PORTLAND, Maine — Preliminary findings from University of Southern Maine researchers have linked wood stoves and pellet stoves with potential indoor air quality problems.
The team of faculty and students began its work last spring, examining indoor airborne smoke and ash particles from firewood and wood pellets.
Researchers found traces of at least 10 heavy metals in wood and pellet ash, including copper, arsenic and lead. Joseph Staples, one of the principle investigators, says most of the particles were stirred up when cleaning out the ashes, not while the stove is in operation.
The health risks are uncertain. Staples says the exact numbers are difficult to quantify because little research has been conducted.
This just in Life is hard, then you die, but you can heat your home with the hot air being expelled by alot of folks doing alot of studies. Beware of halitosis though, may be a health hazzard.
The studies are not the problem.
It is politically correct conclusions that both sides make that is.
The study proves that with wood energy the end user breathes their own pollution.
Good.
Good?
it’s ok…he’s a lefty…sadism is his forte
You oppose taking personal responsibility over what ?
Dumping your waste into environment so they are the problem of whoever is downstream ?
I guess you don’t drive a car
Must I ?
Is there a particular model required so that you corporate clowns might give me the respect you think your faith based political beliefs deserve ?
I’m pretty sure that a Subaru or Volvo would not be be so what kind of car would have me drive to be enfranchise enough to express an opinion here, IYO, Flatlander ?
Not sure this study “proved” anything.
It was clearly labeled as “preliminary findings.”
We should not be so afraid of research.
If it is found there are problems, I want to know about it–I heat with wood.
I would also want to know if there are simple solutions to the problems of toxic ash.
Could we stir ashes only when cold, for example? Maybe wear a dust mask?
Or a redesigned stove to help the problem?
And if it turns out that none of those help, maybe we just have to bite the bullet, superinsulate (especially the 200 year old houses) finally, and run a 1500 watt heater from solar, tidal, wind, renewable energy. (It is being done now, in Maine.– gologichomes.com )
This is how humans advance, or evolve. We do something, find out if it works or not, and study what does and does not work.
Science. We get smarter, live longer.
Anyone think that we live past age forty now (as opposed to in 1712) because we didn’t do science?
And hey, should we be dumping ashes on the garden, where we eat our veggies from????
A sealed up house is also not healthy as was found with ‘envelop’ houses.
Sticking with wood and radiant heating.
Pointless story……….
Life is tough, wear a helmet!
I’d rather breath a little dust the freeze to death
cht! acht! choke!
You need ach! auught! to go to ach! college, ahchew! to fiquere that one out! ACCH!
If you live you die. Simple as that. People have been burning wood for thousands of years to cook and stay warm. What a waste of time and money this research was. The article states that little research has been conducted. I think too much research has been conducted.
I will be burning wood, so stop this line of crap. We can see what this is from 170 miles away.
Oh and PS if you’re so worried about air quality, look outside and figure out what they’re spraying on us like bugs.
A study was needed for this? Really?
Look at it this way. It is a good exercise for the students.
I’m sure the oil and Gas companies commissioned this study.. Unlike Oil, we are not going to invade Canada or other countries for their hardwood supply.. (-:
Coal is worse!
What? Everything is dangerous and nothing is good to eat. Like one of my favorite comics says I’m going to wrap myself in bubble wrap and dig a hole that I can hide in.
Wait till they come out with what will help fix this problem, Solar power, wind power, green energy will fix it.
yep…either that or a ‘scrubber’ for your chimney that sells for an “affordable” $5,000
I bet they’ll even fund a solyndra-type start up to sell the scrubbers and then run around bragging about all these wonderful jobs they created for us
How many chips can a principle investigator check? Likely not as many as a principal investigator. AP having fun with homonyms.
All the more reasons for my Outdoor Wood Boiler!!
Can’t believe they are wasting money on this. Almost all studies are flawed anyway. Most researchers are full of crap. They just want more grant money so they don’t have to get a real job.
What you have just written is one of the dumbest things I think I’ve ever read. In fact, everyone who has read this, is now dumber for doing so. May God have mercy on your soul.
One study contradicts another with these people. If you believe the studies 100% than you are the dumbest thing alive.
And you are the most bigoted.
what a load of bunk.
Given the stuff coming out of exhaust pipes and from frying food; you wonder why people are allowed to drive or cook?
…..having just taken out the ashes, and holding my breath since I’m aware that ash isn’t the best thing to inhale. A warm stove is sucking air into it; so if you are gentle, the ash will go into the stove. Another tip, use a plant sprayer to moisten the ash to keep it in place.
If it’s a choice between breathing in a little smoke from my wood stove vs having a heart attack when I’m given the bill when having my oil tank filled, I’m going to choose my wood stove every time.
I’m not sure who is more dumb, the guy that wrote this article, the
researchers, or the editor for calling this news. I wonder how much they spent
on ‘little research’.
From an article titled:
Use wood heat? USM study finds potential for
indoor air quality problems
…”University of Southern Maine researchers have linked wood stoves and
pellet stoves with potential indoor air quality problems.”
“The health risks are uncertain. Staples says the exact numbers are
difficult to quantify because little research has been conducted.”
Holy crap I’m feeling wicked smart today.
Indoor air quality is important to good health. My company has this device called a RecoupAerator that removes bad air from the house and replaces it with filtered air from outside. I would say it is a necessity for someone that is going to be exposed to indoor contaminents from wood stoves or fire places.
Check out this informative article on the dangers of toxic gases and compounds in the home at: http://www.ultimateair.com/blog/bid/52490/
In most of our older homes, Maine people get plenty of fresh air, even when the doors and windows are closed. I know I do.
I don’t worry a bit about indoor air pollution – but I do wear a scarf across my nose and mouth when cleaning out the woodstove…….and leave the draft open so ashes go up the chimney.
Pellet stoves are a scam. You still need electricity for them to work – so what good are they when the power goes out?
Nothing wrong with burning regular wood purchased from a local wood guy which creates local jobs and keeps the money local.
Another study to keep people from heating their homes in the way they would like and to promote the alternatives that most likely won’t work or will increase in price once becoming the “ideal” heating solution.
I noticed one sunny afternoon, with the sun coming in my living room window, that some dust would indeed come out the door of my masonry heater when cleaning the ashes. I rather quickly discovered the way to keep the ash dust inside the stove was to keep the damper open while I cleaned, so any dust got sucked up the chimney.
Next “problem” please.
Wait til we find out the ultimate source are the burners (coal/incinerators/industrial process)up wind, and that the trees are just absorbing and giving it back to us….
The ITYAF did a study claiming that all studies are slanted for one purpose or another.. to create an illusion of need for a solution… That is where they Make the money… Always Follow the money
What is the ITYAF? I think you just made that up!
Many years ago the University of Maine did a study to determine if wood was a viable source of heat in Maine. Fortunately they decided it is, but… OMG.. what would we have done if, after all these years of our ancestors burning wood, the U of M had decided it’s not??? :-)
Everyone with a brain the size of , let’s say, a walnut, could figure out in two minutes what this study has figured out. Can we stop studying things that the chipmunk out in my woodpile could figure out. I know people need amo in writing to try to shut things down, or tax or regulate out of existence but we are all on to things like this now.