Backyard fire pits add to already poor air quality (Pittsburgh: home, neighborhood)

[cjburgh]

It's a growing issue in our neighborhood: already poor quality air is now hit with a haze of stinking wood smoke from backyard fire pits. There are undisputed health hazards - wood smoke is considerably more toxic than second hand tobacco smoke - and creates significant risks to individuals with respiratory illnesses.

There is no safe place or time of year that vulnerable people can avoid this pollution. Open fire pits expose people to even more pollution than a fireplace or tobacco smoke. (Each fire will emit close to one pound of smoke pollution, with 90% being in the deadly smaller than one micron range.)

What we know about the dangers of tobacco smoke applies to wood smoke. In fact, wood smoke is chemically active in the body 40 times longer than tobacco smoke. It is also 12 times more carcinogenic than tobacco smoke.

It seems foolish to consider wood fires as a lifestyle enhancement. Users of these devices are making an selfish choice that their neighbors are expected to put up with. The perception is that these are perfectly legal and desirable lifestyle-enhancing devices.

Given Pittsburgh's already terrible air quality, I think it's time to contact our elected representatives and start pushing to get backyard fire pits outlawed.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Backyard? Doesn't about everyone have a fireplace in the house?

[Lost_In_Translation]

How many chimanea’s does it take to equal one smelter?

I think I’ll continue my recreational burning at my own risk, thank you very much.

Also, coffee is a carcinogen that will kill you, so don’t drink one more drop.

[UKyank]

Yea; a crusade against fire pits will not make you a popular person. I just wish I had somewhere to put one.

Also

“The perception is that these are perfectly legal and desirable lifestyle-enhancing devices.“

That’s not a perception, it’s actual reality.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Yea; a crusade against fire pits will not make you a popular person. I just wish I had somewhere to put one.

I read a funny article a few years back written by a guy who didn't understand why people get upset with him when he points out burning logs in your fireplace is bad for the environment and no one should do it.

[svband76]

Great post. All the inconsiderate selfish wood burners that live within a few feet of your home should be thrown in jail. Several times I've had to close my windows on a cool summer night because some a-hole is burning wood until 3 AM and clouds of smoke and flowing into my bedroom. Jerks.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by Lost_In_Translation

How many chimanea’s does it take to equal one smelter?

I think I’ll continue my recreational burning at my own risk, thank you very much.

Also, coffee is a carcinogen that will kill you, so don’t drink one more drop.

Exactly this. We have backyard fires all the time. They’re a great time.

[Wells5]

Wood smoke contains a smorgasbord of harmful chemicals. See link.


https://www.thoughtco.com/smoke-chemistry-607309

[PGH423]

Originally Posted by Wells5

Wood smoke contains a smorgasbord of harmful chemicals. See link.


https://www.thoughtco.com/smoke-chemistry-607309

Earth contains a smorgasbord of harmful chemicals

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by PGH423

Earth contains a smorgasbord of harmful chemicals

Exactly this.

If I was seriously so concerned about air quality, I wouldn’t pick Pittsburgh to live.