EHHI's Op-Ed about the harmful effects of wood smoke in support of a proposed ban on outdoor furnaces.

EHHI does not receive any funds from businesses or corporations.

Homeowners have right to be free of wood smoke.

WOOD smoke, although it conjures up feelings of New England warmth and fond memories of being by the fire, is now becoming a serious health problem for some. Many of our neighborhoods have houses cheek by jowl and smoke from neighboring chimneys and wood stoves is entering homes. When this happens, it does not cause the affected people to have warm feelings about wood smoke.

In fact, those who are exposed to their neighbors' wood smoke often get sore eyes and throats, and if the exposure continues, it often leads to more serious respiratory problems, such as bronchitis and even pneumonia. Wood smoke exposure causes a decrease in lung function and causes an increase in severity of existing lung disease, depending on the length and severity of exposure time.

Wood smoke is made up of many tiny particles. These particles are so small that closed doors and windows do not stop them from entering homes, even newer energy-efficient, weather-tight homes. This is why people are reporting that they are having trouble with their neighbor's wood smoke.

Wood smoke and tobacco smoke are quite similar in chemical composition. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, many components of wood smoke are carcinogenic and have many of the same components as secondhand cigarette smoke. For those suffering from asthma or other respiratory problems, wood smoke is a very harmful exposure.

Environment and Human Health Inc. has been receiving calls for help from people all over the state who are being harmed by the wood smoke from neighbors' wood stoves or fireplaces. The state needs to do something to address this problem and help these people.

What to do and how to regulate? The Iowa Supreme Court declared in 1998 that government bodies do not have the right to allow burning resulting in smoke crossing property lines.

How do we protect those affected by their neighbors' wood smoke and yet not regulate those fireplaces and wood stoves that are not hurting people? A guideline should be that if a person's wood burning causes the resulting smoke to enter a house so that the smoke affects that homeowner it should not be allowed. No one should suffer in their own home sore eyes, sore throats or breathing problems at the hands of their neighbors' wood smoke.

Because this is a case by case problem, it does not lend itself to a general ban. What it does call for is empowering local health departments with better and more specific wording in their "nuisance code."

Presently, local health departments do have the power to regulate smoke as a nuisance problem, but it would help them function better if the state legislature would pass a bill making the "nuisance code" wording specific to wood smoke.

Connecticut has a history of protecting citizens from harmful smoke. Protecting people from wood smoke would not be the first time the state has faced health issues from burning. Years ago, citizens used to burn their trash. When that activity was recognized as a health hazard, it was made illegal. As well, one conjured up sentimental feelings of autumn by the wonderful smell of burning leaves. That activity became such a fire and health hazard that the burning of leaves also was made illegal.

The state needs to step in now and once again help the people who are being badly affected in their homes by neighbors' wood smoke. Many of the people being affected do not have the money to hire lawyers to bring nuisance suits that would bring them relief.

People should have the right to breathe clean air in their own homes. No one should have the right to live in their houses in a way that keeps their neighbors from living healthfully in theirs.

Nancy Alderman is president of Environment and Human Health Inc., 1191 Ridge Road, North Haven 06473. E-mail: info@ehhi.org.

Nancy Alderman, President
Environment and Human Health, Inc.
http://www.ehhi.org