https://notes.io/wMHFA The Dangers of a Wood Burning Fire A wood-burning fireplace can be a relaxing and cozy experience. However, it can produce toxic combustion products. It is essential to know about the way that wood burns and how to use your fireplace. Choose the seasoned or kiln dried logs. Seasoned logs hold less moisture, and they are able to burn longer and hotter than unseasoned logs. Burning Time Burning wood to produce heat is a traditional and effective method of heating. The fire can release indoor and outdoor pollutants that are detrimental to the human body. A well-designed fireplace, properly used can lessen the negative effects of burning wood. The duration of a fire depends on its temperature. The temperature of the fire will affect the amount of smoke produced and the amount of carbon monoxide that is released. If the levels of carbon monoxide are high, they may hinder the escape of occupants from a building that is burning. To prevent this, it is essential to keep the fire at a an unheated level. In the initial stage of a wood fire, volatile gases like methane and Methanol are released from the cellulose of the wood. These gases are combustible but non-combustible depending on the moisture content and the pyrolysis temperature of the sample. The temperature of the pyrolysis increases up to 350 degrees Celsius. At this point, cellulose begins to decompose and create charcoal and tar. This process is referred to as wood pyrolysis. In addition to the volatile gases, burning wood releases a range of toxic combustion products, including dioxins and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are known to cause cancer and other illnesses in animals and humans. They also can cause soil and water contamination. To minimize the effects of PAHs, wood should be burned in a properly ventilated space. A wood stove that has an extended burn capacity can maintain visible flames while using a minimal amount of fuel. This method involves layering wood with lighter ki