PGAQ #50 by Vic Steblin, Nov 24, 2008

2570 Laurier Crescent, Prince George, BC, 250-564-1123

Industry has been encouraged to burn wood, for power and electrical generation. Using the best pollution control equipment sounds decent and healthy. But all burning is bad because the small, dangerous particles get into our lungs, blood and digestive system.

Industry is very different from transportation in that mills are mega particle producers in one place. The same system applies to residential wood burners. Burning wood is very different from smoking in that wood burners are mega particle producers in one place. The wood burner is a mini-mill in one place.

During ideal, windy conditions hardly anyone would complain about the smoke from mills or houses. It is the calm, cold conditions that create the problems. However, during bad conditions the mills never reduce their output and I doubt that the houses reduce much either.

Vehicles and smokers have received much modification and restriction during the last few years and it is time for the mega polluters of mills and residential wood-burners to receive the same.