March 2, 2007 – Quebec researchers warn of the potential dangers of wood and gas heaters and stoves. The results of the case-control study they conducted among 2,746 Montrealers indicate that prolonged exposure to combustion particles released in homes by these devices could contribute to an increased risk of contracting lung cancer.1.
According to the Dr Jack Siemiatycki, professor of social and preventive medicine at the University of Montreal and collaborator in the study, this one is a first in North America: heated by wood stoves installed in living rooms, or who have reported living in homes where cooking was done on wood or gas stoves were at greater risk of lung cancer. “
Forty-two percent of the subjects were between the ages of 65 and 75. The carcinogenic effect of exposure to stale air in homes was evident in women while in men, who generally spent less time indoors or in front of the stove, the impact of this exposure was not evident. not significant.
The authors of the study recognize that today, nearly half of Quebecers heat themselves with electricity and about 90% use electric stoves, thus avoiding vitiating the domestic air with combustion particles. They point out, however, that recently wood heating and gas cooking have gained in popularity and that, on the other hand, North Americans are spending more and more time indoors, both men and women. the women.
It is clear that all combustion devices (wood, gas, fuel oil, etc.), whether designed for heating the house or for cooking, emit polluting particles that are harmful to health. Besides lung cancer, these particles can cause various disorders of the respiratory system (rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.). And the combustion of wood is particularly polluting in this regard.2.
Breathe stale air
André Fauteux, publisher of the magazine The House of 21e century and expert in the development of healthy homes, believes that it is not very ecological to heat exclusively with wood. “Although we can appreciate the good smell of a wood fire, we should not forget that this aroma is the sign of pollution of the ambient air: tell yourself that if it smells, it is that the air you breathe is stale ”. He recommends using only EPA or CSA approved wood-burning appliances in order to minimize toxic fumes, to only heat them occasionally by burning well-seasoned hardwood, and never to burn rubbish.
Results from studies in Asia and Europe indicate that gas combustion is also problematic3-5. André Fauteux points out that “if it is true that a hood placed above the gas stove can help eliminate some of the combustion particles, it should be noted that it is not totally efficient and that can even worsen the situation if it is too powerful: it could cause depressurization in the house, which would circulate in the ambient air particles from other combustion devices (fireplace, central heating appliance, wood stove , gas water heater, etc.). The ideal solution is to install a heat recovery ventilator which ensures an adequate supply of fresh air indoors. This is all the more important when the house is well insulated. We must aim for 10% more fresh air than stale air in the house ”6.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to The Press.
1. Ramanakumar AV, Parent ME, Siemiatycki J. Risk of Lung Cancer from Residential Heating and Cooking Fuels in Montreal, Canada. Am J Epidemiol. 2006 Dec 22; [Epub ahead of print]
2. Wood heating: let’s be responsible! Natural Resources Canada. 2005. [Consulté le 28 février 2007]. www.burnitsmart.org
3. Jarvis D, Chinn S, Luczynska C, Burney P. Association of respiratory symptoms and lung function in young adults with use of domestic gas appliances. Lancet. 1996 Feb 17; 347 (8999): 426-31.
4. Wong TW, Yu TS, et al. Household gas cooking: a risk factor for respiratory illnesses in preschool children. Arch Dis Child. 2004 Jul; 89 (7): 631-6. Full text: http://adc.bmj.com
5. Public policies, air pollution and health: continue to reduce the risks of June 2000. French government. [Consulté le 28 février 2007]. www.sante.gouv.fr
6. Operation of a heat recovery ventilator. Natural Resources Canada, 2007. [Consulté le 28 février 2007]. http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca
