Do Not Burn Driftwood on the Beach (or Anywhere Else)
It’s May, which means summer is just around the corner and your winter coats can finally be put to bed. But before you head to the beach for your first campfire of the season, here’s one important tip if you want to avoid inhaling toxic chemicals: don’t burn driftwood you might find on the beach.
This week, Dr. Anne Marie Helmenstine at ThoughtCo explained why burning driftwood is so dangerous.
Typically, when you burn any wood, a toxin known as dioxin is generated in the process. Dioxin is carcinogenic and bioaccumulates over time, which means it will build up in our tissues when you inhale or swallow it. (According to the World Health Organization website , dioxin has a half-life of seven to 11 years.)
However, driftwood is worse than a regular firewood bag because it comes into contact with sea salt. Salt causes selection of more dioxins . It can also corrode any ventilation system or stove if you intend to use it for cooking.
The fact is that burning any tree is fraught with the danger of inhaling toxins; simply burning driftwood carries an increased risk of what will happen. Other methods, such as burning trash or disassembling electronic devices, also expose you to dioxins. They are also found in the fatty tissues of animals , so eliminating dioxins completely can be an overwhelming task.
However, both short and long term exposure to dioxins is harmful to your health; pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people with asthma or bronchitis are particularly vulnerable to the effects of indoor air pollution.
What should you do instead of relying on driftwood for your next fire? As Scientific American recommends, wood pellets burn faster and create fewer pollutants; you can find them at Home Depot or any other hardware store.
The EPA also has its own “safety best practices” when it comes to burning firewood; you should avoid burning damp or treated wood, which may emit more smoke and pollutants. Also, avoid burning household rubbish with wood; it can also release toxic chemicals.