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Some U.S. cities snuffing out traditional fireplaces
SAN JOSE, California (CNN) -- Traditional wood-burning fireplaces have run afoul of efforts to ensure cleaner air. Environmental officials, taking the fight against pollution inside the home, say smoke from such fireplaces accounts for as much as 40 percent of pollutants in the air during winter. "There are voluminous health studies in the United States that show when particulate levels are higher, there are increased hospital visits and, in fact, increased mortality," said Terry Lee, of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in California.
24 municipalities take actionIn San Jose, California, a recently passed ordinance forbids traditional fireplaces in newly built homes, which must resort either to a natural gas fireplace or one that is federally approved to burn wood or pellets. Similar ordinances have passed in 23 other cities in the United States. Air quality experts say the outlawing of wood-burning fireplaces is especially critical in California, where the population continues to boom. With the environmentally safe fireplaces allowed by San Jose's ordinance, you can still get the expected crackle and look, said City Councilwoman Linda Lezotte. "The only thing you don't get is the smell of wood." Industry says law goes too farA spokesman for the trade association representing the fireplace industry says ordinances such as that passed in San Jose are unfair. "There are clean burning, low-emission wood fireplaces that could have been part of this process, and they're not," said John Crouch of Hearth Products Association. Other critics of the San Jose ordinance say it doesn't do enough to prevent pollution because it exempts existing homes with fireplaces. Correspondent Amber Lee contributed to this report. RELATED STORIES: Study links particle pollution with deaths, hospitalizations RELATED SITES: Health Effects Institute |
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