Is a fireplace unhealthy

[robespierre]

my uncle called and explained to my mother how unhealthy a fireplace is to people inside of the home.My mother recently had heart surgery and now is telling me she don't want fires anymore because it causes cancer and heart disease.I was hoping some people on this forum could help explain to her that this is not true so I can continue burning fires.i just got 3 years ahead on firewoood and would like to continue burning as it was cold in the house last night with no fire.
Gentlemen?

 

[Jere39]

Tell your mother there are documented cases of lightning strikes on telephone lines spiking people talking on their phones, and that she should probably no longer talk on the phone, expecially when your uncle calls.

 

[Hddnis]

More people die from lack of heat than ever will die from wood heat. Burning wood is healthy, it is natural, and in your case it is the right thing to do.



Mr. HE

 

[nathon918]

my uncle called and explained to my mother how unhealthy a fireplace is to people inside of the home.My mother recently had heart surgery and now is telling me she don't want fires anymore because it causes cancer and heart disease.I was hoping some people on this forum could help explain to her that this is not true so I can continue burning fires.i just got 3 years ahead on firewoood and would like to continue burning as it was cold in the house last night with no fire.
Gentlemen?

well it says you're in California... so I'm sure theres something out there saying "burning a fireplace is know to the state of California to cause cancer"...sounds accurate to me...but only if you burn with the damper closed

 

[pennsywoodburnr]

And what statistics is this enlightened uncle of yours basing his claims on? Cancer? Maybe if you have your face sitting over top of the chimney and inhaling while you're burning simultaneously, that I could see. Heart Disease? You mean from like lifting up a split and putting it on the fire?? All jokes aside, the only thing entering into that house while your mom is burning is going to be heat. That's it. Let your mom soak up the btu's for Christ's sake. She worked hard enough throughout her life to get where she is today. Tell your wacky uncle to keep his equally wacky comments to himself.

 

[nathon918]

And what statistics is this enlightened uncle of yours basing his claims on? Cancer? Maybe if you have your face sitting over top of the chimney and inhaling while you're burning simultaneously, that I could see. Heart Disease? You mean from like lifting up a split and putting it on the fire?? All jokes aside, the only thing entering into that house while your mom is burning is going to be heat. That's it. Let your mom soak up the btu's for Christ's sake. She worked hard enough throughout her life to get where she is today. Tell your wacky uncle to keep his equally wacky comments to himself.

there will be heat radiating out of the fireplace, the thing entering the house would be outside air, and lots of it if its an open fireplace...and I hear cali doesn't have the best air... filter all of the air leaks in the house and you should be good...
no more dangerous than an oil/gas fired boiler/furnace, if any of them don't exhaust out the chimney then you will have problems...same with a fireplace

 

[sunfish]

And how many years have humans been huddled around a fire? Not to mention cooking over a fire.

 

[babybart]

Does your uncle work for the Obama administration, say maybe the EPA? If so then I'm sure he will have a ton of facts to back his claims, pages and pages of facts, probably in the Affordable Care Act!

 

[Wolfcsm]

This may be where he got his fears: http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/hazards-of-wood-smoke

Another possibility: http://foodforbreastcancer.com/news...e-logs-linked-to-increased-breast-cancer-risk

A study abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25495350

I would say the sientific jury is out.

Hal

 

[Ambull01]

This may be where he got his fears: http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/hazards-of-wood-smoke

Another possibility: http://foodforbreastcancer.com/news...e-logs-linked-to-increased-breast-cancer-risk

A study abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25495350

I would say the sientific jury is out.

Hal

Wait a minute, burning wood increases the risk for freaking breast cancer!? Do women's boobs breathe? Good thing I don't burn synthetic logs, whatever that is.

Maybe you could slap in a EPA insert and therefore emit less toxins?

 

[1 stihl nut]

And how many years have humans been huddled around a fire? Not to mention cooking over a fire.

Yes.

But they have all eventually died.

So it must have been the fires.

 

[cre10]

I think burning, cutting, and tending fires is good for your health! Keeps ya active.

 

[7sleeper]

Well one must be a little more analytical in answering this question.

1. A OPEN fireplace in a house, tent, single room house without a chimney is definately unhealthy and will have an impact on future health

2. A OPEN fireplace in a house, tent, single room house with a chimney might be unhealthy and will have an impact on future health if your chimney is not well taken care of and cleaned regularly

3. A closed fireplace with chimney, well taken care of, should be not any problem at all

Now the newest fear is the introduction of micro particles into the health discussion by bad burning(wet wood, too little oxygen, etc.) practices.

7

 

[Ambull01]

I think burning, cutting, and tending fires is good for your health! Keeps ya active.

Guess that depends upon how safe you are but I agree. Awesome workout, especially if you split by hand and have to lug rounds out of the woods. Eating that donut or downing that soda everyday probably does more damage

 

[zogger]

Geez, common sense, if the fireplace isn't leaking and blowing smoke back into the house, nope, not a worry.

 

[NCSteveH]

I think the only thing a fireplace is unhealthy for is a utilities profit.

 

[1 stihl nut]

Guess that depends upon how safe you are but I agree. Awesome workout, especially if you split by hand and have to lug rounds out of the woods. Eating that donut or downing that soda everyday probably does more damage

Oh boy.

I can see where this is going.

 

[Ambull01]

Oh boy.

I can see where this is going.

lmao. Nah I'm done preaching

 

[unclemoustache]

Yes a fireplace is unhealthy - get an insert for that thing and you'll feel much better, or better yet get a proper stove.

 

[Joesell]

It might be time to send your mom to the retirement home. She can hang out with like minded people, and you and your family can enjoy yourselves. If that's no good, invite her to stay in her room when you have a fire going.