2 results for tag: woodsmoke


Summer isn’t the only time to worry about woodsmoke

As we roll into fall, many people start cleaning out their wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to start heating their homes, or just to get that cozy ambiance. What many people don’t realize is that, when a lot of people are burning wood in their homes, the cumulative effect on air quality can be similar to a wildfire. OEC has been advocating to reduce harmful air pollution from urban wood fires and to provide healthier options for those that rely on woodburning as a primary heat source.   Specifically, OEC has been working closely with Woodsmoke Free Portland and the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners over the past six months on the Multno...

What do you know about wood smoke?

Myths and Facts About Wood Smoke Is the ambiance of a fireplace and the coziness of a wood stove worth serious health consequences? Take a moment to learn more about the downsides of wood smoke and how to reduce health impacts on your neighbors and your family. Myth: Wood is a natural substance, so burning it couldn’t be bad. Fact: Some 400,000 years ago, our ancestors learned how to make fire, and we’ve been burning wood ever since. But that doesn’t mean that inhaling wood smoke is good for our health. We all know that tobacco—a natural substance—is a carcinogen. Likewise arsenic—another naturally occurring substance—is ...