Fireplaces, Wood-burning Stoves Can Increase Risk of DNA Damage

Millions of people this winter will use a fireplace or wood-burning stove as a source of heat. Unfortunately, combustion of biomass and wood can contribute substantially to air particulate matter that can be traced to DNA damage and possibly even cancer, according to a review of research conducted by Denmark researchers and published by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Air Particles Produced From Wood-Burning Can Negatively Affect Health

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) from ambient air is already associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The toxicological mechanisms of PM-related health effects are thought to involve the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress, and inflammation. Oxidative stress can induce damage to DNA and inflammation can lead to chronic illnesses such as heart disease.
Steffen Loft PhD and colleagues reviewed 39 scientific journals published by the ACS and found an abundant amount of scientific evidence that links inhalation of fine particles of air pollution from motor vehicle exhaust, coal-fired electric power plants, and other sources to many health conditions. However, they found that there was not a lot of information related to the effects of wood smoke particulate matter (WSPM), so they collected air particle matter from a Denmark village in which the residents regularly used wood burning stoves and from a rural area that did not have a significant contribution from wood stoves.
Read: Health and Safety Precautions in Cold Weather Months
The particles that were collected from the air most affected by wood-burning tended to be of the most potentially hazardous size – small enough to be inhaled into the deepest parts of the lungs and can accelerate hardening of the arteries. The researchers stated that it was the equivalent of inhaling car exhaust.
When tested on cultures of human cells, WSPM caused more damage to the genetic material, more inflammation, and had greater activity in turning on genes that were linked to disease. The WSPM also contained higher levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which include “probable” human carcinogens.
Read: Seven Tips to Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
In addition to fine particulate matter, wood burning fireplaces and stoves can release gases such as nitrogen dioxide which can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, exacerbating asthma and carbon monoxide which can increase the risk of death. Other toxic compounds include formaldehyde, benzene, methyl chloride, and methyl ethyl ketone, all which can cause negative health effects when they penetrate deep into the lungs.
Dr. Loft says that to reduce the risk of WPSM effects, those who burn wood in fireplaces or stoves should only use dry wood cut into small pieces and ensure that there is good air flow in the room to minimize exposure to particles. A HEPA filter may also be an easy and accessible way to reduce particulate concentrations, per previous research conducted by Canadian scientists.

Fewer Heart Disease Deaths In Massachusetts As Smoking Declines

If more states introduce tobacco control programs for their residents who are regular smokers, the number of U.S. deaths due to coronary heart disease might drop, finds a new study that looks at an ongoing Massachusetts initiative.
A connection exists between coronary heart disease and cigarette smoking, and the new study determines how a reduction in smoking affected the number of related deaths in Massachusetts between 1993 and 2003. The state introduced its Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program (MTCP) in 1992, which received funding through a special cigarette tax, and the researchers say they expected to find it helped control the rate of smoking.
“California was the first state to have a statewide program like the MTCP and they witnessed substantial declines,” said lead author Zubair Kabir, M.D., who at the time of the study was a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. “So it was not surprising that Massachusetts, the second state, would see such declines as well, which reflect the impact of a comprehensive, integrated and — at the time — well-funded program.”
The study appears in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Kabir and his colleagues examined data from daily smokers ages 25 to 84. They found that between 1993 and 2003, coronary heart disease mortality declined 31 percent — from 199 deaths to 137 deaths per 100,000 persons each year. Smoking prevalence declined from 20.5 percent to 14.5 percent
Based on these results, the researchers calculated that 425 fewer coronary heart disease deaths were attributable to decreased smoking during the 10-year period. They concluded that expanding comprehensive tobacco control programs, such as MTCP, to other states could avoid more tobacco-related disease deaths.
Audrey Ferguson, health promotions manager at the American Lung Association of Indiana, agreed with the authors’ conclusion.
“The American Lung Association strongly supports comprehensive statewide tobacco control efforts, including increased tobacco taxes and smoke-free workplace legislation,” she said. “We recognize that tobacco use does not affect just the lungs or the heart of the tobacco user. Everyone would see health benefits from a comprehensive tobacco control plan.”
The MTCP was not immune to roadblocks, however. According to Kabir, budget cuts stalled state funding for the program in 2002, but it is now active again.
Nevertheless, he added that, “Although funding has risen somewhat since 2002, now around $12 million per year, it is nowhere near the levels seen at the height of the program in the late 90s.”