[Raptor235]

Colder temperatures in fall and winter draws friends and families to the warmth of the fireplace, but maybe not in San Francisco anymore--not on nights with high smog pollution, at least.

A new proposed ban on wood burning fires on high smog days in the San Francisco Bay area highlights a surprising source of air pollution. Because wood fires are a natural way to heat the house, most people don't associate them with bad air quality. But burning wood increases pollution by throwing particles in the air, especially inside the house since the particles have no way to escape.

In fact, research shows wood smoke is just as harmful to lungs as cigarette smoke and can cause both respiratory and cardiac problems. The harmful effects of an indoor wood burning fireplace are, however, lessened if you follow steps like cleaning your chimney clean and burning only clean, dry, seasoned hardwood.You can find the entire article here http://aboutmyplanet.com/environment...nter-francisco

[Tag]

Yeah, even crowding around a cozy fireplace is so traditional, its not very environment or health friendly. Electric heaters ought to be encouraged.

[travelforever]

Many farmers burn leaves and debris, so no matter where you are, our lungs are getting infected by some source throughout the world.

[mollyL]

Eugene, Oregon has long had restrictions on wood-burning fireplaces and stoves. All winter you can smell fires burning. We never had a fireplace when we lived there. Now that we are on the coast and we have a fireplace we can burn much more freely. Driftwood fires are the best!

[tater03]

This is one of those things where you cannot win. I would have thought that burning wood fires would be good but then again I never thought about the pollution it adds to the air.