Wood burning is reintroducing lead pollution into the air, US scientists find | Air pollution
Posted by Creepyfaction@reddit | collapse | View on Reddit | 25 comments
Creepyfaction@reddit (OP)
"Henegan said: “The most logical answer is that it comes from uptake in the soil, probably riding along with the nutrients and water that trees need. Once in the tree, it deposits in the tree’s tissues and remains until that tree is burned.”"
One consequence of lead pollution is that it is bioaccumulated into wood that can potentially be released upon combustion. While the study focuses on wood burning for household use, we must consider how much lead could potentially be released in forest fires if the findings of the studies are true.
Ree_For_Thee@reddit
So the issue is kind of that one of CO2? That, while it always existed, it was put on the "surface layer" of the planet, and just sort of..... stayed there.
So for lead, the source is probably just all those lead products the US were late to ban. The lead just, never went away, and I assume it's not biodegradable so it'll just keep cycling in America, in various forms.
BrickFun3443@reddit
The US wasn't late to ban leaded products. It's just that once it settles into the soil it doesn't break down and just stays there.
Masterweedo@reddit
Late to ban?
Some aviation and rare fuels are still leaded.
miklayn@reddit
Lead not withstanding, particulate matter and smoke in general are extremely bad for your health. Notably, there is no "away". It's just somewhere else conveniently out of sight, out of mind. This is pretty much the moment where mankind learns that we are embedded in and indebted to our ecology.
Bajadasaurus@reddit
This is really interesting to learn, thanks
Sknowles12@reddit
Here’s the conundrum. People have to keep warm sometime when they can’t afford the electric bill.
Ree_For_Thee@reddit
Eh, if it comes to that, there's not going to be any trees left in very short order.
Jovan_Knight005@reddit
Once that happens, collapse will start on its own.
lost_horizons@reddit
People need to learn about rocket stoves.
HCPmovetocountry@reddit
They're burning in groves!
Empty-Equipment9273@reddit
Once we become Venus we won’t have to worry about the electric bill for heating anymore so I guess there’s that
Melodic-Ad-6949@reddit
cough heat pump cough
epadafunk@reddit
Heat pumps run on electricity too you know.
Melodic-Ad-6949@reddit
Yes, but they are crazy efficient and cheap to run
Old_timey_brain@reddit
And as cheap as firewood to install?
illknowitwhenireddit@reddit
Until they get everyone to switch. Then they jack up electric rates. They're not going to let you benefit from efficiency
WeaveLikeGreatGranny@reddit
I would honestly be more concerned about the technological complexity of a heat pump. Lots of things to break that need to be made in a factory somewhere else. At least my wood stove is just a metal box in which I can light a fire and then it gets hot 🤷
blvsh@reddit
money
03263@reddit
Snuggle up and vibrate like bees
filmguy36@reddit
Or heating oil
Icy-Medicine-495@reddit
I might as well burn the wood for heat that I saw up to reduce fire risk and clean up the storm damage on my property.
wageslave2022@reddit
There is a trade off on whatever heat source we use and they are going to spin whatever narrative they wish. It's an odd coincidence how the scientific study always aligns the goals benefactor funding the study. Show us who funded this study. The economy is not good and I have a feeling that we will probably see a fair amount of wood smoke this winter when the price of heating oil is over $10 a gallon.
boomaDooma@reddit
Well, that wasn't on my Bingo card!
StatementBot@reddit
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Creepyfaction:
"Henegan said: “The most logical answer is that it comes from uptake in the soil, probably riding along with the nutrients and water that trees need. Once in the tree, it deposits in the tree’s tissues and remains until that tree is burned.”"
One consequence of lead pollution is that it is bioaccumulated into wood that can potentially be released upon combustion. While the study focuses on wood burning for household use, we must consider how much lead could potentially be released in forest fires if the findings of the studies are true.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/collapse/comments/1tdo0dn/wood_burning_is_reintroducing_lead_pollution_into/olwjoxc/