Burning Less Wood: For Better Air Quality and Health
A fire pit in the garden, or the fireplace indoors. There are also many people in the municipality of Voorschoten who enjoy burning wood. People regularly light a cozy fire. However, the smoke from a wood fire contains a lot of particulate matter and other unhealthy substances. This smoke pollutes the air inside the home and in the immediate outdoor surroundings. That is why it is recommended not to burn wood when weather or other conditions are unfavorable.
“On days when the wind is blowing strongly, wood smoke spreads quickly,” explains Councilman Hubert Schokker. “But there are days when the wind is light or nonexistent. On such days, the emitted pollutants do not disperse as well. Particulate matter concentrations can then rise significantly in our municipality. Air quality can also be poor due to particulate matter. Burning wood at such times is therefore not a good idea.” People burning wood often don’t realize it, but particulate matter can be very bothersome for neighbors—especially for people with lung conditions such as asthma or COPD, but also for the elderly and children.
Health Effects of Wood Burning
Neighbors are often bothered by the smell and smoke that linger in the area. And for those who burn wood themselves, the deterioration in air quality is also harmful. Particulate matter in the air—including indoors—is inhaled and enters the body. High concentrations of particulate matter are harmful to health. It is also particularly harmful to people with diabetes. Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter can lead to conditions such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
So be sure to check out the Stookwijzer atwww.stookwijzer.nu
Before lighting a fire, always check the Stookwijzer to see which color code (yellow, orange, or red)iscurrentlyin effect. For example, if it’s windless or foggy (code red), it’s best not to light a fire. The Stoking Guide can also be viewed as an app or on a computer. The app can be downloaded fromwww.atlasleefomgeving.nl/stookwijzer or.