Woodsmoke contains a bewildering array of organic and inorganic compounds, the normal byproducts of wood combustion. It may also contain a variety of proven and suspected carcinogens.

Among the compounds are:

*Carbon Monoxide - causes angina in people with heart disease, lethal at high concentrations.
*Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) - causes bronchial congestion, fluid congestion and fibrotic changes in the lungs.
*Nitrogen Dioxide - breathing high levels of nitrogen dioxide causes irritation of the respiratory tract and causes shortness of breath. Compared to healthy people, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses such as asthma, may be more susceptible to the effects of nitrogen dioxide. Some studies have shown that children may have more colds and flues when exposed to low levels of nitrogen dioxide., When people with asthma inhale low levels of nitrogen dioxide while exercising, their lung airways can narrow and react more to inhaled materials.
*Sulfur Dioxide - sulfa dioxide at low levels of exposure can cause eye, nose, and respiratory tract irritation. At high exposure levels, it causers the lung airways to narrow. This causes wheezing, chest tightness, or breathing problems. People with asthma are particularly susceptible to the effects of sulfur dioxide. They may have symptoms at levels that are much lower than the rest of the population.
*Acrolein - causes irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract.
*Formaldehyde - causes headaches, respiratory tract irritation. Probably carcinogenic.
*Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - causes respiratory irritation and illnesses; some VOCs (e.g. benzene) are carcinogenic.
*Dioxins and Furans - are probably carcinogenic.
*Harmful Particulates - Fine Particulate Matter - causes increased respiratory illness, cardiovascular stress, aggravation of asthma and other lung diseases, and early mortality.
*Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) - prolonged exposure is believed to pose a cancer risk.

Burningissues.org list of wood smoke chemicals

* Indicates a chemical also found in cigarette smoke

Normal alkanes
Cyclic di­ and triterpenoids:
dehydroabietic acid, isopimaric acid, lupenone, friedelin
Chlorinated dioxins
*Carbon monoxide
Methane
*Aldehydes: formaldehyde, *acrolein, propionaldehyde, butryaldehyde, acetaldehyde, furfural
Substituted furans
Benzene
Alkyl benzenes: toluene
Acetic acid, Formic acid
*Nitrogen oxides
*Sulphur dioxide,
Methyl chloride
Napthalene
Substituted napthalenes
Oxygenated monoaromatics: guaiacol and derivatives *phenol and derivatives, syringol and derivatives, catechol and derivatives
*Particulate organic carbon
Oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs):
fluorene, phenamhrene, anthracene, methylanthracenes, fluoranthene ,
*pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzofluoranthenes, *benzo(e)pyrene, *benzo(a)pyrene, *perylene, ideno (1,2,3­cd)pyrene, *benz(ghi)perylene *coronene, dibenzo(a,h)pyrene, retene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene
Trace elements: including sodium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon

If you are annoyed by wood smoke or think you may be injured because of wood smoke inhalation, you should contact your public representatives, who should work on your behalf.

Some of the greenhouse gasses contributing to global warming are also found in wood smoke. The President's new global warming bill is our first step toward opening our door to our freedom to breathe clean air.