
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28177951">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28177951</a><br />
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Earth Institute, Columbia University. The damaging effects of black carbon.<br />
<a href="http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2016/03/22/the-damaging-effects-of-black-carbon/">http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2016/03/22/the-damaging-effects-of-black-carbon/</a><br />
<br />Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-23810262400811531502017-10-26T14:30:00.000-07:002019-01-05T10:51:24.456-08:00Heart & Stroke Foundation sends the WRONG message<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What's wrong with this picture?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGELVIrnC3F3QH7STEf8rbtivrKGoZB3wg3OSswSLfyizT3uGDJ3pOT7620VolEZwLROH5GBYia25b-JbyQF-NcM49h-ixehEeDM5FsqBD50iZUOdbWzm6vYBb0IKgZ8ZuW1KNae-6ShVT/s1600/Lottery.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="738" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGELVIrnC3F3QH7STEf8rbtivrKGoZB3wg3OSswSLfyizT3uGDJ3pOT7620VolEZwLROH5GBYia25b-JbyQF-NcM49h-ixehEeDM5FsqBD50iZUOdbWzm6vYBb0IKgZ8ZuW1KNae-6ShVT/s320/Lottery.jpeg" width="289" /></a></div>
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The Heart & Stroke Foundation's brochure advertising their 2017 lottery includes an image of a three-generation family sitting lakeside...AROUND A FIRE PIT!<br />
Yes, yes, the device pictured is actually fuelled by propane, but that fact is disguised by a metal surround, presumably to make it look like the (authentic) wood-burning kind. <br />
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The message couldn't be more off base, unless the adults were passing cigarettes to the kids ("Let me light that for you, and then I'll teach you how to inhale!").<br />
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It's hard to believe that no one at H&S is aware of recent research connecting wood smoke with cardiovascular issues, such as the study done in B.C. and funded by Health Canada, that found increased levels of fine particulate matter were associated with increased heart attacks in seniors: <a href="http://journals.lww.com/epidem/Citation/2017/05000/Biomass_Burning_as_a_Source_of_Ambient_Fine.5.aspx">http://journals.lww.com/epidem/Citation/2017/05000/Biomass_Burning_as_a_Source_of_Ambient_Fine.5.aspx</a><br />
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H&S does have a Position Statement buried on their website entitled "Air pollution, heart disease and stroke", but it hasn't been updated since 2009, and the dangers of burning wood/inhaling particulate matter aren't mentioned in any of the "healthy lifestyle choice" advice offered up front.<br />
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<b>The issue is even more disturbing when one considers that the person who disregards all the conventional advice offered on the H&S website (concerning weight, diet, exercise, smoking, medical attention), probably puts only their own health at risk, while the person who regularly burns wood damages the health of their entire community.</b><br />
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It would be wonderful to see the Heart & Stroke Foundation redeem itself from this faux pas by launching a wood-smoke-awareness campaign.Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-70186281916851708562017-10-15T18:24:00.000-07:002017-10-17T07:44:22.736-07:00Message to WEAC<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPznXVM6cThRpGCMXdyokr4zDpdwRhfZq7fVRw5uBaA5WBMi8Zij5U8VLPrNCFsGt5gCzr8JGT2M1N1_CRbcVGuLS_aXG62sM53PGOuArK_vimx4oEkNTLqG5fS7yWdiugqtOmQj-WZwC/s1600/Sign+with+Firepit.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPznXVM6cThRpGCMXdyokr4zDpdwRhfZq7fVRw5uBaA5WBMi8Zij5U8VLPrNCFsGt5gCzr8JGT2M1N1_CRbcVGuLS_aXG62sM53PGOuArK_vimx4oEkNTLqG5fS7yWdiugqtOmQj-WZwC/s320/Sign+with+Firepit.jpeg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, the irony!<br />
Sign at Cowan Park, with fire pit in background.</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
e-mail sent July 2017:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Hello, members of WEAC</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">It has been over a year since I last had occasion to comment on your agenda, so I will once again touch base with you and share some thoughts. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Last July the subject of your Green Tips column in WOW was smog, to which I responded with a UR opinion piece published in the Sentinel Review on July 26, 2016; it's also on my blog, with your column reproduced for reference: <a href="https://cleanairforwoodstock.blogspot.ca/search?updated-max=2016-08-13T08:41:00-07:00&max-results=7">https://cleanairforwoodstock.blogspot.ca/search?updated-max=2016-08-13T08:41:00-07:00&max-results=7</a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Needless to say the dangerous and highly polluting practice of open air burning continues to be legal in Woodstock, and what I called "the general level of ignorance regarding wood smoke" prevails (see the post "Would you do this to YOUR grandmother?", which includes an excerpt from the MOECC's website): <a href="https://cleanairforwoodstock.blogspot.ca/">https://cleanairforwoodstock.blogspot.ca/</a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Today I would like to bring to your attention the website of Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution: <a href="http://woodsmokepollution.org/">http://woodsmokepollution.org</a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">I encourage each of you to explore the material presented under the "Health", "Residential Sources" and "Environment" tabs, including the extensive bibliographies of scholarly articles.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">You might then wish to ask yourselves why WEAC continues to tolerate a practice as damaging to human health and to the environment as open air burning.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">I look forward to your response.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
In that e-mail I provided links to three sites: <br />
1) the website of DSAWSP, which includes a bibliography of over 400 articles regarding wood smoke, which I encouraged you to explore<br />
2) Pictures and story of the campfire event held at Woodingford Lodge in September of 2016<br />
(and if this event didn't horrify you, you need to review the previous information)<br />
3) my critique of WEAC's Green Tips column on smog, from July 2016<br />
<br />
To which I would like to add one comment: the column discourages driving and idling.<br />
Research done in California where they studied the impact of beach bonfires concluded:<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">"The particulate emissions rate per minute from one beach bonfire is equal to that from:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">Three average big-rig diesel trucks; or</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">The secondhand smoke from 800 cigarettes.</span> Wood smoke contains many of the same toxic chemicals as secondhand cigarette smoke.<br />
Also, one fire pit in one evening emits as much fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) as one big-rig diesel truck driven 564 miles."<br />
<a href="http://www.aqmd.gov/home/library/public-information/2013-news-archives/fire-pit-board-decision">http://www.aqmd.gov/home/library/public-information/2013-news-archives/fire-pit-board-decision</a><br />
<br />
There has been a lot of new information about fine particulate matter since Woodstock's Bylaw was passed in 2013.<br />
This is what the MOECC says:<br />
"Exposure to fine particulate matter has been associated with hospital admissions and several serious health effects, including <span style="background-color: yellow;">premature death</span>. People with asthma, cardiovascular or lung disease, as well as children and elderly people, are considered to be the most sensitive to the effects of fine particulate matter. <span style="background-color: yellow;">Adverse health effects have been associated with exposure to PM2.5 over both short periods (such as a day)</span> and longer periods (a year or more)."<br />
<a href="http://airqualityontario.com/science/pollutants/particulates.php">http://airqualityontario.com/science/pollutants/particulates.php</a><br />
<br />
The World Health Organization, on particulate matter:<br />
<br />
"PM10 and PM2.5 include inhalable particles that are small enough to penetrate the thoracic region of the respiratory system. The health effects of inhalable PM are well documented. They are due to exposure over both the short term (hours, days) and long term (months, years) and include:<br />
• respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity, such as aggravation of asthma, respiratory symptoms and an increase in hospital admissions;<br />
• <span style="background-color: yellow;">mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and from lung cancer.</span><br />
<br />
Susceptible groups with pre-existing lung or heart disease, as well as <span style="background-color: yellow;">elderly people and children</span>, are particularly vulnerable. For example, exposure to PM affects lung development in children, including reversible deficits in lung function as well as chronically reduced lung growth rate and a deficit in long-term lung function (4). <span style="background-color: yellow;">There is no evidence of a safe level of exposure or a threshold below which no adverse health effects occur.</span> The exposure is ubiquitous and involuntary, increasing the significance of this determinant of health."<br />
<a href="http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/189051/Health-effects-of-particulate-matter-final-Eng.pdf">http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/189051/Health-effects-of-particulate-matter-final-Eng.pdf</a><br />
<br />
The most important recent document to bring to your attention is a joint publication from Public Health Ontario and Cancer Care Ontario entitled "The environmental burden of cancer in Ontario"<br />
<a href="https://www.cancercare.on.ca/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=362767">https://www.cancercare.on.ca/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=362767</a><br />
<br />
Background legislation: most open air burning is limited under<br />
O. Reg. 213/07, PART 2, FIRE SAFETY, FIRE CODE 2.6.3.4. (1), which states:<br />
<br />
"Open-air burning shall not be permitted unless approved, or unless such burning consists of a small, confined fire, supervised at all times, and used to cook food on a grill or a barbecue."<br />
<br />
Municipalities who are savvy, leave it at that.<br />
<br />
Personally, I couldn't serve on a committee that I felt existed only for window dressing.<br />
I wonder if the same is true for the other Woodstock advisory committees.<br />
Personally, I am really annoyed if my tax dollars are wasted on such committees, and I'm beyond annoyed, I'm angry, that my tax dollars are spent on an infrastructure that exists only to pollute, by which I mean Fire Dept. staff going out to inspect sites and issue burn permits, and then wasting more resources in responding to complaints.<br />
<br />
I expect that everyone on this committee has respect for science, and supports evidence-based decision making.<br />
The evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that burning wood is bad for human health, and bad for the environment. <br />
If this committee chooses to NOT advise Council AGAINST open air burning, every one of you is complicit in the suffering, illness, and expense - both personal expenses, and our collective healthcare costs - that ensue from Woodstock's open air burning policy.<br />
<br />
other studies:<br />
<br />
Biomass burning as a source of ambient fine particulate air pollution and acute myocardial infarction<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #006621; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5389593/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5389593/</a></span><br />
Air pollution and mortality in the Medicare population<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #006621; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1702747">www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1702747</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">Particulate matter air pollution and the risk of incident CKD and progression to ESRD</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #006621; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28935655">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28935655</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-37882478003441658712017-04-29T03:51:00.001-07:002017-04-29T03:51:53.625-07:00Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke PollutionAs the weather warms and the smoggy air of FIRE PIT SEASON descends on southwestern Ontario, anyone concerned with local air quality might wish to have a look at the website of the above organization.<br />
At London's Community and Protective Services Committee meeting on April 25, most committee members made it clear that they were indifferent to<br />
a) a mountain of peer-reviewed, scholarly articles documenting the dangers of wood smoke<br />
b) the suffering of local residents forced to inhale toxins from recreational burning.<br />
Backyard fire pits are illegal under the Ontario Fire Code. Municipalities have to do an end run around the provincial legislation by granting "permission", by passing their own Open Air Burning Bylaws, (thus demonstrating their indifference to air quality, human health, and global warming).<br />
All members of London Council need to hear from concerned citizens ASAP.<br />
<br />
<i>The above text appeared as a UR Opinion piece in the London Free Press on April 26, 2017</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><a href="https://woodsmokepollution.org/" target="_blank">Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution</a></i>Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-80289765857685473222017-04-29T03:20:00.000-07:002019-06-29T12:21:44.607-07:00Would you do this to YOUR grandmother?<br />
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Outdoor Campfire for residents</h2>
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On Wednesday, Sept. 21 Woodingford Lodge residents, family members, staff and volunteers gathered around an outdoor campfire beside the community garden for some songs, roasted marshmallows and hot dogs. The Woodstock Fire Department was also on hand to enjoy the event, while ensuring the event went off safely.</div>
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Thanks to all of the staff and volunteers who helped make the evening possible! </div>
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<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Pictures and story are from Oxford County's website: </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.oxfordcounty.ca/Services-for-You/Long-Term-Care" target="_blank">http://www.oxfordcounty.ca/Services-for-You/Long-Term-Care</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I suppose that this event just illustrates the general level of ignorance regarding WOOD SMOKE in Oxford County.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Apparently no one involved (Long Term Care staff, families, volunteers, and [gasp] the Fire Dept.!) had any qualms about exposing a group of vulnerable residents to a hefty dose of particulate matter (of which the World Health Organization tells us that there is NO safe level of exposure), and all the other toxins that are found in wood smoke.</span><br />
<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>From the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change website</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://airqualityontario.com/science/pollutants/particulates.php" target="_blank">Air Quality Ontario: Particulate matter</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">"Exposure to fine particulate matter has been associated with hospital admissions and several serious health effects, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">including premature death.</span> People with asthma, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">cardiovascular or lung</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">disease</span>, as well as children and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">elderly people</span>, are considered to be the most sensitive to the effects of fine particulate matter. Adverse health effects have been associated with exposure to PM<sub style="position: relative; top: 0.4em; vertical-align: baseline;">2.5</sub> over both <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">short periods</span> (such as a day) and longer periods (a year or more)."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>From the DSAWSP website</b>: <a href="https://woodsmokepollution.org/particulate-pollution.html" target="_blank">https://woodsmokepollution.org/particulate-pollution.html</a></span><br />
<span class="body" id="u95630-53" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px;">"Increases in particulate pollution levels </span><span class="body" id="u95630-54" style="background-color: yellow; color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px;">can trigger </span><span class="body" id="u95630-55" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">heart attacks, strokes and irregular heart rhythms, especially in those with preexisting heart or lung diseases,</span> and aggravate other lung diseases such as asthma an</span><span id="u95630-56" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px;">d </span><span class="Fake-Small-Caps" id="u95630-57" style="background-color: yellow; color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">COPD</span><span id="u95630-58" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px;">."</span><br />
<span style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px;"><br /></span>
<span class="body" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">"A </span><a class="nonblock" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4710600/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px solid transparent; color: #4e808e; font-family: source-sans-pro, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transform-origin: 0% 0%;" target="_blank" title="Low-Concentration PM2.5 and Mortality: Estimating Acute and Chronic Effects in a Population-Based Study">study</a><span class="body" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> of New England Medicare recipients over age 65 determined that the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">death rate rises</span> for each 10μg/m</span><span class="body" id="u95630-93" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 0; vertical-align: 6px;">3</span><span class="body" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> increase in PM</span><span class="body" id="u95630-95" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 0; vertical-align: -3px;">2.5</span><span class="body" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">, both from short-term and long-term exposure, and even when pollution levels do not exceed US EPA or World Health Organization thresholds."</span><br />
<br />
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<span class="body" style="color: #484848; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></h2>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Should I even mention the carcinogenic food served: burnt sugar and nitrate-laced processed meat?</span><br />
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Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-3895846365561241822017-04-26T19:59:00.000-07:002017-04-28T20:02:52.643-07:00London: April 25, 2017<h2>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Wood Smoke</span>: Background for CPSC presentation</b></h2>
<b>Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution</b><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">As a society, we made a choice that people must not be exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke against their will. Given what we now know, it is time to extend this attitude to wood smoke.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://woodsmokepollution.org/">https://woodsmokepollution.org/</a><br />
<br />
<b>Sam Harris: The fireplace delusion</b><br />
<br />
The case against burning wood is every bit as clear as the case against smoking cigarettes. Indeed, it is even clearer, because <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">when you light a fire, you needlessly poison the air that everyone around you for</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">miles must breathe</span>. Even if you reject every intrusion of the “nanny state,” you should agree that the recreational burning of wood is unethical and should be illegal, especially in urban areas. By lighting a fire, you are creating pollution that you cannot dispose. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">It might be the clearest day of the year, but burn a sufficient quantity of wood and the air in the vicinity of your home will resemble a bad day in Beijing.</span> Your neighbors should not have to pay the cost of this archaic behavior of yours.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.samharris.org/blog/item/the-fireplace-delusion">https://www.samharris.org/blog/item/the-fireplace-delusion</a><br />
<br />
<b>Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment: 17 reasons to ban wood burning</b><br />
<br />
1. All pollution is not created equal. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Wood smoke is the most toxic type of pollution in most cities, more dangerous than auto pollution and most industrial pollution</span>. Lighting a wood fire in your house is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">like starting up your own toxic incinerator.</span><br />
2. Lifetime cancer risk is 12 times greater for wood smoke compared to an equal volume of second hand cigarette smoke.<br />
3. Burning 10 lbs. of wood for one hour, releases as much PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) as 6,000 packs of cigarettes.<br />
4. Toxic free-radical chemicals in wood smoke are biologically active 40 times longer than the free radicals in cigarette smoke.<br />
5. Wood smoke is the third largest source of dioxins, one of the most intensely toxic compounds known to science.<br />
6. The very small size of wood particles make them seven times more likely to be inhaled than other particulate pollution.<br />
7. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Wood smoke easily penetrates homes of neighbors </span>creating concentrations up to 88% as high as outdoor air.<br />
8. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">If you smell wood smoke, you know you are being harmed</span>. The sweet smell comes from deadly compounds like benzene.<br />
13. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Wood smoke is the only pollution emitted right where people spend most of their time</span>. It disperses poorly, is not evenly distributed and stays in the air longer because of its small size. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Concentrations can be 100 times higher for neighbors of wood burners than what is captured at the nearest monitoring</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">station</span>. Real local “pollution victims” are created even when overall community levels are low.<br />
16. Long ago most communities passed ordinances protecting people from second hand cigarette smoke. Ironically those laws protect people at places they don’t necessarily have to be (restaurants, stores, buildings, etc). <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">But in the one place they have to be, their own home, they have no protection from something even worse—wood smoke. People should have just as much protection from wood smoke as from cigarette smoke and for all the same reasons</span>. We don’t allow people to blow cigarette smoke in your face, why should we allow people to blow wood smoke into your home?<br />
17. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Wood burning is not even close to carbon neutral over the short term,</span> the next few decades, and it is that time frame that will make or break the climate crisis. Burning wood is extremely inefficient. Per unit of heat created wood produces even more CO2 than the fossil fuels do. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Furthermore, the black carbon particulate matter released enhances the absorption of radiant heat in the atmosphere, making</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">global warming worse</span>, and prematurely melts already imperiled mountain snow pack.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://uphe.org/priority-issues/wood-burning/wood-burning-quick-facts/">http://uphe.org/priority-issues/wood-burning/wood-burning-quick-facts/</a><br />
<br />
<b>Ontario: protecting children from tobacco smoke</b><br />
<br />
Motor vehicles with children inside<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">You must not light or use a tobacco product in a motor vehicle with anyone inside under 16 years of age. </span>The law applies to both moving and parked vehicles – even if a window, sunroof, rooftop, door, or other feature of the vehicle is open.<br />
<br />
Children’s playgrounds and publicly owned sports fields<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">It is illegal to smoke on and within 20 metres of children’s playgrounds and publicly owned sport fields and surfaces </span>(e.g., areas for basketball, baseball, soccer or beach volleyball, ice rinks, tennis courts, splash pads and swimming pools that are owned by a municipality, the province or a postsecondary education institution)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/smoke-free-ontario">https://www.ontario.ca/page/smoke-free-ontario</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, on particulate matter:</b><br />
<br />
Approximately 39% ... of PM2.5 emitted in Ontario in 2012 came from [the] residential sector.<br />
<br />
Exposure to fine particulate matter has been associated with hospital admissions and several serious health effects, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">including premature death</span>. People with asthma, cardiovascular or lung disease, as well as children and elderly people, are considered to be the most sensitive to the effects of fine particulate matter. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Adverse health effects have been associated with exposure to PM2.5 over both short periods (such as a day) </span>and longer periods (a year or more).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://airqualityontario.com/science/pollutants/particulates.php">http://airqualityontario.com/science/pollutants/particulates.php</a><br />
<br />
<b>The World Health Organization, on particulate matter:</b><br />
<br />
PM10 and PM2.5 include inhalable particles that are small enough to penetrate the thoracic region of the respiratory system. The health effects of inhalable PM are well documented. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">They are due to exposure over both the short term (hours, days)</span> and long term (months, years) and include:<br />
• respiratory and cardiovascular <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">morbidity</span>, such as aggravation of asthma, respiratory symptoms and an increase in hospital admissions;<br />
• <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">mortality</span> from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and from lung cancer.<br />
<br />
Susceptible groups with pre-existing lung or heart disease, as well as elderly people and children, are particularly vulnerable. For example, exposure to PM affects lung development in children, including reversible deficits in lung function as well as chronically reduced lung growth rate and a deficit in long-term lung function (4). <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">There is no evidence of a safe level of exposure or a threshold below which no adverse health effects occur.</span> The exposure is ubiquitous and involuntary, increasing the significance of this determinant of health.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/189051/Health-effects-of-particulate-matter-final-Eng.pdf">http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/189051/Health-effects-of-particulate-matter-final-Eng.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<b>Region of Waterloo Public Health: The Health Effects of Wood Smoke:</b><br />
<br />
Emissions from wood burning can affect outdoor and indoor air quality. Outdoor air pollution has been associated with a wide range of adverse health effects and the scientific literature to date indicates that most sources, including wood smoke, appear to play a role in these effects. Smoke from outside can also seep into buildings, including nearby homes, and affect indoor air quality.<br />
The health effects of wood smoke exposure include eye, nose and throat irritation, increased respiratory symptoms, exacerbation of asthma, and increased hospital admissions for lower respiratory infections. As with exposure to other substances, the health effects would be dependent on the degree of exposure to wood smoke, and would be influenced by factors such as the duration, magnitude and frequency of exposure.<br />
While occasional exposure to wood smoke may cause minor and reversible problems (even with persons with respiratory disease), <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">regular and continued exposure to this and other sources of smog may cause more significant health risks. </span>The harmful pollutants associated with wood smoke can impact the health of otherwise healthy people. Young children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing cardio-pulmonary disease are most likely to be affected.<br />
<br />
The best way to minimize the risk of health effects is to minimize the production of the air pollutant itself; in this case, wood smoke.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://chd.region.waterloo.on.ca/en/researchResourcesPublications/resources/WoodSmoke.pdf">http://chd.region.waterloo.on.ca/en/researchResourcesPublications/resources/WoodSmoke.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<b>The Lung Association: Expert Opinion on Residential Wood Burning</b><br />
<br />
Breathing in wood smoke can cause increased respiratory symptoms, increased hospital admissions, exacerbation of asthma and COPD, and decreased your ability to breathe normally. If you have a lung disease, breathing in wood smoke can make your disease worst and cause a flare-up.<br />
<br />
Environment Canada and Health Canada have identified many hazardous chemical substances in wood smoke, including:<br />
<br />
<b>PM2.5</b> (inhalable particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter) - PM2.5, which consists of a mixture of microscopic particles of varied size and composition, has been declared a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">toxic substance</span> under the Environmental Protection Act. These particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, leading to serious respiratory problems, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">including excess mortality</span>, especially among those with pre-existing cardiopulmonary illness.<br />
<b>Carbon Monoxide (CO)</b> - can reduce the blood's ability to supply necessary oxygen to the body's tissues, which can cause <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">stress to the heart</span>. When inhaled at higher levels, CO may cause fatigue, headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion and disorientation and, at very high levels, lead to unconsciousness and death. Fire Prevention Canada advises that CO detectors be installed in every home that has a combustion appliance or an attached garage.<br />
<b>Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)</b> - can lower the resistance to lung infections. In particular, nitrogen dioxide can cause shortness of breath and irritate the upper airways, especially in people with lung diseases such as emphysema and asthma.<br />
<b>Hydrocarbons (HC)</b> - can damage the lungs.<br />
<b>Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)</b> - can cause respiratory irritation and illness. Some VOCs emitted by wood-burning appliances, such as benzene, are <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">known to be carcinogenic</span>.<br />
<b>Formaldehyde</b> - can cause coughing, headaches and eye irritation and act as a trigger for people with asthma.<br />
<b>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)</b> - Prolonged exposure to PAH's is believed to pose a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">cancer risk</span>.<br />
<b>Dioxins and furans</b>- Some dioxins and furans are <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">carcinogenic.</span><br />
<b>Acrolein</b> - can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">The Canadian Lung Association recommends that you don't burn wood in residential setting</span>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.lung.ca/news/expert-opinions/pollution/residential-wood-burning">https://www.lung.ca/news/expert-opinions/pollution/residential-wood-burning</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>South Coast Air Quality Management District [California]: Fire pit decision, 2013</b><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">The particulate emissions rate per minute from one beach bonfire is equal to that from:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Three average big-rig diesel trucks; or</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">The secondhand smoke from 800 cigarettes. Wood smoke contains many of the same toxic chemicals as secondhand cigarette smoke.</span><br />
<br />
Also, one fire pit in one evening emits as much fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) as one big-rig diesel truck driven 564 miles.<br />
<br />
Smoke does disperse and is diluted as it travels downwind from a fire pit. An air quality model indicates that<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"> the concentration of PM2.5, the key harmful ingredient in wood smoke, decreases by about 98 percent at a distance of 700 feet from a fire pit</span>, SCAQMD officials said.<br />
<br />
Fine particles in wood smoke contain cancer-causing chemicals as well as common combustion pollutants such as nitrogen oxides. Numerous health studies during wildfires, and in communities where large amounts of wood or other biomass is burned, show that wood smoke causes respiratory irritation and an increase in hospital admissions for respiratory problems. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Fine particles also can aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases and are linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aqmd.gov/home/library/public-information/2013-news-archives/fire-pit-board-decision">http://www.aqmd.gov/home/library/public-information/2013-news-archives/fire-pit-board-decision</a>Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-51620304158422816102017-04-26T14:34:00.000-07:002017-04-29T03:58:14.474-07:00London's Community and Protective Services Committee April 25, 2017Presentation to CPSC<br />
April 25,2017<br />
<br />
Good afternoon, everyone. <br />
Full disclosure: I don't live in London.<br />
I'm from Woodstock, where we also have problems with open air burning.<br />
<br />
So what's wrong with woodsmoke?<br />
Pretty much all the same things that are wrong with cigarette smoke: it's a toxic chemical stew of compounds known to be carcinogenic and otherwise detrimental to human respiratory and cardiovascular systems. In fact, wood smoke is quite similar to cigarette smoke, but with an extra dose of fine particulate matter (of which the World Health Organization tells there is NO safe level of exposure) AND a dump of greenhouse gases and black carbon, that contribute to global warming.<br />
<br />
Let's consider how we treat cigarette smoke in a civilized society.<br />
We protect ourselves from it, and we go to great lengths to protect children and other vulnerable groups from it. We educate the public about smoking hazards, and try to help the addicted to quit. <br />
In Ontario it's illegal to smoke in a vehicle with a child on board, and it's illegal to light a cigarette within 20 meters of a children's playground or a sports field. Compare that to London's Open Air Burning Bylaw, that permits backyard fires a mere 4 meters from a property line! And consider the volume of material being burned: the tip of a cigarette versus a pile of wood: hundreds of times the fuel, and hundreds of times the smoke. ALL dead vegetation produces similar, hazardous smoke when burned. This applies to wood, autumn leaves, and tobacco. No matter how dry, clean, and well seasoned your fire wood is, as the Utah Physicians expressed it, that fire pit is still a toxic incinerator.<br />
<br />
Let's jump to California where the authorities are quite aware of air quality issues. The research done there prior to the 2013 decision on beach bonfires determined that particulate matter from a bonfire disperses downwind, and decreases by 98%...at a distance of 700 feet. Hence their ruling that bonfires must be at least 700 feet from the nearest residence. Compare again to London's Bylaw with its 4-meter-from-the-property-line ruling.<br />
Beaches tend to be breezy places; smoke will disperse.<br />
For fire safety reasons, London's Bylaw prohibits open air burning when wind speed is above 15 k per hour. Minimal wind means minimal dispersal. To quote the eloquent Sam Harris: "It might be the clearest day of the year, but burn a sufficient quantity of wood and the air in the vicinity of your home will resemble a bad day in Beijing".<br />
That is a crucial concept to grasp: proximity. On March 30 last year this committee was told that fire pits probably don't affect London's overall air quality. That misses the point. People near a fire don't get to breathe overall or average air, as recorded by the city's one monitoring station; they get the "bad day in Beijing" air, probably right off the scale of the Air Quality Health Index.<br />
<br />
London has issued this "Burn responsibly" brochure, from which I quote: "Following these regulations ensures you do not create a nuisance for neighbours".<br />
NONSENSE.<br />
Wood smoke is a serious pollutant and a health hazard, not a nuisance. We used to think of tobacco smoke as a "nuisance", too, 3 or 4 decades ago. And in that same report you received last year, 24-33% of complaints were generated by fully compliant fires.<br />
<br />
<br />
Last Saturday, April 22, was Earth Day.<br />
<br />
Scientists and their supporters around the world participated in Marches for Science. <br />
<br />
You may have heard the following, in the media coverage<br />
<br />
What do we want?<br />
Evidence based science!<br />
When do we want it?<br />
After peer review!<br />
<br />
There is a substantial body of scholarly, peer-reviewed studies on the damaging effects of wood smoke on human health, and on the environment....just like the mountain of studies that document the dangers of tobacco use, and second-hand smoke.<br />
<br />
The next step is up to you: to translate that evidence into action, by implementing a ban on open air burning in London.<br />
<br />
A final word from the Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution:<br />
<br />
As a society, we made a choice that people must not be exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke against their will. Given what we now know, it is time to extend this attitude to wood smoke.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-11016637004277247192017-01-15T02:44:00.000-08:002018-03-30T12:37:16.466-07:00e-mail to 100reontario.org and endorsing organizationsHello<br />
I sent the following e-mail to 100reontario.org, and am copying your organization because you have endorsed the 100% RE vision.<br />
I, too, am a supporter of clean renewable energy, but not of the Oxford County Plan, as explained below, and on my blog.<br />
If your organization has not had occasion to examine the issue of wood smoke pollution, I would encourage you to do so.<br />
May we all have cleaner air to breathe!<br />
Alma<br />
<br />
Hello 100reontario.org<br />
Your website has recently come to my attention.<br />
As a resident of Oxford County and a clean air activist/blogger, I would like to point out some serious flaws in Oxford's draft plan, which is available here:<br />
<a href="http://www.oxfordcounty.ca/Portals/15/Documents/SpeakUpOxford/2016/100RE/OCDraft100REPlan20160622.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.oxfordcounty.ca/Portals/15/Documents/SpeakUpOxford/2016/100RE/OCDraft100REPlan20160622.pdf</a><br />
<b>The major problem is that the report condones "wood" and "biomass" as acceptable "renewables" (Chapter 1, Background) and as "targets" (2.1)</b><br />
Burning wood is a way of life in Oxford County. As the area is largely rural/agricultural, wood stoves and outdoor wood boilers are common, as is open air burning in backyard fire pits (the latter being the issue that pushed me into being a clean air activist). The county charges $2.00 for every bag of garbage picked up, so probably a lot of trash gets burned, too. <br />
The report also perpetuates the fallacy that burning biomass is "carbon neutral" (8.1.4).<br />
<b>A second problem is that there is no plan to measure carbon or any other greenhouse gas emissions, nor is there a commitment to reduce emissions.</b><br />
There isn't a single provincial air quality monitoring station in the county, which means that current wood smoke (and other) pollution is undocumented, and there is no historical data.<br />
There appears to be no plan even to take inventory of existing carbon emitters (all those back road wood stoves and boilers).<br />
What the county DOES propose to measure is its progression towards the 100% renewable target. Since wood and biomass are defined as renewables, having homes change from natural gas heating to wood stoves would presumably be seen as progress in the right direction. (!)<br />
<br />
Many people have positive and sentimental associations with fireplaces and campfires, which may help explain why wood smoke pollution seems to fly below the radar. Given that smoke from wood and other biomass combustion has now been shown to be worse than that produced by all fossil fuels (including coal), should you not make that fact clear on your website? Your intention is to advocate for CLEAN renewables, so perhaps a detailed list of these would be helpful. <br />
You may wish to reconsider using Oxford County's plan - in its present form - as an example.<br />
<br />
If anyone in your organization is in need of a primer on wood smoke, I recommend this website from Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution:<br />
<a href="http://woodsmokepollution.org/" target="_blank">http://woodsmokepollution.org</a><br />
<br />
There are links to many more wood smoke-related websites listed on my blog:<br />
<a href="http://www.cleanairforwoodstock.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">www.cleanairforwoodstock.blogspot.ca</a><br />
The posts dated Aug. 13 & 16, 2016 relate to Oxford County's Plan.<br />
<br />
I would love to be in the front lines of those cheering for clean renewable energy; but it's impossible to cheer when one is choking on wood smoke.<br />
<br />
Thanks for your attention to this; I will be sending copies of this e-mail to your "Endorsing Organizations", in the hope of raising awareness and generating more discussion on the topic of wood smoke pollution.<br />
<br />Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-44327691873151569192016-08-17T13:51:00.001-07:002018-03-30T12:31:09.176-07:00The Greenwashing of Oxford County Anyone concerned about climate change or local air quality ought to have a close look at the draft of Oxford County's 100% Renewable Energy Plan, still available for comment on the County's website.<br />
Some issues of serious concern:<br />
1) Oxford County does not intend to measure carbon or any other greenhouse gas emissions, nor to set targets for reductions.<br />
2) Oxford County considers "wood" and "biomass" to be acceptable sources of renewable energy, even though their combustion produces higher levels of emissions than all the fossil fuels, including coal.<br />
3) The real agenda lurking beneath this thin green camouflage is that of enticing questionable emissions-producing industry to Oxford County, specifically "energy from waste" and "energy from biomass". Toronto, send us your garbage, and we will burn it for you!<br />
<br />
A message to Oxford County Council, on your supposedly "green" agenda: <br />
You may be able to fool the residents of Oxford County.<br />
You may be able to fool yourselves.<br />
But you will never be able to fool the planet, and all of our children will pay the price.<br />
<br />
www.cleanairforwoodstock.blogspot.ca<br />
<br />
<i>The above text appeared as a letter to the editor in the Sentinel Review on August 15, 2016.</i>Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-62713881762609648222016-08-13T08:41:00.000-07:002019-06-06T16:41:09.539-07:00Notes on the Greenwashing of Oxford County<a href="http://www.oxfordcounty.ca/Portals/15/Documents/SpeakUpOxford/2016/100RE/OCDraft100REPlan20160622.pdf">100% Renewable Energy Plan (draft)</a><br />
<a href="http://futureoxford.ca/general/sustainabilityplan/index.htm">Future Oxford Sustainability Plan</a><br />
<br />
Oxford County's draft <u>100% Renewable Energy Plan</u> was on the wrong track before it left the station.<br />
<br />
The first problem: "renewable" does not necessarily mean "clean", "green", "low carbon", "safe", or "good for the planet".<br />
<br />
Yes, "definitive action to address climate change is absolutely necessary" (Preface).<br />
Yes, "the reduction of carbon emissions is arguably at the top of the list" (1.4.3)<br />
Yes, "If we are to reduce carbon emissions and avoid the continued acceleration of global warming resulting from copious carbon emissions, we need to stop burning fossil fuels..." (1.4.3)<br />
...but NO, it's not "as simple as that", as the previous statement concludes.<br />
<br />
<b>We also need to stop burning wood, and everything else that falls under the category "biomass". </b><br />
Biomass is not a fossil fuel; it's the MOTHER OF THEM ALL.<br />
<br />
Although wood fuel is sometimes labelled "renewable" (a replacement of the tree you burn today may grow back in a few decades), the emissions from its combustion are greater than those of any fossil fuel, including coal.<br />
This inconvenient fact is either unknown to the writers of the report, ignored, or suppressed for other reasons.<br />
The true renewables (solar, wind, water, geothermal) do not pump carbon, other greenhouse gases, or particulate matter into the atmosphere. Combustion of biomass does.<br />
<br />
A credible action plan for carbon reduction in Oxford County (a worthier goal than 100% renewable energy) would address all the wood and biomass burning that is occurring now, with measurements and targets for reduction. <br />
Current sources of combustion include:<br />
- thousands of wood stoves used to heat homes and other buildings<br />
- outdoor furnaces/wood boilers<br />
- thousands of fireplaces and fire pits where wood is burned recreationally<br />
- agricultural and "brush" burning<br />
- commercial burning (e.g. wood-fired ovens in restaurants)<br />
<br />
<b>But the the "100% Renewable" plan appears to be concealing a different agenda under a thin layer of green camouflage: that of attracting dubious waste processing facilities to Oxford County.</b><br />
<br />
Even more revealing are the linkages between the "100% Renewable Energy Plan" and its companion document "Future Oxford Community Sustainability Plan" (4.2).<br />
Three areas of the ironically titled "Environment Oxford" subcommittee are discussed (4.2.1):<br />
<ul>
<li>Reforest Oxford: [why are we concerned with reforestation, unless deforestation is planned? oh, yes, "biomass solid fuel is an untapped resource for future growth" (1.1.3)]</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Zero Waste Oxford: we are offered a teaser concerning "significant synergies" between the two plans, but the Future Oxford Sustainability Plan gives all away in its Goal 3iC, Action 61: "Actively investigate the potential for waste to energy projects that support renewable energy principles and targets". <i>Waste to energy projects</i>. Take this to mean, "Toronto, send us your garbage, and we will burn it for you".</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Smart Energy Oxford: probably the smart people who will come to make money by building an assortment of greenwashed projects.</li>
</ul>
The report reaches the height of hypocrisy when we are told to expect cleaner air and lower health costs (1.4.5); this coming from a jurisdiction where wood smoke abounds, and open air burning is legal in even the most densely populated areas. The County's own Health Unit has posted warnings about wood smoke (ignored by local politicians), and the short and long term health effects of exposure to wood smoke are well documented in scientific literature. There is not a word in the report about monitoring or reducing emissions. <br />
We don't even have any current or historical Air Quality Health Index data, as the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change doesn't have a single monitoring station in Oxford County.<br />
The Future Oxford plan has a goal of protecting water (3iD), but nothing comparable for the air.<br />
<br />
On the claim that biofuel is considered carbon neutral (8.1.4): this bit of nonsense is regularly quoted by the wood-burning industry. They presume that all of us have forgotten the "food chain" lesson from science class.<br />
When biomass (e.g. a piece of dead wood) decays naturally, a significant percentage of its carbon is sequestered in other life forms: the grubs and fungi that you can see, and the billions of bacteria that you can't. If that piece of dead wood is burned instead, ALL the carbon is released to the atmosphere, plus an assortment of greenhouse gases, as well as lung-clogging fine particulate matter.<br />
<br />
Earth to Oxford County Council:<br />
You may be able to con the residents of Oxford.<br />
You may be able to con yourselves.<br />
But you will never be able to con the planet.<br />
<br />
References from the report:<br />
- "wood" and "biomass" both listed as Renewables (Chapter 1, Background), and as Targets (2.1)<br />
- biomass solid fuel listed as an untapped resource for future growth (1.1.3)<br />
- hope to attract energy production and service companies, new jobs (1.4.1)<br />
- the inaccurate statement that biofuel is considered "carbon neutral" (8.1.4)<br />
- the shockingly revealing statement: "Every time you enjoy a campfire, you are using biofuel"<br />
(8.1.4)<br />
- expect cleaner air and lower health care costs (1.4.5)<br />
<br />
This plan deserves to be (well, not burned) shredded and composted.Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-49177932739826994882016-07-26T14:36:00.000-07:002018-09-28T13:01:51.109-07:00Smog? In Woodstock, it's public policy.With wry amusement I read the "Green Tips" column by the Woodstock Environmental Advisory Committee in the July issue of <u>What's on Woodstock</u> (p.12), entitled "Every breath you take".<br />
To be fair, the concerns expressed about smog, its environmental and health effects, and the suggested tips, are all valid.<br />
Conspicuous by its absence, however, is any mention of one of our greatest seasonal pollutants: WOOD SMOKE, which is all too often in evidence on calm summer evenings. <br />
<b>Is it not hypocritical of Woodstock to encourage me to avoid volatile organic compounds, while forcing me to inhale the same substances from nearby fire pits?</b><br />
<br />
When the current Open Air Burning Bylaw was passed in 2013, the Fire Department reported that 1,282 burn permits had been issued; that worked out to about one toxic backyard incinerator for every 30 residents of Woodstock. The northwest corner of the city, near Cowan Park, is peppered with them: fire pits, chimineas, and (for those with a serious commitment to burning) large outdoor masonry fireplaces (gasp).<br />
To put this situation in context: it's illegal in Ontario to light a cigarette within 20 metres of playground equipment or a public sports field. But properties near Cowan Park can light backyard fires, and blanket the soccer fields with wood smoke, thus exposing young athletes and their family members to lung-clogging fine particulate matter and an assortment of toxic substances.<br />
<br />
Open air backyard burning is illegal in many cities, including Guelph, Waterloo, Hamilton, and Toronto.<br />
Shouldn't our elected officials be protecting air quality and our health, rather than enabling wood smoke pollution?<br />
<br />
Those of us who value clean air can only attempt to light a (metaphorical!) fire under Woodstock Council.<br />
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<b>Excerpts from Oxford County's website, on Open-air burning:</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Burning wood will release various pollutants into the air that may be harmful to us and the environment, including particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, and water vapour. Wood smoke may also contain cancer-causing substances, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and benzene formaldehyde."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Some of the substances found in smoke from open-air burning are so small that our noses and upper respiratory systems are not able to filter them out. As a result, they may end up settling deep within our lungs, potentially damaging cells that protect our airways.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Breathing in wood smoke is associated with an increase in respiratory irritations and symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness, asthma attacks and shortness of breath. Exposure to wood smoke may also decrease lung function and is associated with an increased number of visits to emergency departments and hospitalizations." </span></div>
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<i>The above text was published as a UR Opinion piece on the Sentinel Review's website on July 26, 2016.</i></div>
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Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144623698562967485.post-80099072401729266402016-07-13T17:33:00.002-07:002016-07-13T18:55:17.647-07:00Reply to Connie Lauder, part 2Hello again, Councillor Lauder<br />
If I may comment on Chris' list of cities that permit open air burning: <br />
Cambridge and Ottawa do not permit burning in ordinary back yards.<br />
In Cambridge, the fire MUST be 150 meters (492 ft.) from any building.<br />
In Ottawa, fires are permitted in "mostly rural areas".<br />
Also, in Burlington, one can complain if the smoke is a "nuisance" or if "the smell of smoke is entering your home".<br />
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I have links to their websites on the blog www.cleanairforwoodstock.blogspot.ca.<br />
Thanks again for your attention to this.<br />
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<br />Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597494266333397713noreply@blogger.com0