What are the health effects of breathing fine particulate matter like wood smoke?
Fine particulate matter is a complex mixture that may contain soot, smoke, metals, nitrates, sulfates and dust. Studies have linked long-term exposure to particle pollution, especially fine particles, with serious health problems including decreased lung function, aggravated asthma, development of chronic respiratory disease in children (asthma), irregular heartbeat, nonfatal heart attacks, premature death in people with heart or lung disease and increased susceptibility to heart and vascular disease for post-menopausal women. In addition, new health studies have shown that breathing wood smoke reduces the blood’s ability to clot, and specifically for children it lowers IQ and decreases memory. Children are more likely to suffer effects because their respiratory systems are developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight.
