The Editor,
Re. "Wood smoke is on city agendas" (Tri-City News, March 11).
Municipalities are to take over where Metro left off with controlling wood smoke. It will be up to the individual communities to provide clean air, free of wood smoke, for their citizens.
Controlling this should be fairly uncomplicated since most new homes are already equipped with gas furnaces and gas-fuelled fireplaces, leaving only older dwellings with their existing open-hearth fireplaces to be dealt with.
Presently, the government has a stove exchange program in force to replace the few existing old stoves with high-efficiency models. These units are supposed to push 80% less toxic emissions out into the environment.
Since open-hearth fireplaces are a very uncontrolled source of pollution, they may still qualify for a $250 rebate when replaced with a gas-fuelled unit.
Municipalities, encouraging these changes, will be a better place to live.
Debating whether to burn should not present a big problem. Even the most avid burner should realize wood smoke in the environment is causing pollution and is harmful to people's health. It is known to be linked to numerous diseases, heart problems and cancer. Wood smoke also can harm the developing lungs of young children, according to BC Lung Association.
The question now is: What safety measures will municipal officials provide in order to keep these toxic wood smoke emissions out of our neighbourhoods?
Brie Oishi, Port Coquitlam
