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Wood Smoke and Air Pollution

There is nothing cozier on a cold winter night than a blazing fire in the hearth or in a wood-burning stove. But Danish chemists have raised concern about the invisible pollution those lovely flames create. The particles thrown off in smoke and inhaled into the lungs have adverse health effects. The scientists found that these particles were small enough to get into the deepest part of the lungs and contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are probable carcinogens. In cell cultures, wood smoke particles caused significant inflammation. That may be why wood smoke pollution has been linked to asthma, bronchitis and heart disease.
[Chemical Research in Toxicology, Feb. 5, 2011]

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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