Dear Editor,

It is the bleakest truth that wood smoke is harmful to human health [Smoke filling neighbourhood, Jan. 10 Letters, TIMES], especially the wood smoke emissions in neighbourhoods, as they can penetrate dwellings, even with windows closed, and place every occupant at risk.

There is no way to escape wood smoke in a neighbourhood where wood-burning takes place; people have no choice but to breathe this poison. Many respiratory diseases are linked to wood smoke exposure.

To participate in speeding up the elimination of harmful wood smoke emissions in your neighbourhood, call Metro Vancouver and voice your support. Metro's Environment & Parks Committee, as well as Fraser Health and Coastal Health need to be addressed. Metro has been for quite some time intending to rid neighbourhoods of wood smoke, but needs the support of the general public.

Elimination of wood smoke emissions in neighbourhoods needs to also include fire pits and the use of wood chips and other wood derivatives, as used on/in barbecues and food smokers, as all of those burning devices produce toxic fumes that can be harmful to people's health.

Brie Oishi, Port Coquitlam