To be worried about woodsmoke?

[Nord]

We have a 3 month old baby.

We sit in front of our open fire every night and I'm now concerned it's bad for ours and our babies health.

I've just been googling and apparently it's worse than cigarette smoke do I'm now lying here terrified of SIDS...

I've done lots of worrying about SIDS and have never seen anything about an open fire being a risk factor. A quick Google reveals a lot of sources which seem to be from anti-wood smoke pressure groups rather than any of the official sources (Lullaby Trust, NHS etc). Maybe check with your health visitor but please try not to worry too much (I suffer from anxiety so I know how hard it is not to!) - the risk is still dry very small even if wood smoke was as dangerous as cigarette smoke.

Thanks, I just had no idea it was considered to be bad for health and now feel awful.

I'm also assuming that the smoke from your fire goes up the chimney. It's not like you're wafting baby over a bonfire

Neither did I but it does seem to be a fringe group of people who are promoting that message..

I do love a good open fire

If it's not on the lullaby trust, I wouldn't worry

I think as long as your chimney is drawing well you have no worries.

Apparently it's carcinogenic and causes a myriad of health problems .

There was also a small study which showed it had no harmful effects. It has been critisised though...

Well before central heating, there were fires.... and we're all still here procreating.

What I would say is get a carbon monoxide monitor.

Yes have a carbon monoxide alarm next to the fire. Am generally pretty anxious health conscious

And you know this already but STOP GOOGLING. That was madness lies. You and your baby will be fine x

Woodsmoke is carcinogenic if you breath it in. If it is your living room, the smoke goes up the chimney, so unless you have your baby cleaning the chimney they will be fine.

I think if I were you I would make sure the chimney is swept and keep the baby out of the room while you are doing the lighting.

well, yes it's not good for us.
all the small particles that fly about in the air.
a closed burner might be better (and has a much better heat output)

What an open fire is doing is wasting 80% or more of the energy. A tiny contribution to stuffing up the planet for the next generation, but just a thought.

The room does tend to smell a bit woodsmokey, although the draw is good.

Hi,

You are correct to be concerned about inhaling wood-smoke especially if your a pregnant as studies have shown that any amount of smoke can harm the development of a baby. And homes with open fires are worse air quality when compared to homes that don’t (see links for the scientific research).

Sophia1984 "A quick Google reveals a lot of sources which seem to be from anti-wood smoke pressure groups "

When in fact a quick search of science search engines like Google scholar or Science Direct show that these anti-pollution pressure groups are right to be concerned.

scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=woodsmoke&btnG=

www.sciencedirect.com/search/advanced?qs=woodsmoke

A reliable (citing scientific research) site about smoke pollution is woodsmokepollution.org/

Essentially, (just like tobacco smoking) the more you can avoid breathing in any smoke (from chimneys, vehicle exhausts etc) either in your home or your neighbourhood the better your long term health will be.

Just bear in mind, just like with the tobacco industry, their are some very bias parties that don’t want the evidence to be known. i.e. Immoral people!.

"your a pregnant " whoops! A expecting mother.

"And homes with open fires are worse air quality " whoops again!. Have worse air quality.

This thread is three years old!