The hazards of second-hand cigarette smoke are well-known, but many fail to realize that wood smoke contains a similar group of unhealthy compounds. The 1.4 million fireplaces and woodstoves across our nine-county region are the largest single source of wintertime soot – the tiny particles that contribute to an alarming array of health concerns, from asthma to heart attacks, and in severe cases death.

In this podcast, Jane Warner, President and CEO of the American Lung Association in California, talks about the health impacts from wood smoke and ways for Bay Area residents to reduce their exposure to wood smoke.