Is your fireplace making you sick? For most, nothing beats the romantic ideal of relaxing near a traditional wood-burning fireplace. Unfortunately, wood burning fireplaces also release poisons and airborne impurities into the breathable atmosphere that can directly harm your personal wellbeing. Because of this, fireplace mantels have grown increasingly popular as a safe and efficient alternative to traditional home heating methods.
Wood smoke is very complicated; it is comprised of thousands of different microscopic particles called “Particulate Matter,” and many of these are toxic. These particles are the most dangerous threats of wood smoke; they invade your eyes, throat, and respiratory system, inflaming regions and causing a number of symptoms such as eye irritation, runny noses, bronchitis, asthma, and nausea. In especially large concentrations, wood smoke has even been attributed to the onset of lung cancer, emphysema Some studies have strongly suggested that there is little difference between concentrated wood smoke and concentrated cigarette smoke.
Another problem with Particulate Matter is that these toxins can easily dodge your body’s natural defenses. This evasion often leads to a compromising of your immune system, opening you up to more ailments in the future. Studies conducted in Washington State have shown that people who burn wood to heat their homes are hundreds of times more susceptible to respiratory problems than people who used alternative heating methods.
Contemporary fireplace mantels go above and beyond being mere luxury home heating items. These alternative heat sources are actually important investments in your health and in the purity of your environment. Installing a electric fireplace in your home is the best way to bring warmth to your domicile without burning wood and releasing Particulate Matter into the breathable air. Buying a convenient, efficient, and realistic-looking portable fireplace is a great way to keep your health and home impurity-free.
Tags: Electric Fireplaces, fireplace mantel, Fireplace Mantels, fireplace surrounds, portable fireplace