by Ken Tarquinio
San Jose, CA, USA
Perhaps there was a time when campfires were required to prepare
food
and provide heat and light after dark. Perhaps these needs can
still best
be satisfied in some instances with the traditional campfire.
However,
today, in most instances, cooking can best be achieved with propane
stoves,
briquettes, or other cleaner burning fuel. Light can best be provided
by a lantern. Bodies can best be kept warm by appropriate clothing.
Today, campfires are mostly to provide the "romance"
of living in an
earlier era. However, no longer is there a single group of adventurers
huddled
around a single campfire miles away from any other person. Today
hundreds of people may be camped in a confined valley and each
group of people has
their own highly polluting campfire. Today camping is often very
unhealthy
and the air can be choking or even of immediate danger to sensitive
individuals. Isn't it time we change the traditions to reflect
modern realities.
While camping in Yosemite this summer the wood smoke pollution
in the
campground was horrible. This was not the first time. In nearly
every
campground that we have ever visited campfires spoil the air that
we
breathe. Although I do not normally have breathing difficulties,
I
still experience polluted air in campgrounds that makes breathing
both
uncomfortable and unhealthy. After arrival home, our camping,
gear,
clothes and hair needs to be cleaned to remove the stench. I never
could fully
rid my tent of the odor.
Isn't it ironic that we leave the "polluted city"
where I have no
difficulty breathing to arrive at a vastly more polluted national
park. Isn't it
ironic that some people who are averse to second hand smoke from
cigarettes,
accept (welcome?) campfire smoke as being "natural"
and totally acceptable.
My heart goes out to rangers and other workers (and wildlife)
who are
forced to expose themselves to these polluted environments on
a continual
basis. I can only imagine the health hazards they face because
of the
environment they inhabit
I would be in favor of limiting campfires in parks so that
people who
wish to visit may do so and experience a pleasant, healthy environment.
Although I would be personally in favor of outlawing campfires
in public
campgrounds, I realize that many people would feel "cheated"
of not being able to
experience the "full camping experience". Therefore,
I advocate
instead, alternative policies that could be tried.
Some ideas include "No campfire days" or require
cleaner burning fuel,
or provide a few campgrounds where campfires were not permitted
or were
severely limited. Perhaps, a large single grill with clean burning
fuel
could be located for all to enjoy and use during limited hours.
These
alternatives, rather than being seen as a limitation, may be viewed
as
an improved environment for those who prefer, or those who require
clean
air because of health problems. I believe that alerting campers
to these
options while campsites were being reserved would be welcome with
open arms,
if they were available. It will give new meaning to a "no
smoking" policy.
Sincerely,
Ken Tarquinio
San Jose, CA, USA
"If I were someone who had a health problem like asthma, and I were looking for things to prevent aggravating (my) respiratory problems, candles and incense are two things I would seriously consider" getting rid of, says Michael Osborne of the EPA.
Candle pollutants include:
Particulates, tiny droplets or particles of soot and toxic
chemicals. EPA experiments found
that burning one candle with multiple wicks or a cluster of nine
candles in a room with
good circulation led to particulate levels higher than the legal
limit in outdoor air.
Lead, a nervous-system toxin. The wicks in a small percentage
of imported candles have
lead cores. A study by non-EPA scientists found that candles can
emit enough lead to
exceed the legal limit for outdoor air. The Consumer Product Safety
Commission plans to
ban lead wicks. So then they will try to sell you lead free candles.
Burning things, including lead free candles produces deadly soot.
That Mysterious Soot Might Be From
Back to Burning Issues