Campaign to improve Bay Area winter air quality launched

By Brigid Gaffikin, Bay City News Service

November 18, 2006

As winter approaches and temperatures cool down, Bay Area residents are being asked to postpone lighting fireplaces and woodstoves in an effort to keep air quality at healthy levels.

According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, wintertime air pollution peaks at night and in the early morning hours.

Cooler ground temperatures can result in warmer air trapping another layer of air at ground level. When wind or rain doesn't dissipate this inversion layer, pollution can build up and reach unhealthy levels.

Marking the winter air pollution season, this year's Spare the Air Tonight campaign begins Monday and as with its summer counterpart, advisories will be issued when unhealthy levels of air pollution are predicted, BAAQMD announced today.

Additionally, on Dec 18, new federal regulations will impose stricter air quality standards, cutting in half the permissible level of particulates allowed in the air over a 24-hour period, according to the lung association.

The two biggest sources of fine particulate matter air pollution are wood-burning fires, particularly those in older wood-burning stoves, and motor vehicles, according to air quality authorities. Wood smoke includes many of the same toxins as are found in cigarette smoke, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, benzene and formaldehyde, according to the American Lung Association of California.

"During winter, we get many calls from people who are severely affected by wood smoke in the air. Some of them literally can't breathe when they go outside. They feel they are prisoners in their home," lung association spokeswoman Jenny Bard said in a statement.

"We know that some people by necessity must burn wood to heat their homes," she said. "Our goal is to raise awareness of the dangers of wood smoke and let people know what they can do to reduce wood smoke pollution."

The lung association suggests burning manufactured logs without wax bindings and made from compressed sawdust, which burn about 50 percent cleaner than wood.

Softwoods such as pine and fire are the best options for starting fires, and hardwood logs should be added later. And garbage and glossy papers are a fireplace no-no, as they can release toxic chemicals into the air.

On Spare the Air Tonight evenings, Bay Area residents will be asked to refrain from burning wood and to drive less and will be advised to avoid strenuous physical activity.

Spare the Air Tonight ends on Feb. 16 and does not have a free public transit component.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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