Wood-burning health hazards are obvious

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 2/23/07 | Dennis Rockstroh

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The Merc has been running a steady stream of complaints lately about fireplaces. Today's paper had this first -- a complainer who doesn't like his neighbors using fabric softener sheets in their driers because it bothers his poor, sensitive nose.

It won't take long for some nanny-stater Dem to latch onto this one and enact some new rules restricting or banning their use, right after they are done banning our light bulbs.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

CA has already banned dry-cleaning chemicals, so this would be the next logical step for them.

[Past Your Eyes]

Burning wood isn't half as hazardous to your health as lieburralls are to your freedom.

[MizSterious]

We heat with wood. If someone goes after our woodburning, I'd sure as heck go after their cheesy-smelling fabric softeners. (I really HATE the way most of those smell.)

[yankeedame]

Burning wood isn't half as hazardous to your health as lieburralls are to your freedom.

Okay, I'll be the first to say it: What about naturally occurring forest fires? Or is it only pollution when a fire's origin is man-made, i.e. fireplace, BBQ, deliberately set forest fire, etc.?

[GoldCountryRedneck]

They can have my dryer sheets when they pry them from my warm static-charged fingers...

[potlatch]

Ping

[panaxanax]

"Okay, I'll be the first to say it.."

But, I wanted to be the first, waaahhh. Really, though, you are correct. Having worked in the logging industry in CA many years ago, I can attest to a great deal of "controlled" fires that became "uncontrolled" due to the stupidity of the U.S. Forest Service, BLM and CA State agencies.

[SWEETSUNNYSOUTH]

I have been burning wood for thirty years..........ain't gonna stop now.

[ezo4]

I have been burning apple wood all winter - my house smells nice

[lightman]

Typical Californicate...do anything to keep faggots from burning!

[Fairview]

I'm not crazy about my neighbors using these things either, but I'm not going to try to stop them because I think they smell cheap and disgusting.

OK, it's undoubtedly true that some people have severe respiratory allergies and asthma. They suffer very much. Substances that don't bother ordinary people can put them in the hospital. This isn't their imagination or some neurosis; it's a real physical illness, demonstrable through double-blind tests.

It's very sad that they have this ailment. I hope that medical science discovers better treatments for them. I feel very sorry for them, for the inconvenience, limitations, frustrations, physical misery. But that doesn't mean the rest of us have to change our lifestyles to accommodate them. We cannot all renounce everything that could possibly make someone sick. Our whole society cannot change for the convenience of a few.

[MadelineZapeezda]

I love the smell of Downy in the dryer!!!!

[Oztrich Boy]

"And what else do we burn besides wood?"

[Carry_Okie]

Okay, I'll be the first to say it: What about naturally occurring forest fires? Or is it only pollution when a fire's origin is man-made, i.e. fireplace, BBQ, deliberately set forest fire, etc.?

My wood stove with a catalytic converter burns a lot cleaner than any natural "event."

Worse than that, if we DON'T burn the wood we get mold, the spores of which are known to cause asthma and allergies.

[supercat]

It should be noted that wood was used for indoor heating long before the invention of the chimney. Somehow the human race survived.

[catroina54]

but wait a minute---this "law" states NO PERSON shall discharge.........
anyone fined for discharge of flatulence yet ?

[WorkingClassFilth]

A water balloon filled with cheap cologne would solve that whiner's complaint.

[Past Your Eyes]

I guess you wouldn't have to use Shammell #5 wouldya?