Wolfville Community Oven the health risks of burning wood and also provides suggestions for rules that should be put in place to reduce safety hazards. Health Risks Associated with Wood Smoke There is a variety of pollutants that can be found in wood smoke with the most common being particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In large quantities, these pollutants can contribute to a variety of environmental hazards and cause health issues. Exposure to wood smoke can cause side effects such as headaches, dizziness and nausea, as well as general irritation to the nose ears and throat. Wood smoke is more likely to affect individuals who have heart or lung problems, children or those with respiratory problems such as asthma.7 These side effects are important to be aware of, however, they are more of a concern when wood is being burned indoors rather than outside in an open space. Suggested Rules and Regulations for Oven Users A variety of community ovens have a ‘host’ at every event. This host is either a volunteer or the individual who books the space and are responsible for ensuring that the operations of the oven are safe. The following suggested rules and regulations would be given to the host ahead of time when they book the space. ❏ The fire must be attended once it is lit and the pizza is cooking ❏ Only those who are cooking the pizza should be in the ‘cooking zone’ ❏ Children under the age of 16 are not permitted in the ‘cooking zone’ if they are not accompanied by an adult ❏ Oven gloves must be worn when putting pizza into the oven and taking the pizza out (participants are expected to bring their own oven mitts) ❏ After using the oven, the participants are expected to clean the countertop that was used for pizza preparations ❏ Once pizza is removed from oven, it must be placed on a cooling rack ❏ Do not use toppings that are raw (for example, if you are putting meat on the pizza, please ensure that it is cooked ahead of time) 7 Government of Canada. 2012. Indoor air contaminants: wood smoke and indoor air. Government of Canada. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/airquality/indoor-air-contaminants/avoid-wood-smoke.html 6 39
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