What Are the Dangers of Campfire Smoke?

Building a campfire during your summer trip to the woods may help make your campsite cozy, but many people fail to realize the dangerous effects caused by wood smoke. Understanding the severity of campfire smoke on the environment, your health, and the economy may prompt you to think twice the next time you want to start a fire.

  1. Pollution

    • Campfire smoke is among the most dangerous forms of smoke to breathe. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, smoke from campfires, wood stoves, and other wood burning sources contributes to 420,000 tons of fine particles throughout the United States. Adding items such as old tires or trash to a fire increases the toxicity levels of the smoke.

    Medical Effects

    • As toxic particles enter the air, they make their way into your lungs every time you inhale. This decreases the level of oxygen your body is receiving and causes a buildup of carcinogenic toxins. In a 1989 study, researcher William Pryor of the Biodynamics Institute and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center found that wood smoke is active in the body 40 times longer than tobacco smoke. This means that campfire smoke is much more dangerous than second-hand tobacco smoke. Wood smoke inhalation is one of the primary causes for lung cancer found in non-smokers. It weakens the immune system and can cause or irritate asthma, lung disorders, and other respiratory diseases.

    Economic Impact

    • When looked at on a broader level, the damage caused by campfire smoke has a detrimental effect on the economy as people inflicted with respiratory illness and other smoke-related afflictions are required to seek medical care. A 1994 California State University study estimates that the health cost of wood burning tops $1.1 billion each year. This breaks down to $40 per fire. Campfires aren't the only form of wood burning, but they are a large contributor to the smoke problem.

    Fire Danger

    • Campfire smoke also carries the risk of starting a forest fire. This is especially true in hot, dry areas that burn easily. If the campfire smoke contains hot embers or ashes, these embers can spread and ignite when they land. Campfires that are built near trees or brush carry a greater likelihood of smoke causing fire than those built on open land far from combustible materials.