Preserve

When we work to bring in these modular sections called mods, we need to use a specialized crane truck since each mod is about 16,000 pounds. We have teams who specialize in breaking down the mods using special equipment to remove the large spikes that hold the beams together. We then need to put the beams through our sawmill to mill the wood into usable pieces that our artist can use. Finally, these large, ugly, worn chunks of wood waste become beautiful expressions of art furniture for homes globally. All metal is also recycled, which makes this project a complete reclamation.

Although the burning of the wood waste is the most concerning, there are still the many piles of bridge sectionals that have been left on sides of the roads for years where vegetation has grown in and around them. These can cause disruption to the ecology of the forest or an impediment or liability to wildlife. The burning of these mods are the most damaging of all the environmental concerns. The worst case scenario is during the controlled open burning of these mods, where the possibility of the fire spreads into the forests and creates wild-fires or forest fires. Then there are the smaller effects such as ash that contaminates the water systems, and gases and particulates that contaminate the air quality. There is the burning of wood, metal, paint, and accelerants.

Here are the statements of various sites in regards to environmental impact: “Gasoline is a toxic and highly flammable liquid. The vapors given off when gasoline evaporates and the substances produced when gasoline is burned (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and unburned hydrocarbons) contribute to air pollution. Burning gasoline also produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.” https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/gasoline/gasoline-and-the-environment.php  

“Zinc fumes are set free when galvanised steel is heated. These fumes are very toxic to breathe. There are no USDA certified-safe galvanized metal cooking surfaces or containers. Galvanized fumes are released when the galvanized metal reaches a certain temperature. Zinc oxide fumes cause a flu–like illness called Metal Fume Fever. Symptoms of Metal Fume Fever include headache, fever, chills, muscle aches, thirst, nausea, vomit- ing, chest soreness, fatigue, gastrointestinal pain, weakness, and tiredness.” https://truediy.net/learn/can-you-burn-off-galvanized-coating/                                                                                                                                                                                      “In addition to their physical costs, fires have a range of less immediate and obvious adverse consequences on the natural environment. These include air contamination from the fire plume (whose deposition is likely to subsequently include land and water contamination), contamination from water runoff containing toxic products, and other environmental discharges or releases from burned materials. In addition, fires also inflict adverse consequences on the natural environment. These include contamination of the air via the fire plume and its subsequent diffusion, with deposition of particulate and other materials likely to contaminate soil and water, contamination of soil and water from fire suppression runoff, which might contain toxic or hazardous materials, and direct exposure to soil and water from hazardous materials whose containers / containment systems may fail due to fire.

While a great deal of research has been published on the quantification of the environmental impact of fire, the information has not previously been consolidated in a manner that facilitates identification of the research focus The impacts of concern and the gaps remain. The fire plume will entrain products of combustion upward due to buoyancy, where it will spread based on prevailing wind conditions. Research has shown that the emissions of the toxic and exotoxic species are often involved in the plume as the inorganic gases, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the dioxins. The species that are lofted by the plume will be fairly light. The main hazard of these gases are the toxicity of the contents and the susceptibility of the receptors. (USDA, 2002) For example wildfires often will emit particulates that consist of soot and smoke particles. These particles are not toxic or extremely dangerous to healthy populations, but are dangerous to susceptible populations such as those with asthma or old populations. Fire is commonly extinguished with water, although other agents (e.g., surfactants, foams) may be used depending on the type of fire. If proper containment and treatment of the run-off is not achieved, there is an opportunity for it to travel and disrupt a proximate natural water way. Large forest fires leave damage on the environment as it burns down trees, produces effluents, and kills lives of plants, insects and animals, however opposed to small fires is the temperatures at which larger fires burn. The hotter temperatures cause much more of the soil to be burned causing sterility in the top layer and limits the ability for new growth. The results might not lead to an immediate negative influence, but the releases of toxic materials and physical change of the land could cause harm in the future. A large loss of species could lead to change in an ecosystem, which could lead to a potential damage on the environment. It is difficult to assess the risks to future generation without considering possible social changes as well as the operation of physical and biological processes over the long term.” https://firesciencereviews.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40038-016-0014-1                                      

“Open burning is the largest source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in BC. Fine particulates released into the air can impact health and contribute to poor air quality in communities. Although open burning produces air pollutants and greenhouse gases, it is also an effective way to reduce fire hazard by disposing of debris from logging and other activities. It is also an effective way to manage diseased vegetative debris from agricultural operators. The purpose of the new OBSCR is to ensure that when burning takes place it does not create a risk to air quality. Alternatives to burning are strongly encouraged. Under the new regulation, a person who performs open burning must ensure they have used every reasonable alternative to minimize the open burning amounts, such as: reducing, reusing or recycling the vegetative debris, and increasing the utilization of post-harvest material/fibre.” https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/air/air-pollution/smoke-burning/regulations/openburningregulation

Bridges’ art furniture promotes happiness and story telling through having our furniture in homes. We also provide work for First Nations communities and for graduates of recovery centres. Also, when we stop the burning of the bridges and its wood we are protecting or preserving human life since the pollutants are dangerous to humans as well. Here are some of the statements regarding this: “All open burning poses risks to the environment and public health. Smoke pollutes the air we breathe. Ash pollutes our soil, groundwater, lakes, rivers and streams. Burning anything in the outdoors can cause a wildfire. When household waste, like wood and leaves, are burned, they produce smoke, which contains vapors and particulate matter (solid and liquid droplets suspended in the air). Air pollution from smoke can impact human health. People exposed to these air pollutants can experience eye and nose irritation, difficulty breathing, coughing and headaches. People with heart disease, asthma, emphysema or other respiratory diseases are especially sensitive to air pollutants. Other health problems aggravated by burning include lung infections, pneumonia, bronchiolitis and allergies. Ash can impact human health through the leaching of heavy metals and other potentially toxic compounds that can end up in streams, lakes and rivers, or in drinking water supplies and our food chain. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/OpenBurning/Impacts.html                                  

“We are increasingly concerned about particulate matter air pollution and other forms of air pollution,” said Dr. Joel Kaufman, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, medicine and epidemiology at the University of Washington in Seattle. “There’s increasing evidence that certain pollutants are associated with cardiac disease, heart attacks and stroke. At certain times of the year, wood burning is a major source of that pollution. Plenty of research on wood smoke backs these concerns. For people with underlying heart disease, a 2017 study in the journal Environmental Research linked increased particulate air pollution from wood smoke and other sources to inflammation and clotting, which can predict heart attacks and other heart problems. For pregnant women, a 2019 study in Environmental Research connected wood smoke exposure to a higher risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which include preeclampsia and gestational high blood pressure.” https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/12/13/lovely-but-dangerous-wood-fires-bring-health-risks  

“Smoke may smell good, but it’s not good for you. The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles, also called fine particulate matter or PM2.5. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they may cause burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses, such as bronchitis. Fine particles can make asthma symptoms worse and trigger asthma attacks. Fine particles can also trigger heart attacks, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, and heart failure, especially in people who are already at risk for these conditions.” https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/wood-smoke-and-your-health